Gick asked
Can I give my almost 10 year old (just over 60 pounds) half of a Advil cold and sinus pill. Dosages are for 12 and older but I do t have any child Advil left.
Answer
Advil Cold & Sinus contains two medications:
- Ibuprofen 200 mg used for aches, pain, fever and headache.
- Pseudoephedrine 30 mg is a decongestant used for sinus pressure and nasal congestion. Pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient in Sudafed.
Pediatric dosing based on your child's weight and age does support giving your 10 year old child 1 tablet of Advil Cold & Sinus every 4 to 6 hours with a maximum of 4 tablets in a 24 hour period.
- Dosing in children 6-11 for pseudoephedrine is generally 30 mg by mouth every 4 to 6 hours.
- Ibuprofen is dosed by weight in children and the usual dose for a 10 year old, around 60 pounds, is 200-250 mg per dose.
Additional information on ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine in Advil Cold & Sinus can be found below.
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) pain reliever used for the treatment of aches, pain, fever and headache. It is typically dosed every 4 to 6 hours. Ibuprofen can be hard on the stomach. Taking with food or milk may help decrease stomach upset. Some other possible side effects include:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Fluid retention
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
NSAID medications, like Ibuprofen, have the risk of causing stomach bleeding. Patients with stomach ulcers, bleeding risks, on anti-coagulants (blood thinners) are at a higher risk of having this complication when taking this drug. Patients who consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks a day, also are at a higher risk of complications.
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant used to treat congestion. It is available in both immediate release and extended release products. Immediate release products can be used in children under the age of 12 with correct dose for the patient's age and weight.
Possible side effects to pseudoephedrine include:
- Rapid heart beat
- Hypertension
- Palpitations
- Excitability
- Nervousness
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Tremor
- Nausea and vomiting
Patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, glaucoma, prostate obstruction, renal impairment, seizures and thyroid problems should use with caution and consult his or her health care provider.
Summary
Based on your child's weight and age, it is safe to give your child 1 tablet of Advil Cold & Sinus (ibuprofen 200 mg & pseudoephedrine 30 mg).
Should the product you have contain different amounts of Ibuprofen or pseudoephedrine than what was listed here, please check with your child's doctor or other health care provider before using.
