Calpol 120mg suspension
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Calpol 120mg/5ml suspension dosage chart indications
Calpol 120mg suspension is a pediatric oral formulation of paracetamol (acetaminophen) 120mg per 5ml, used to relieve pain and reduce fever (e.g. post-vaccination fever, teething, headache, toothache, cold/flu symptoms, earache) in infants and young children.
What it's used for
- Mild to moderate pain (headache, toothache, earache, body aches)
- Fever/high temperature, including post-vaccination fever in infants
Mechanism
Paracetamol works centrally, inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis (COX inhibition) in the CNS with weak peripheral anti-inflammatory activity, giving it analgesic and antipyretic effects without significant GI or antiplatelet effects.
Dosing (by age/weight)
General UK (Calpol/NHS) dosing for the 120mg/5ml infant suspension:
| Age | Dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 months (post-vaccination fever only, >4kg, not premature) | 2.5ml | Max 2 doses, ≥4 hrs apart |
| 3-6 months | 2.5ml | Up to 4x/24h, ≥4h apart |
| 6-24 months | 5ml | Up to 4x/24h |
| 2-4 years | 7.5ml | Up to 4x/24h |
| 4-6 years | 10ml | Up to 4x/24h |
Weight-based textbook dosing (used more generally, e.g. in dosing charts): 10-15 mg/kg/dose every 4-6 hours, max 4 doses in 24 hours, not exceeding 75-100 mg/kg/day (- Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine; general pediatric guidance). Children over 6 years typically move to the stronger 250mg/5ml ("six plus") suspension.
Key safety points
- Shake the bottle well before use; always measure with the syringe/spoon supplied, not a household spoon.
- Leave at least 4-6 hours between doses; do not exceed 4 doses in 24 hours.
- Do not give for more than 3 days without medical advice.
- Never combine with other paracetamol-containing products (cold/flu remedies, other analgesics) - risk of overdose and hepatotoxicity.
- Overdose (>150 mg/kg in children) can cause severe hepatotoxicity via saturation of glucuronide/sulfate conjugation, leading to accumulation of the toxic metabolite NAPQI - Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology; treated with N-acetylcysteine if ingestion is significant.
- Generally considered safe in the recommended dose range, including for most children, but caution and medical advice are needed in those with hepatic impairment or malnutrition.
If you want, I can go over specific weight-based dosing for a particular child's age/weight, drug interactions, or overdose management in more detail.
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