| ANTIPYRETIC MEDICATIONS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detection of fever varies based on the site of body measurement. | ||||||
| FEVER THRESHOLDS | ||||||
| Rectal | Oral | Axillary | Tympanic | Temporal | ||
| >100.4°F | >99.7°F | >99.3°F | >100.0°F | 0−2mos | >100.7°F | |
| 3−47mos | >100.3°F | |||||
| ≥4yrs | >100.1°F | |||||
| TREATMENT OPTIONS | ||||||
| Generic | Form | Strengths | Children’s Dose | Adult Dose | ||
| aceta– minophen |
Rx | injection | 10mg/mL | 0–28days: 12.5mg/kg every 6hrs; max: 50mg/kg/24hrs. Minimum dosing interval: 6hrs. 29days–2yrs: 15mg/kg every 6hrs; max: 60mg/kg/24hrs. Minimum dosing interval: 6hrs. ≥2yrs: 15mg/kg every 6hrs (or 12.5mg/kg every 4hrs); max single dose: 15mg/kg (up to 750mg), max daily dose: 75mg/kg/24hrs (up to 3750mg). Minimum dosing interval: 4hrs. |
<50kg: Same as children’s (≥2yrs) dose. ≥50kg: 1000mg every 6hrs (or 650mg every 4hrs); max single dose: 1000mg, max daily dose: 4000mg/24hrs. Minimum dosing interval: 4hrs. |
|
| OTC | tabs | 325mg, 500mg | 10−15mg/kg every 4−6hrs Max: <12yrs: 2.6g/day |
Regular release: 325−650mg every 4−6hrs Extended release: 1300mg every 8hrs Max: 4g/day1,2 |
||
| chew tabs | 80mg | |||||
| oral disinte– grating tabs |
80mg, 160mg | |||||
| ext‑rel tabs | 650mg | |||||
| caps | 500mg | |||||
| liquid/ elixir |
160mg/5mL, 500mg/5mL | |||||
| solution | 160mg/5mL | |||||
| suspen– sion |
160mg/5mL | |||||
| gel syrup | 160mg/5mL | |||||
| supposi– tory |
80mg, 120mg, 325mg, 650mg | |||||
| packet | 950mg | |||||
| aspirin | OTC | tabs | 81mg, 325mg, 500mg | ≤15yrs: Not recommended3 | Oral: 325−650mg every 4−6hrs Rectal: 300−600mg every 4−6hrs Max: 4g/day |
|
| chew tabs | 75mg, 81mg | |||||
| oral disinte– grating tabs |
81mg | |||||
| del‑rel tabs | 81mg, 162mg, 325mg, 500mg, 650mg | |||||
| caplet | 325mg, 500mg | |||||
| supposi– tory |
60mg, 120mg, 200mg, 300mg, 600mg | |||||
| ibuprofen | Rx | injection | 100mg/mL | <6mos: Not established. ≥6mos–<12yrs: 10mg/kg up to max single dose of 400mg every 4–6hrs as needed. Max: 40mg/kg or 2.4g/day 12–17yrs: 400mg every 4–6hrs as needed. Max: 2.4g/day |
Initially 400mg, then 400mg every 4−6hrs or 100−200mg every 4hrs Max: 3.2g/day |
|
| OTC | tabs | 100mg, 200mg | 6mos−12yrs: <102.5°F (<39°C): 5mg/kg/dose; >102.5°F (>39°C): 10mg/kg/dose every 6−8hrs Max: 40mg/kg/day |
200−400mg every 4−6hrs Max: 1.2g/day |
||
| chew tabs | 100mg | |||||
| caps | 200mg | |||||
| suspen– sion |
100mg/5mL, 40mg/mL, 50mg/ 1.25mL |
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| naproxen | OTC | tabs | 220mg | <12yrs: Consult physician. | 220mg every 8–12hrs (may give 440mg as 1st dose initially). Max: 660mg/24hrs. Elderly: max 220mg every 12hrs. | |
| caps | ||||||
| NOTES | ||||||
|
1Max dose is 3250mg/day for Tylenol brand regular strength and 3g/day for Tylenol brand extra strength; dosing interval for Tylenol brand extra strength is every 6hrs. 2Max dose is 2g/day for patients with poor nutritional intake, those taking concurrent hepatotoxic medications, or those who drink three or more alcoholic beverages daily. 3Aspirin may be given to children ≤15yrs of age under physician supervision if influenza or chickenpox can be confidently ruled out (10−15mg/kg every 4−6hrs, max 5 doses/24hrs). |
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| REFERENCES | ||||||
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Adapted from: Feret BM. Chapter 6. Fever. In: Krinsky DL, Berardi RR, Ferreri SP, et al, eds. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs: An Interactive Approach to Self‑Care, 17th Edition. Washington, DC: American Pharmacists Association; 2012. (Rev. 4/2018) |
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This article originally appeared on MPR
