Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
A nonprescription medication found in many over-the-counter pain relievers that is effective for pain relief but not for inflammation. It is often prescribed as a fever reducer. Easier on the stomach than either ASPIRIN or IBUPROFEN, it does not significantly prolong bleeding. Therefore, children who are about to have a medical procedure that may cause bleeding (such as tooth extractions) or children who have frequent nosebleeds or other bleeding problems can safely take acetaminophen for pain relief.
On the other hand, some pediatricians worry that parents are overmedicating their children and risking an overdose by giving their children acetaminophen whenever they run a fever. In fact, even fever of 102°F may not be dangerous to a small child, since fever is a normal response to an infection and no cause for alarm. A typical dose of acetaminophen for a child is 10 to 15 mg per kg to a maximum of 1 gram (two 500 mg tablets).
Adverse Effects
While most parents believe that children’s acetaminophen is perfectly safe because it is a nonprescription medication, it does pose a special risk in children. An overdose—or even a normal dose combined with other medications, or when a child has not eaten—can overwhelm the child’s liver. In extreme cases, the liver may be damaged beyond repair.
An overdose typically causes nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, all of which usually disappear in a day or two. However, it is during this time that liver failure may be occurring. Liver damage can be reversed with intravenous administration of an antidote, if given in time.
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