Whats up with Acetaminophen (Tylenol)?
Acetaminophen, brand name Tylenol, has been in the news recently, and parents are asking me if it is safe. This medication, used as a pain reliever and as a fever reducer, is safe to give to babies older than two months, but you must be very careful about the dose that you give. Medicine doses are based on the weight, not the age, of a child. So when checking the label on the bottle that tells how much acetaminophen to give, look at the weight recommendations if there is a discrepancy between your child’s weight and age. If you are not sure, then ask your child’s health care provider. I cannot stress proper dosing enough because of how dangerous an overdose can be. Here are some facts you need to know in order to avoid over-dosing your child with Tylenol: 1) Always measure the medicine in the dropper or cup provided by the manufacturer of that particular medicine bottle. 2) Be aware that Tylenol infant drops are more concentrated than the children’s suspension liquid. This means that i
