Paracetamol for children (Calpol)

NHS information on paracetamol for children, including what it's used for, side effects, how to take it and who can take it.

This information is for children aged 17 years or under. There's separate information about paracetamol for adults.

What paracetamol is for

Paracetamol can help with lots of types of pain that can affect children, such as:

• aches and pains
• teething pain
• earache
• sore throat
• pain from a cold and flu

Paracetamol can also help if your child is distressed or uncomfortable because they have a high temperature (fever).

How to give paracetamol and how much to give (dose)

There are several types of paracetamol for children, including:

• liquid (also called oral suspension)
• tablets and capsules
• suppositories (long, narrow tablets you put into your child's bottom)

How you give it and how much to give depends on the type of paracetamol, your child's age and sometimes their weight.

Always check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine. Ask a pharmacist, doctor or nurse at your GP surgery for advice if you're not sure how to use it or your child has problems taking it.

How to give common types of paracetamol for children

Side effects of paracetamol

Children do not usually get any side effects after taking paracetamol.

Serious side effects

Rarely, paracetamol can cause serious side effects.

Serious side effects in children can include:

• an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) – causing symptoms such as a swollen throat or tongue, a raised and itchy rash, and difficulty breathing
• a problem with their liver – causing symptoms such as feeling sick (nausea) and their skin or white part of their eyes turning yellow (jaundice), but this may be harder to notice on black or brown skin
• a problem with their blood cells – causing symptoms such as bruising easily and nosebleeds

More about side effects

These are not all the serious side effects of paracetamol.

For a full list, see the leaflet that comes with your medicine or search for your medicine on the electronic medicines compendium (EMC) website.

You can report any side effects your child gets on the Yellow Card website

Who can and cannot take paracetamol

Most children over 2 months old can take paracetamol.

But paracetamol is not suitable for all children. For example, it may not be suitable if your child:

• has had an allergic reaction to paracetamol before
• has a kidney or liver condition

Check the packet or leaflet that comes with the medicine to see if it's suitable for your child. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure they should take it.

Giving paracetamol with other medicines, food and drink

There are some medicines, remedies and supplements that may not mix well with paracetamol.

This includes:

• other medicine containing paracetamol, such as cold and flu medicine
• medicines that stop you being sick, including metoclopramide and domperidone
• the antibiotic flucloxacillin

Check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if it's suitable for your child. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure if they can take it.

Giving paracetamol with ibuprofen

If you've been giving your child paracetamol but it's not helping their symptoms, you can try giving them ibuprofen for children instead if it's suitable for your child.

Do not give ibuprofen and paracetamol at the same time. But you can alternate between them if a health professional such as a doctor or nurse tells you to.

If a health professional advises you to do this, it can help to write down when you gave each medicine to make sure the doses are spaced evenly and to avoid giving too much.

Ibuprofen can be given 3 to 4 times in 24 hours, depending on your child's age and dose. Check the packet or leaflet that comes with the medicine.

Food and drink with paracetamol

Your child can eat and drink normally when taking paracetamol

Find out more about your medicine

To find out more about your medicine, you can:

• check the leaflet that comes with it
• search for the medicine leaflet on the electronic medicines compendium (EMC) website
• find out more about paracetamol for mild-to-moderate pain on the Medicines for Children website
• speak to a pharmacist for advice