Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) reduces fever and pain. Children need special amounts of this medicine. Your doctor may call these pediatric doses.

You can find this medicine in many forms. Your child can chew it or drink it. It can also be given as a suppository. This is a small capsule you put in your child's rectum. It may be a good choice when your child can't keep anything in their stomach.

Make sure to use the right amount of this medicine. The correct dose depends your child's size and weight.

For children, the dose of acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) is based on the child's weight. Read and follow all dose instructions on the package label.

If your child is less than 2 years old or less than 24 pounds, check with your child's doctor or a pharmacist about the correct dose. Before you give medicine to reduce a fever in a baby who is 3 months of age or younger, talk to your doctor or a pharmacist. This is to make sure that a young baby's fever isn't a sign of a serious illness.

Give acetaminophen every 4 hours as needed. Do not give more than 5 doses in a 24-hour period. Do not give your child more than the maximum dose recommended on the label.

Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) reduces fever and relieves pain. It doesn't reduce inflammation like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin and ibuprofen) do.

Examples include:

• Children's Tylenol.
• Infants' Concentrated Tylenol Drops.
• Triaminic Children's Syrup Fever Reducer Pain Reliever.
• Junior Tylenol Meltaways.

Over-the-counter cold or flu medicines often contain acetaminophen. Giving them along with acetaminophen can be harmful if your child gets too much acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are both used to reduce fever and relieve pain. But they work in different ways and have different dosing recommendations. The goal of using either medicine is to help your child feel comfortable rather than to make the fever go away.

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Do not use acetaminophen if your child is allergic to it. Follow all instructions on the label.

• Your child's over-the-counter medicine will have a "Drug Facts" label. On the label, you'll find directions for your child's age or weight, the dose to give, and how often to give the dose.
• Do not use this medicine if your child is allergic to it.
• Talk to your doctor before you give your child the medicine if:
  • Your baby is younger than 3 months and has a fever. Your doctor will make sure that the fever is not a sign of a serious problem.
  • Your child has kidney or liver disease.
• Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with the medicine.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you give your child any other medicines. This includes over-the-counter medicines. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medicines, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements your child takes. Taking some medicines together can cause problems.

Do not take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) if you have liver disease. And don't take it if you drink alcohol heavily. This means 3 or more drinks a day for men or 2 or more drinks a day for women.