Paracetamol for children

About paracetamol for children

Paracetamol is a common painkiller for children. It's used to treat most kinds of childhood ailments, including headache, tummy ache, earache, and cold symptoms. It can also be used to reduce fever (38C or above).

For older children, paracetamol is available as tablets.

For young children, paracetamol comes as a syrup.

Paracetamol is also available as suppositories (a plug of medicine that's inserted into the back passage). Suppositories are useful to relieve pain and fever in children who find it difficult to swallow tablets or syrup, or who are vomiting a lot.

For children aged 16 and over, read our information on paracetamol for adults.

Key facts

Your child should start to feel better about 30 minutes after taking paracetamol tablets or syrup. It may take up to an hour for a suppository to work properly.
Paracetamol comes in a range of different strengths, so always use the measuring device that comes with the medicine. The right dose for your child depends on their age. Always leave 4 to 6 hours between doses. Don't give more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
Don't give your child paracetamol with other medicines containing paracetamol, such as Lemsip or Night Nurse (only suitable for children over 12 years).
Paracetamol is an everyday medicine, but it can be dangerous if too much is taken. Be careful to keep it out of the reach of children.
Paracetamol tablets may be called by brand names such as Disprol, Hedex, Medinol and Panadol. Calpol is one brand of syrup.

Who can and can't take paracetamol

Children can take paracetamol as:

a liquid syrup - from the age of 3 months (2 months if they have a fever after a vaccination)
suppository - from the age of 3 months (2 months if they have a fever after a vaccination)
tablets - from the age of 6 years (500mg so they may need to be broken)
soluble tablets - from the age of 12
calpol Fastmelts (250mg)

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if your child:

is small for their age as a lower dose may be better
has had liver or kidney problems
takes medicine for epilepsy
takes medicine for tuberculosis (TB)

How and when to give it

Paracetamol tablets, syrup and suppositories come in a range of strengths. Children need to take a lower dose than adults, depending on their age.

If you're not sure how much to give, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Paracetamol tablets, syrup, and suppositories are available on prescription and to buy from shops and pharmacies.

Paracetamol syrup dosages for children

Age	Type of syrup	How much (every 4-6 hours, maximum 4 doses in 24 hours)
3 to 6 months	Infant	2.5ml
6 to 24 months	Infant	5ml
2 to 4 years	Infant	7.5ml
4 to 6 years	Infant	10ml
6 to 8 years	Six-plus	5ml
8 to 10 years	Six-plus	7.5ml
10 to 12 years	Six-plus	10ml

Paracetamol syrup and suppositories can be given to children from 2 months if they have a fever after a vaccination injection.

Children aged between 2 and 3 months can be given 2 doses maximum if they have pain and fever from other causes. If they still have a fever after 2 doses, contact a doctor or pharmacist before giving any more.

Paracetamol tablet dosages for children

Age	How much (every 4 to 6 hours, maximum 4 doses in 24 hours)
6 to 8 years	250mg
8 to 10 years	375mg
10 to 12 years	500mg
12 to16 years	750mg

The strength of the syrups are:

infant syrup - 5ml is equal to 120mg
six-plus - 5ml is equal to 250mg

How often to give paracetamol

If your child needs help with pain day and night for several days, give a dose of paracetamol every 6 hours. Don't give more than 4 doses in 24 hours. This will help to relieve the pain safely without the risk of giving too much paracetamol.

If your child has pain that comes and goes, give a dose of paracetamol when they first complain of pain. Wait at least 4 hours before giving another dose.

Wait at least 4 hours between doses of paracetamol. Don't give your child more than 4 doses of paracetamol in 24 hours.

How to give paracetamol to a child

Tablets

Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, milk, or juice. Tell your child not to chew the tablet.

Calpol Fastmelts shouldn't be swallowed - ask your child to let them dissolve on their tongue.

Syrup

Shake the bottle well for at least 10 seconds and measure out the right amount using the plastic syringe or spoon that comes with the medicine. If you don't have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Don't use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount.

To hide the taste of liquid medicine, you can give the child a drink of milk or fruit juice straight after giving the medicine.

Suppositories

Paracetamol suppositories are small plugs of medicine that are inserted into the bottom. Follow the instructions on the leaflet inside the packet.

What if they take too much?

Giving your child too much paracetamol by accident can be dangerous. The effects of an overdose may not be obvious, but they can be serious and need treatment.

If you think you may have given your child an extra dose of paracetamol by mistake, wait at least 24 hours before giving them any more.

Giving more than 1 extra dose of paracetamol can be dangerous and may need treatment. Call 111 for advice straight away.

If you need to take your child to hospital, take the paracetamol packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with them.

Giving paracetamol with other painkillers

The only safe painkiller to give children alongside paracetamol is ibuprofen.

Do not give paracetamol and ibuprofen together, though. Instead, if you've given them paracetamol and they're still feverish or in pain when the next dose is due, you could try ibuprofen instead.

Don't take more than the maximum daily dose of either medicine. See your doctor if you've tried both paracetamol and ibuprofen and they haven't helped. Do not give ibuprofen to your child if they have asthma, unless your doctor has said it's ok.

Don't give your child another medicine with paracetamol in it. If they take 2 different medicines that contain paracetamol, there's a risk of overdose. Paracetamol is an ingredient in lots of medicines that you can buy from the supermarket or pharmacy, such as Lemsip, Day and Night Nurse capsules or liquid (only suitable for children over 12 years).

Never give aspirin to a child under the age of 16 (unless prescribed by a doctor).

Side effects

Paracetamol rarely causes side effects if you give it in the right doses.

If you're worried about a side effect or notice anything unusual, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it’s possible to have a serious allergic reaction to paracetamol.

A serious allergic reaction is an emergency. Contact a doctor straight away if you think you or someone around you is having a serious allergic reaction.

The warning signs of a serious allergic reaction are:

getting a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
wheezing
tightness in the chest or throat
having trouble breathing or talking
swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

Common questions

How does paracetamol work?

Paracetamol seems to work by blocking chemical messengers in the brain that tell children that they have pain.

Paracetamol also reduces fever by affecting the chemical messengers in an area of the brain that regulates body temperature.

When will they feel better?

Paracetamol tablets and syrup take about half an hour to work. Suppositories take around an hour to work.

If your child's pain lasts for more than 3 days, see your doctor.

What if my child vomits?

If your child vomits less than 30 minutes after having a dose of paracetamol tablets or syrup, give them the same dose again.

If your child vomits more than 30 minutes after a dose of tablets or syrup, you do not need to give them another dose. Wait until the next normal dose.

If your child is finding it hard to keep tablets or syrup down, ask your doctor if paracetamol suppositories are an option. If they vomit straight after a suppository, you don't need to give them another dose as the suppository will still work.

How long will it take to work?

Your child should start to feel less pain about 30 minutes after taking paracetamol tablets or syrup. It may take up to an hour for a suppository to work properly.

Is paracetamol or ibuprofen better?

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are similar strengths, but they work in different ways. So paracetamol is better for some types of pain than ibuprofen.

Paracetamol is usually best for most types of pain, including headache and stomach ache.

Ibuprofen is better for reducing inflammation (redness and swelling), including teething and toothache.

Can I give paracetamol with prescription medicines?

In general, paracetamol doesn't interfere with prescription medicines, including antibiotics.

However, paracetamol isn't suitable for some children. Talk to your doctor if they take:

medicine to treat epilepsy
medicine to treat tuberculosis (TB)
warfarin (a blood-thinning medicine)

Can I give paracetamol with herbal remedies?

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any herbal remedies or supplements to your child.

Is there any food or drink they need to avoid?

Your child can eat and drink normally while taking paracetamol.

You can give your child paracetamol (but not ibuprofen) on an empty stomach.

Do I need to keep paracetamol syrup in the fridge?

No, you don't need to put paracetamol syrup in the fridge. Keep it in a cupboard away from heat and sunlight.