The Orchard Partnership

Paracetamol and ibuprofen

Adult

	Paracetamol	Ibuprofen
Breakfast	Yes	Yes
Lunchtime	Yes	Yes
Tea-time	Yes	Yes
Bed-time	Yes	No

Adult Paracetamol

• 1g every four hours
• =2x 500mg tablets
• (Considered as adult when 12 years old….. it's all to do with when your liver develops)

Children

(see leaflet on Paracetamol)

• Paracetamol ever four hours
• Ibuprofen every 4 hours, but staggered by 2 hours… eg
  • 0800 Paracetamol
  • 1000 Ibuprofen
  • 1200 Paracetamol
  • 1400 Ibuprofen
  • 1600 Paracetamol
  • …you get the general idea (up to the maximum allowed in a day - worked out from their weight or age - see side of packet)

Tips

• Don't wake them to give them a dose - they'll soon let you know!
• Syringe: great
• We'll give you one (wash after use, can put in dishwasher… pull it apart though)
• Can give one ml at a time into the 'cheek-pouch'… they struggle to spit out such a small volume, and tend to swallow it. This way can give a 5 ml dose in less than 3 minutes with minimum of fuss (used by Paediatric Wards in hospital)

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This is one of a number of Patient Information Leaflets available from the The Orchard Partnership.