Paediatric Analgesia Dose Guidelines
NHS Borders clinical guidelines
| Weight (kg)* | Ibuprofen dose (mg) (5mg/kg) | ml of Ibuprofen (100mg/5ml) | Paracetamol dose (mg) (15mg/kg) | ml of paracetamol (250mg/5ml) |
| 7 | 35 | 1.75 | 105 | 2 |
| 10 | 50 | 2.5 | 150 | 3 |
| 16 | 80 | 4 | 240 | 4.5 |
| 20 | 100 | 5 | 300 | 6 |
| 24 | 120 | 6 | 360 | 7 |
| 28 | 140 | 7 | 420 | 8 |
| 32 | 160 | 8 | 480 | 9.5 |
| 36 | 180 | 9 | 540 | 10.5 |
| 40 | 200 | 10 | 600 | 12 |
| 44 | 220 | 11 | 660 | 13 |
| 50 | 250 | 12.5 | 750 | 15 |
* if a child’s weight falls between these bands then round up to the nearest weight (four doses will not exceed maximum safe 24hr dose)
- paracetamol not licensed by mouth if < 2 months of age
- Ibuprofen not licensed in children < 5 kg or 3 months old
- Ibuprofen recommended oral loading dose of 10mg/kg, followed by maintenance dose of 5mg/kg (as above) regularly 4 times daily (max. 20mg/kg/24 hours, or 25mg/kg/24 hours with loading dose)
- Consider diclofenac PR if oral ibuprofen loading dose is omitted. Dose recommended by BNFc 12.5mg for 8- 11kg (6 months+) and 1mg/kg (max 50mg) for 12kg+ (available in 12.5mg, 25mg and 50mg)
Contra-indications to NSAID's
Renal impairment
history of adverse reaction to aspirin or other NSAID
platelet dysfunction / coagulopathy
peptic ulcer disease
- Paracetamol recommended oral loading dose of 20mg/kg followed by maintenance dose of 15mg/kg (as above) not more frequently than every 4 hours as required and not more than 4 doses in 24 hours (max. 75mg/kg/24 hours)
- Paracetamol PR loading dose 40mg/kg (max 1g); (30mg/kg in 1-3 months)
- Issue Information Sheet with take-home analgesia