Guidance on the recommended dose of liquid paracetamol given to children has been revised to ensure young children are not given too much of the medication.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has revised former guidelines, which recommended the same dose of liquid paracetamol for children aged one- to six-years-old, and created four age brackets, with a specific dose for each.
It claims that under the old guidance younger children may have received a dose of paracetamol that was higher than necessary.
The move follows a review by the MHRA into the amount of liquid paracetamol that is recommended for children.
The revised instructions, which will now feature on packaging of children’s medicines including Calpol and Disprol, recommend that children aged six- to 24-months-old are given 5ml four times a day, two- to four-year olds 7.5ml four times a day, and for children aged four to six, 10ml four times a day.
The recommendation for children aged three months to one year remains the same, that is 2.5ml four times a day.
Previously, the official guidance stated that children aged one to six could be given up to 10ml of liquid paracetamol four times a day to reduce fever and pain.
It claims that under the old guidance younger children may have received a dose of paracetamol that was higher than necessary.
The move follows a review by the MHRA into the amount of liquid paracetamol that is recommended for children.
The revised instructions, which will now feature on packaging of children’s medicines including Calpol and Disprol, recommend that children aged six- to 24-months-old are given 5ml four times a day, two- to four-year olds 7.5ml four times a day, and for children aged four to six, 10ml four times a day.
The recommendation for children aged three months to one year remains the same, that is 2.5ml four times a day.
Previously, the official guidance stated that children aged one to six could be given up to 10ml of liquid paracetamol four times a day to reduce fever and pain.
