Infant Tylenol Warnings and Precautions

Prior to giving your child infant Tylenol, warnings and precautions for the drug should be fully understood. You should not give infant Tylenol to your child if he or she is allergic to any components of the medication. You should not treat your child for a fever for more than three days or pain for more than five days without talking your child's healthcare provider.

 

Infant Tylenol: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your child's healthcare provider prior to using Concentrated Tylenol® Infants' Drops (infant acetaminophen) if your child has:
 
  • Liver disease, such as cirrhosis, liver failure, or hepatitis
  • G6PD deficiency
  • Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
     
Make sure to tell your child's healthcare provider about all other medicines your child is taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(The official name of this product is "Concentrated Tylenol Infants' Drops." However, this article uses the name interchangeably with "infant Tylenol," since this is how the drug is commonly referred to.)
 

Specific Precautions and Warnings for Infant Tylenol

Warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking infant Tylenol include the following:
 
  • Infant Tylenol can damage the liver. Therefore, if your child already has liver problems, you should talk to your child's healthcare provider before using infant Tylenol.
     
  • Infant Tylenol drops contain sodium benzoate, an inactive ingredient that can cause serious problems if given in large quantities to newborns (especially premature or low birth weight newborns). Talk to your child's healthcare provider before using infant Tylenol in newborns.
     
  • Infant Tylenol can interact with other medications (see Infant Tylenol Drug Interactions for more information).
     
  • You should not treat your child for a fever for more than three days or pain for more than five days without talking with your child's healthcare provider. Your child may have a serious problem that requires medical attention. Also, contact your child's healthcare provider if your child's pain or fever gets worse or if swelling is present.
     
  • Let your child's healthcare provider know if your child has a sore throat that is severe, lasts more than two days, or is accompanied by a fever, headache, rash, nausea, or vomiting.
     
  • Infant Tylenol may increase the risk of serious problems in people with G6PD deficiency (a low amount of a certain enzyme in the body). If your child has a G6PD deficiency, talk to his or her healthcare provider before using infant Tylenol.
     
  • Some children who are allergic to salicylates (such as aspirin) may also be allergic to infant Tylenol. However, many children with such allergies can take infant Tylenol without any problems.
     
(Infant Tylenol Warnings and Precautions Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;