Medications
Dosing Examples of Over the Counter (OTC) Medications for Children
Dr. Simonian does not recommend OTC cold medications for children under 12 months of age unless specific instructions are given during office visits. Tylenol, Advil or Motrin may be given as early as 2 months of age without concern (generic name is acetaminophen or ibuprofen…see Tylenol or Advil/Motrin Charts). (Reviewed 9/21/2018) Also Google Assistant “Drug Dose Helper” for Tylenol and Motrin dosing which can can work on iPhone or Android phones.
Medication
Child’s Weight/Age
Dose
Reason
Benadryl liquid 12.5 mg/tsp
Dose 20 Lbs
1 tsp every 6 hrs
Allergic reaction like hives, allergic nose or eyes, sleep, cough
Dose 40 Lbs
2 tsp every 6 hours
Dimetapp liquid
over 6 months of age 1 tsp per 20 pounds or 2- 6 yrs
1 tsp every 6 hours
Allergic reaction like hives, allergic nose or eyes, cough
Sudafed 15mg/tsp
Dose 20 Lbs
1 tsp every 6 hours
Nasal swelling or congestion from allergies
Dose 40 Lbs
2 tsp every 6 hours
Triaminic orange or nighttime liquid 1 mg/tsp
Dose 20 Lbs
½ tsp every 6 hours
Allergic reaction like hives, allergic nose or eyes, cough
Dose 40 Lbs
1 tsp every 6 hours
Zyrtec 5mg/tsp
Dose 20-40 Lbs
½ -1 tsp every 24 hours
Allergic reaction like hives, allergic nose
Over 40 Lbs
1-2 tsp every 24 hours
Reviewed 5/2/2024
Pain therapy
In this topic I write about Tylenol™ use. Some of the following comments are regarding pain management .
If your child seems to be in pain for any cause what do you do? Surprisingly, many parents do little or nothing. I am not sure why. Some parents says that they are worried that they will treat pain when none exists. I say, “So What.”
If there is a pain, how do you help your child feel more comfortable? Some parents use a reassuring voice. Some parents use a reassuring caress. Some parents use medications like Tylenol™. Some parents call the doctor. Probably the least effective method to relieve pain will be a phone call to the doctor. Even if you know the cause of the pain, help your child feel as comfortable as you can. Helping relieve your child’s pain will not complicate matters.
How can you tell if your child is in pain? Even within a few days to a couple of weeks most parents can recognize a painful cry from a tired, mad, or lonely cry. In time you recognize body positions, facial expressions, sounds, and behavior. When these conditions last more than 5 or 10 minutes you should do something, even if it is to only acknowledge that you believe they are in pain.
I know that calls to the doctor might relieve parental anxiety —parent-feeling-for-the-child pain. Of course, a call might help determine if the pain requires physician attention and action. Take some action to relieve the pain first, and if the pain persists or is reoccurring then a call to the doctor’s office is in order.
Let me re emphasize. Even if you know that the pain was caused from an injury, illness, teething, or stress, it is always safe to give Tylenol™.
Before I leave the subject about pain relief and the use of Tylenol™ or other over-the-counter pain relievers, let me answer another common parental concern. Parents worry that if they use Tylenol™ too frequently when their child complains about pain or appears to be in pain, they will develop some dependency or do harm. There is no evidence that if you use aspirin-free medications like Tylenol™ as recommended that your child will develop any addiction or dependency even psychologically.
When your child has relenting pain, reoccurring pain, or pain that interferes with normal activity or sleep, you should call my office.
Everyone will experiences pain at one time or another. There is no harm in allowing yourself the opportunity to lessen it, if possible.
Reviewed 5/2/2024