Max: 75 mg/kg/day (4g/day). Check all products for acetaminophen! Dose q4-6h, max 5 doses/day.
Age
Weight
Dose
Liquid
Chew
0-3 mo
6-11 lb
40 mg
1.25 mL
—
4-11 mo
12-17 lb
80 mg
2.5 mL
—
12-23 mo
18-23 lb
120 mg
3.75 mL
—
2-3 yr
24-35 lb
160 mg
5 mL
1
4-5 yr
36-47 lb
240 mg
7.5 mL
1½
6-8 yr
48-59 lb
320 mg
10 mL
2
9-10 yr
60-71 lb
400 mg
12.5 mL
2½
11 yr
72-95 lb
480 mg
15 mL
3
12+ yr
96+ lb
650-1000
Adult
Adult
0-3 mo6-11 lb
Dose
40 mg
Liquid
1.25 mL
4-11 mo12-17 lb
Dose
80 mg
Liquid
2.5 mL
12-23 mo18-23 lb
Dose
120 mg
Liquid
3.75 mL
2-3 yr24-35 lb
Dose
160 mg
Liquid
5 mL
Chewables
1 tab
4-5 yr36-47 lb
Dose
240 mg
Liquid
7.5 mL
Chewables
1½ tabs
6-8 yr48-59 lb
Dose
320 mg
Liquid
10 mL
Chewables
2 tabs
9-10 yr60-71 lb
Dose
400 mg
Liquid
12.5 mL
Chewables
2½ tabs
11 yr72-95 lb
Dose
480 mg
Liquid
15 mL
Chewables
3 tabs
12+ yr96+ lb
Dose
650-1000 mg (Adult)
💡 Clinical Pearls
Dose: 10-15 mg/kg q4-6h
Weight-based > age-based
Check ALL meds for APAP!
💊 Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil)▼
ℹ️ Concentrations
Infant Drops 50 mg/1.25 mL
Children's 100 mg/5 mL
Chewables 50 or 100 mg
🧮 Dose Calculator
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⚠️ Safety
NOT for <6 months! Give with food. Max: 40 mg/kg/day (1200 mg OTC). Dose q6-8h.
Age
Weight
Dose
Liquid 100mg/5mL
6-11 mo
12-17 lb
50 mg
2.5 mL
12-23 mo
18-23 lb
75 mg
3.75 mL
2-3 yr
24-35 lb
100 mg
5 mL
4-5 yr
36-47 lb
150 mg
7.5 mL
6-8 yr
48-59 lb
200 mg
10 mL
9-10 yr
60-71 lb
250 mg
12.5 mL
11 yr
72-95 lb
300 mg
15 mL
12+ yr
96+ lb
200-400
Adult
6-11 mo12-17 lb
Dose
50 mg
Liquid
2.5 mL
12-23 mo18-23 lb
Dose
75 mg
Liquid
3.75 mL
2-3 yr24-35 lb
Dose
100 mg
Liquid
5 mL
4-5 yr36-47 lb
Dose
150 mg
Liquid
7.5 mL
6-8 yr48-59 lb
Dose
200 mg
Liquid
10 mL
9-10 yr60-71 lb
Dose
250 mg
Liquid
12.5 mL
11 yr72-95 lb
Dose
300 mg
Liquid
15 mL
12+ yr96+ lb
Dose
200-400 mg (Adult)
💡 Clinical Pearls
Dose: 5-10 mg/kg q6-8h
Better for inflammation than APAP
Can alternate with APAP for fever
💊 Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)▼
⚠️ Safety
NOT for <2 years! Causes sedation. May cause paradoxical excitation. Liquid: 12.5 mg/5 mL. Dose q4-6h.
Age
Weight
Dose
Liquid 12.5mg/5mL
2-3 yr
24-35 lb
6.25 mg
2.5 mL
4-5 yr
36-47 lb
12.5 mg
5 mL
6-8 yr
48-59 lb
12.5-25 mg
5-10 mL
9-11 yr
60-95 lb
25-37.5 mg
10-15 mL
12+ yr
96+ lb
25-50 mg
Adult
2-3 yr24-35 lb
Dose
6.25 mg
Liquid
2.5 mL
4-5 yr36-47 lb
Dose
12.5 mg
Liquid
5 mL
6-8 yr48-59 lb
Dose
12.5-25 mg
Liquid
5-10 mL
9-11 yr60-95 lb
Dose
25-37.5 mg
Liquid
10-15 mL
12+ yr96+ lb
Dose
25-50 mg (Adult)
💊 Cetirizine (Zyrtec)▼
ℹ️ Info
FDA approved from 6 months
Once daily dosing
Liquid: 5 mg/5 mL
May cause mild sedation
Age
Dose
Liquid
Frequency
6-12 mo
2.5 mg
2.5 mL
Once daily
12-23 mo
2.5 mg
2.5 mL
Once daily (↑BID)
2-5 yr
2.5-5 mg
2.5-5 mL
Once daily or BID
6+ yr
5-10 mg
5-10 mL
Once daily
6-12 moOnce daily
Dose
2.5 mg
Liquid
2.5 mL
12-23 moOnce daily
Dose
2.5 mg
Liquid
2.5 mL
2-5 yrDaily or BID
Dose
2.5-5 mg
Liquid
2.5-5 mL
6+ yrOnce daily
Dose
5-10 mg
Liquid
5-10 mL
💊 Loratadine (Claritin)▼
ℹ️ Info
NOT for <2 years. Non-sedating. Once daily. Liquid: 5 mg/5 mL
Age
Dose
Liquid
Frequency
2-5 yr
5 mg
5 mL
Once daily
6+ yr
10 mg
10 mL
Once daily
2-5 yrOnce daily
Dose
5 mg
Liquid
5 mL
6+ yrOnce daily
Dose
10 mg
Liquid
10 mL
💊 Dextromethorphan (Delsym)▼
⚠️ Safety
NOT for <4 years! (FDA/AAP). High abuse potential in teens. IR: q6-8h. Delsym (ER): q12h
Age
Dose
Liquid 7.5mg/5mL
Delsym 30mg/5mL
4-5 yr
7.5 mg
5 mL q6-8h
2.5 mL q12h
6-8 yr
7.5-15 mg
5-10 mL q6-8h
2.5-5 mL q12h
9-11 yr
15 mg
10 mL q6-8h
5 mL q12h
12+ yr
15-30 mg
10-20 mL q6-8h
5-10 mL q12h
4-5 yrq6-8h / q12h
Dose
7.5 mg
Liquid
5 mL
Delsym
2.5 mL
6-8 yrq6-8h / q12h
Dose
7.5-15 mg
Liquid
5-10 mL
Delsym
2.5-5 mL
9-11 yrq6-8h / q12h
Dose
15 mg
Liquid
10 mL
Delsym
5 mL
12+ yrq6-8h / q12h
Dose
15-30 mg
Liquid
10-20 mL
Delsym
5-10 mL
💡 Clinical Pearls
Honey (>1 yr) may work better for cough
Counsel on teen abuse potential
💊 Loperamide (Imodium)▼
ℹ️ Concentrations
Liquid 1 mg/7.5 mL (0.13 mg/mL)
Capsules 2 mg
🧮 Dose Calculator
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⚠️ Safety
NOT for <2 years! OTC use: ≥6 years. Use only for acute diarrhea. Do NOT use in bloody diarrhea or high fever. Max 48 hours without physician guidance.
Age
Weight
Day 1 Dose
After Each Loose Stool
Max Daily
2-5 yr
13-20 kg (29-44 lb)
1 mg TID
1 mg
3 mg/day
6-8 yr
20-30 kg (45-66 lb)
2 mg BID
1 mg
4 mg/day
9-11 yr
>30 kg (>66 lb)
2 mg TID
1 mg
6 mg/day
12+ yr
Adult
4 mg initial
2 mg
8 mg/day OTC 16 mg/day Rx
2-5 yr13-20 kg (29-44 lb)
Day 1
1 mg TID
After BM
1 mg
Max Daily
3 mg/day
6-8 yr20-30 kg (45-66 lb)
Day 1
2 mg BID
After BM
1 mg
Max Daily
4 mg/day
9-11 yr>30 kg (>66 lb)
Day 1
2 mg TID
After BM
1 mg
Max Daily
6 mg/day
12+ yrAdult
Initial
4 mg
After BM
2 mg
Max Daily
8 mg OTC / 16 mg Rx
💡 Clinical Pearls
First dose on Day 1, then after each loose stool
Hydration is key - encourage oral rehydration
Do NOT exceed max daily dose
Stop if no improvement after 48 hours
Contraindicated: bloody diarrhea, C. diff, acute ulcerative colitis
High-dose abuse can cause cardiac arrhythmias
💊 Iron Drops (Ferrous Sulfate)▼
ℹ️ Concentration
Drops 15 mg/mL elemental iron
Ferrous sulfate 75 mg = 15 mg elemental iron per mL
🧮 Dose Calculator
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⚠️ Safety & Administration
Give on empty stomach for best absorption (1 hr before or 2 hr after meals). May give with orange juice (vitamin C enhances absorption). DO NOT give with milk/antacids. May cause constipation, dark stools, GI upset. Risk of tooth staining - administer with dropper toward back of mouth, rinse mouth after.
Age/Weight
Prevention (1-2 mg/kg/day)
Treatment (3-6 mg/kg/day)
Frequency
Premature (1-2 kg)
0.07-0.13 mL/day (1-2 mg)
0.2-0.4 mL/day (3-6 mg)
Once daily or divided BID
0-6 mo (3-7 kg)
0.2-0.47 mL/day (3-7 mg)
0.6-1.4 mL/day (9-21 mg)
Once daily or divided BID-TID
6-12 mo (7-10 kg)
0.47-0.67 mL/day (7-10 mg)
1.4-2 mL/day (21-30 mg)
Once daily or divided BID-TID
1-3 yr (10-15 kg)
0.67-1 mL/day (10-15 mg)
2-3 mL/day (30-45 mg)
Divided BID-TID
4-8 yr (15-25 kg)
1-1.67 mL/day (15-25 mg)
3-5 mL/day (45-75 mg)
Divided BID-TID
Premature1-2 kg
Prevention
0.07-0.13 mL/day
Treatment
0.2-0.4 mL/day
Frequency
Daily or BID
0-6 mo3-7 kg
Prevention
0.2-0.47 mL/day
Treatment
0.6-1.4 mL/day
Frequency
Daily or BID-TID
6-12 mo7-10 kg
Prevention
0.47-0.67 mL/day
Treatment
1.4-2 mL/day
Frequency
Daily or BID-TID
1-3 yr10-15 kg
Prevention
0.67-1 mL/day
Treatment
2-3 mL/day
Frequency
BID-TID
4-8 yr15-25 kg
Prevention
1-1.67 mL/day
Treatment
3-5 mL/day
Frequency
BID-TID
💡 Clinical Pearls
Best absorbed on empty stomach (1hr before or 2hr after meals)
Can take with vitamin C (orange juice) to enhance absorption
Avoid with dairy, antacids, tea, coffee - reduces absorption
Dark/black stools are normal and harmless
Constipation is common - increase fluids and fiber
Tooth staining prevention: use dropper toward back of mouth, rinse after
Treatment duration: typically 3-6 months to replete stores
Monitor CBC and ferritin levels during therapy
Toxicity risk: Keep out of reach - serious overdose potential
⚠️ Age Limits
✓ Acetaminophen: Any age ✓ Iron Drops: Any age ⚠ Ibuprofen: ≥6 mo ⚠ Cetirizine: ≥6 mo ✗ Diphenhydramine: ≥2 yr ✗ Loratadine: ≥2 yr ✗ Loperamide: ≥2 yr (OTC: ≥6 yr) ✗ DXM: ≥4 yr
🔢 Conversions
1 kg = 2.2 lb 1 tsp = 5 mL 1 tbsp = 15 mL
⏰ Intervals
APAP: q4-6h (max 5/day) IBU: q6-8h with food DPH: q4-6h DXM: q6-8h / ER q12h Zyrtec/Claritin: Once daily Loperamide: After each BM Iron: Daily or BID-TID
📋 Quick Reference
⚠️ Age Limits
✓ Acetaminophen: Any age ✓ Iron Drops: Any age ⚠ Ibuprofen: ≥6 months ⚠ Cetirizine: ≥6 months ✗ Diphenhydramine: ≥2 years ✗ Loratadine: ≥2 years ✗ Loperamide: ≥2 years (OTC: ≥6 years) ✗ DXM: ≥4 years
🔢 Conversions
1 kg = 2.2 lb | 1 tsp = 5 mL | 1 tbsp = 15 mL
⏰ Dosing Intervals
Acetaminophen: q4-6h (max 5/day) Ibuprofen: q6-8h with food Diphenhydramine: q4-6h DXM: q6-8h (ER: q12h) Zyrtec/Claritin: Once daily Loperamide: After each loose BM Iron: Daily or divided BID-TID