Giving Ibuprofen to Your Child
En Español (Spanish Version)The doctor has prescribed a medicine called ibuprofen for your child. Be sure that you read and understand the information below before giving your child this medicine.
Ibuprofen is used to relieve pain, inflammation, and fever.
The amount of medicine you give your child will depend on her weight or age. Below are suggested dosages. Make sure to check the amount of medicine in the liquid or tablet before giving the dose. Follow the instructions on the actual medicine label for the latest dosage information. Some brands may come in different concentrations, so make sure you read the label closely. Talk to the doctor if you are unsure of how much medicine to give your child.
Oral Dosage for Children 6 months to 11 Years Old
Age
Weight
Total Dose You Need to Give Your ChildIf using
infant drops (50 mg/1.25 ml), you will need to give your child…If using
liquid medicine (100 mg/5 ml), you will need to give your child…If using
Junior tablets (100 mg per pill), you will need to give your child…
6-11 months
12-17 pounds (5-8 kg)
50 mg
1.25 ml
n/a
n/a
12-23 months
18-23 pounds (8-10 kg)
75 mg
1.875 ml
n/a
n/a
2-3 years
24-35 pounds (11-16 kg)
100 mg
n/a
5 ml (1 teaspoon)
1 tablet
4-5 years
36-47 pounds (16-21 kg)
150 mg
n/a
7.5 ml (1.5 teaspoons)
1.5 tablets
6-8 years
48-59 pounds (22-27 kg)
200 mg
n/a
10 ml (2 teaspoons)
2 tablets
9-10 years
60-71 pounds (27-32 kg)
250 mg
n/a
12.5 ml (2.5 teaspoons)
2.5 tablets
11 years
72-95 pounds (33-43 kg)
300 mg
n/a
15 ml (3 teaspoons)
3 tablets
kg=kilogram; mg=milligram; ml=milliliter
Dose may be given every 6-8 hours.
Do not give more than four doses within 24 hours.
For children less than six months old: Ask the doctor for dosing instructions.
For children 12 years old or older: Give 200 mg every 4-6 hours. If needed, you can increase the dose to 400 mg every 4-6 hours.
Possible side effects include:
Talk to the doctor first to make sure you understand how to give the medicine to your child. Also, let your doctor know if your child is taking any other medicines.
Store the medicine at room temperature (68°F-77°F [20°C-25°C]) in a place that is free from moisture and light. Do not store in the bathroom or kitchen.
Call the doctor if your child has:
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction:
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Fever
- Itching
- Bad cough
- Blue skin color
- Convulsions
- Swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Chest pain or pressure
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Really bad stomach pain
- Swelling or pain in hands or feet
- Change in speech or vision
- Eye pain or irritation
- Black, tarry, or bloody stools
- Blood in urine
- Diarrhea
- Strange bruising or bleeding
- Rash
Also, call the doctor if your child feels worse or the condition does not improve.
If you think your child may have overdosed, go to the emergency room or call your local poison control center right away.
American Pharmacists Association Foundation
United States Food and Drug Administration
Canadian Pharmacists Association
Children’s Motrin dosing chart. In: Physicians’ Desk Reference. 64th ed. Montvale, NJ: PDR Network; 2009: 2044.
Ibuprofen. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/. Updated April 11, 2011. Accessed June 10, 2011.
Lexi-PALS. Ibuprofen. EBSCO Health Library, Lexi-PALS website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/. Updated September 10, 2010. Accessed June 10, 2011.
Last Reviewed June 2011