Alternating Motrin & Tylenol for kids

[laurie31]

There have been many reports of parents getting confused and giving the wrong amount when they are alternating. For example, if the dose of Tylenol is 4cc and the Motrin dose is 10cc you could get confused and give 10cc of Tylenol instead. The younger the child, the bigger deal an overdose is. Overall, they've decided the risks outweigh the benefits. However, those here who are still being told to do it are probably known as intelligent conscientious parents by their pediatricians and the doc feels that you won't make this mistake. Unfortunately not all parents are able to be trusted that way - even those who mean well can become confused if they aren't very careful doing this.

Laurie

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Work at a foster home and our NP told me to alternate doses of Tylenol/Motrin... every four hours. However I think it's the smallest dose.. like for motrin you 12 and up can take 1 or 2 tabs, I think he told me just to do one tab... call the Ped and ask!

 

[peacefulgirl]

I just went through a week long fever with DD last week. My Dr did say to alternate. Tyl every 4 and motrin 6.... so I gave motrin 1st, 4 hrs later Tyl and so on. Just make sure they are both plain and not any cold type mixes.

 

[dcgrumpy]

My pediatrician told me the same thing. When I was in the hospital after my c-sections they alternated Percocet (which contains acetaminophen) and Motrin for the pain

 

[dbogen]

Over the summer when DS12 broke his leg (both bones playing kickball) The Dr. told me I could give both 4 hours apart, and this was Tylenol#3. We used the lower dose of motrin. It really helped with the pain, there wasn't a medication down time. I also did it with both boys when they were younger with fevers. It seemed they went from 99 to 103 at the drop of a hat.

Deanna

 

[DisneyPhD]

We alternate both, starting with Ibprofin since Tyenal doesn't really touch her fever, but does seem to help keep it down. It is what my Ped and my Dr. reconends (for adults too.) You do need to be careful to keep track of how much and when you gave it.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

I laternate - but my Doctor's office has changed their reccomendation in the last year - they said they have found it to be less effective than they prevously thought

I asked about urgent care one time and the nurse told me they can't reccomend it anymore b/c there are irresponsible parents who don't keep track and overdose their kids - she told me she knew I was responsible enough to do it

 

[golfgal]

I asked about urgent care one time and the nurse told me they can't reccomend it anymore b/c there are irresponsible parents who don't keep track and overdose their kids - she told me she knew I was responsible enough to do it

See, this is the real problem, stupid parents (ok, I don't normally use the word stupid but it is really the only word that works here)--(not you J&n's mom--other parents that shouldn't have reproduced). Dr's give out these guidelines like no cow's milk until 12 months old. Well, most likely a 9 month old can handle cows milk just fine but if they said cow's milk at 9 months the stupid parents will start giving the babies mile at 3 months. No solid foods until 4-6 months is so stupid parents don't give a 2 week old baby food from a jar.

I have heard story after story from a peditritian friend about stupid parents-one mom brought in her baby because her eyes were all red--turns out she was putting tylenol in the babies eyes because the medication came with an 'eye' dropper (the infant stuff that comes with the dropper so you can get it in the babies mouth). Then there was the mom that couldn't figure out why her baby wasn't getting better after having an ear infection-turns out that mom was putting the oral antibiotic in her EARS. Stupid parents.

Our ped recommended the alternating of tylenol/motrin for high fevers, too. I don't use it unless they have really high fevers. Once the fever goes down, then stick to one or the other.

 

[KristiKelly]

I have alternated as well. DS was fluctuating from 102-104, even with Motrin or Tylenol it wouldn't go below 102, this continued for 5 or 6 days. He felt lousy!!!

 

[ead79]

When I was a kid my pediatrician recommended alternating the Tylenol and Motrin. I didn't get extra doses though--Tylenol that lasted for 4 hours, then Motrin that lasted for 6, then Tylenol for 4, etc (no extra doses). He did say to only do this if the fever wouldn't come down. He also said not to give pain relievers unless it's uncomfortable for the child or a high fever because fevers help the body fight infection. I remember my mom telling me that as an infant I scared her because I ran very high fevers. She had to put me in cold baths and alternate medications. Poor mom, I guess I gave her some grey hair! I would do what your pediatrician advises.

 

[lyeag]

Funny this should come up. I was at the ER just last night with my dd 6. We are military, so we can use it on the weekends because they don't have clinic hours on weekends. Anyway, she had been running a temp since Fri. afternoon. I had been giving her motrin and I let the tech know that when she was in the screening room. It had been 4 1/2 hrs since her last dose and he pulled out the tylenol to give her and I questioned him about mixing the two because I had heard not to do it. He said that it was perfectly fine and it helped control fevers better. Her fever had been running around 102, so that seems to fit in with some of the other postings. Anyway, she has strep throat. Now I just hope none of the other kids get it!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

My DS is 9, and I have been a nanny for 11 years. For high fevers that don't respond to one medication we alternate. The nurse at my pediatrician's office says as long as the fever comes down somewhat with one then it is not necessary to alternate.

Generally I find that Tylenol is worthless, but we do alternate sometimes and it seems to help. I usually have good results with ibuprofen alone, though.

 

[eeyore0062]

When my kids are sick with a fever of 102, I've always given them alternating doses of tylenol and motrin to keep the fever under control.

I just had one of my daycare families call - their child is sick. They told me that their pediatrician told them to never alternate doses of motrin/tylenol because it causes medication overdose. I've never heard of this.

I don't know if maybe they didn't understand or if maybe I misunderstood what our pediatrician instructed us to do. I think if that was the case, my kids would have already been overdosed as I've used this combination several times over the years.

Does anyone else alternate doses of the two medicines? I'm going to give my pediatrician a call later today. I'm sure they will think I've lost my mind questioning this.

Whoever told you this is misinformed. Tylenol and Motrin do not have the same chemical components, even though they may overlap in what they do. They are metabolized in different organs, as well, with Tylenol being metabolized in the liver and Motrin in the kidneys. Whenever DD, who is 10, has a high fever the pediatrician as well as the time we went to the ER said to always alternate Tylenol and Motrin. Tylenol can be given every 4 hours and Motrin every 8, so when you alternate you wouldn't be overdosing on either. So you would give Tylenol at midnight, Motrin at 4 am, Tylenol at 8 am, Motrin at noon, etc throughout the day until the fever subsides (still 8 hours between doses of Motrin and 8 hours between the doses of Tylenol) I was a pediatric nurse and that is standard procedure for treating a fever. Tylenol is an anitpyretic/ analgesic (reduces fever and pain) and Motrin is an anti inflamatory/ analgesic (reduced swelling/ pain). In conjuction they are the absolute best for reducing a childs fever without sending the child into convultions, which would happen with cold baths or alcohol baths (also alcohol can seep through the skin causing more problems).

If this is the advice given you by your pediatrician, trust it.

 

[Boo'sMom]

We're currently alternating the two here at the dr. recommendation....guess each doctor has their own preference.

 

[lulugirl]

See, this is the real problem, stupid parents (ok, I don't normally use the word stupid but it is really the only word that works here)--(not you J&n's mom--other parents that shouldn't have reproduced). Dr's give out these guidelines like no cow's milk until 12 months old. Well, most likely a 9 month old can handle cows milk just fine but if they said cow's milk at 9 months the stupid parents will start giving the babies mile at 3 months. No solid foods until 4-6 months is so stupid parents don't give a 2 week old baby food from a jar.

I have heard story after story from a peditritian friend about stupid parents-one mom brought in her baby because her eyes were all red--turns out she was putting tylenol in the babies eyes because the medication came with an 'eye' dropper (the infant stuff that comes with the dropper so you can get it in the babies mouth). Then there was the mom that couldn't figure out why her baby wasn't getting better after having an ear infection-turns out that mom was putting the oral antibiotic in her EARS. Stupid parents.

Our ped recommended the alternating of tylenol/motrin for high fevers, too. I don't use it unless they have really high fevers. Once the fever goes down, then stick to one or the other.

You make an excellent point..

 

[MScott1851]

We do it in the ER I work at, and the Peds Er too.

And I know that this is going to go a little deep, but you shouldn't be giving 4cc of Motrin and 10 cc of Tylenol. You dose by weight, and the way the meds are concentrated, you end up giving the same amount of both meds.

Example: A pt weighs 10 kg. An effective dose of Motrin is 10mg per kg. An effective dose of Tylenol is 15mg per kg.

Children's Motrin comes in a concentration of 100mg per teaspoon, and Children's Tylenol comes in a concentration of 160mg per teaspoon.

If you do the math, you should be giving the same amount of both medicines, which is one teaspoon. The only time it would differ is if you were giving infants formula of one and childrens's formula of the other.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

2 different meds--I've been told to alternate.

 

[laurie31]

We do it in the ER I work at, and the Peds Er too.

And I know that this is going to go WAY over some heads, but you shouldn't be giving 4cc of Motrin and 10 cc of Tylenol. You dose by weight, and the way the meds are concentrated, you end up giving the same amount of both meds.

Example: A pt weighs 10 kg. An effective dose of Motrin is 10mg per kg. An effective dose of Tylenol is 15mg per kg.

Children's Motrin comes in a concentration of 100mg per teaspoon, and Children's Tylenol comes in a concentration of 160mg per teaspoon.

If you do the math, you should be giving the same amount of both medicines, which is one teaspoon. The only time it would differ is if you were giving infants formula of one and childrens's formula of the other.

Sorry, I made those numbers up out of the air. I was way too sleepy when I posted them to do actual math

However, you have made my point, as the child in your senario would need only 1.5 cc of Infant Tylenol and I have taken care of a child who nearly needed a liver transplant because the mother did exactly that! (Gave the Children's Tylenol dose amount, not realizing that Infant Tylenol is much more concentrated). Switching them like this delivers more than triple the intended dose

Okay, now that I'm awake, I did the math I still use Infant Tylenol for my kids as they HATE medication and less is better A 27kg child (my dd actually) needs 4cc of Infant Tylenol or 14 cc of Motrin. I knew I got the 4cc from someplace I rarely give Motrin, just because they need so much of it I'm trying to teach them to take pills instead...

Laurie

 

[cgcw]

I checked with our pediatrician this afternoon. They still recommend alternating between tylenol and motrin for high fevers.

The parent who told me this takes their children to a pediatrician practice that I took my own children to a couple years back. Let's just say it was a less than pleasant experience. My gut feeling was to not believe the information I was told by this parent. The Mom in me needed some reasurrance that I haven't harmed my children.

Thanks for all the responses. I always knew tylenol and motrin were two different medications.

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

My DD2 has febrile seizures - you bet I alternate Tylenol and Motrin! Its imperative that I do whenever she starts a fever so we deter the seizure.