1 May 2026Oral drugsSource update: October 2024
Acetaminophen oral
Acetaminophen guidance for mild pain and fever with age-based dosing and overdose precautions.
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
- Analgesic, antipyretic.
Indications
- Mild pain.
- Fever.
Forms and strengths
- 100 mg and 500 mg tablets.
- 100 mg dispersible tablet.
- 120 mg/5 ml oral suspension.
Dose
- Child under 1 month: 10 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily, maximum 40 mg/kg daily.
- Child 1 month and over: 15 mg/kg 3 or 4 times daily, maximum 60 mg/kg daily.
- Adult: 1 g 3 or 4 times daily, maximum 4 g daily.
| Age | Weight | 120 mg/5 ml suspension | 100 mg tablet | 500 mg tablet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 1 month | < 4 kg | 1.5 ml x 3 | - | - |
| 1 to < 3 months | 4 to < 6 kg | 2.5 ml x 3 | 1/2 tab x 3 | - |
| 3 months to < 1 year | 6 to < 10 kg | 4 ml x 3 | 1 tab x 3 | - |
| 1 to < 3 years | 10 to < 15 kg | 6 ml x 3 | 1 1/2 tab x 3 | - |
| 3 to < 5 years | 15 to < 20 kg | 8 ml x 3 | 2 tab x 3 | - |
| 5 to < 9 years | 20 to < 30 kg | 12 ml x 3 | 3 tab x 3 | - |
| 9 to < 14 years | 30 to < 50 kg | - | - | 1 tab x 3 |
| >= 14 years and adult | >= 50 kg | - | - | 2 tab x 3 |
Duration
According to clinical response.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not exceed indicated doses, especially in children and older patients. Acetaminophen intoxications are severe and may cause hepatic cytolysis.
- Administer with caution to patients with hepatic impairment.
- Reduce the dose in children with severe acute malnutrition to 10 mg/kg up to 3 times maximum per 24 hours.
- Reduce the dose in patients with dengue with warning signs: child 10 mg/kg 3 to 4 times daily; adult 500 mg 3 to 4 times daily.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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