From the FDA Drug Label
DIRECTIONS ... under 18 years of age • ask a doctor ... children under 12 years • do not use The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
For a 25-pound boy, the recommended dose of Tylenol (acetaminophen) is 120 mg every 4-6 hours as needed, not exceeding 5 doses in 24 hours, based on the most recent and highest quality study available 1. This dose is equivalent to about 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of children's liquid Tylenol (160 mg/5 mL concentration). The dosing is based on the child's weight, with the standard recommendation being 10-15 mg per kilogram of body weight (a 25-pound child is approximately 11.3 kg) 2. Some key points to consider when administering Tylenol to a child include:
- Always use the measuring device provided with the medication for accuracy, not household spoons.
- Check the product concentration before administering, as infant and children's formulations differ.
- Tylenol helps reduce fever and relieve pain by affecting the temperature-regulating center in the brain and blocking pain signals.
- If the child's symptoms persist beyond 3 days, or if fever lasts more than 3 days, consult a healthcare provider.
- Never give adult formulations to children unless specifically directed by a healthcare provider, as noted in various studies 3, 4, 5. It's also important to note that while acetaminophen is generally considered safe, there is a risk of liver damage if taken in excess, and the exact mechanism of action is still not fully understood 2. However, a recent quantitative weight-of-evidence review found no consistent evidence of developmental neurotoxicity in rodents following exposure to acetaminophen at therapeutic and/or non-systemically toxic doses 1.