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Email a friendDon't Mix Motrin And Tylenol In Tykes
Newspaper Columns, Pharmacy Q&A April 22, 2002
Q. I am a pediatrician concerned about parents' use of two over-the-counter medications. I often feel like a "one-woman army" trying to combat simultaneous use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, etc) for children with fever.
Parents sometimes alternate doses as often as every two hours. Some parents are giving these medications together to bring down a fever.
Clearly, fever is a physiologic function that helps the body fight infections. I try to educate parents about this, but there seems to be an almost irrational fear of fever in our culture.
I am also alarmed about recent case reports of kidney failure in children who had received this combination. I am very concerned that as this practice spreads, so will the incidence of kidney failure.
A. "Fever phobia" is a concern of many pediatricians. A mild elevation in temperature is part of an immune reaction to infection. Lowering such a fever may be counterproductive.
There is no evidence that alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen or administering both drugs together lowers fever faster or helps children recover more quickly. You are not the only pediatrician who has expressed concern that this combination may increase the risk of toxicity, such as kidney damage.
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Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2002 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
My daughter (16 mnths) has febrile seizures (she has had 8 or 9 all together). We have been alternating the tylenol w/ motrin b/c it is fever induced... We just received infor. from Pediatric Dr. in the emergency room.. He prescribed Motrin only and use other methods, (eg. bath, cold compresses) to bring the fever down in between dosages. Also noticed that the tylenol does not seem to bring the fevers down. They don't necessarily have to be very high.. Normally her temp is around 101.5 when she has a seizure.
Posted by: CC | May 13, 2008 10:16 AM
My baby is now 2 years old. she has a fever of 103 for 3 days now. i was told to do tylenol and motrin every 2 hrs. i'm afraid to do so. what should i do to bring her temp down
Posted by: v.l | August 13, 2008 9:59 PM
I have a niece that is 19 mths. old, I have told the parents not to give her tylenol and motrin at the sametime, they say it is o.k. the doctor said to. They give her both meds. when she even is teething. I have told them tell I am blue in the face the grandfather of the baby is a pharmacist and they tell me he says it is ok. My son sees the same doctor i asked him and he said noway.
What else can I do or say to them.
CR
Posted by: cs | August 21, 2008 5:32 PM