Paracetamol is a potentially toxic medication that should be prescribed according to ideal body weight, not actual body weight.
Paracetamol is a fat-soluble medication with zero order (linear) pharmacokinetics.
Prescribing paracetamol must be done using the following guidelines:
- dose is calculated at 15-20mg/kg for first dose and 15mg/kg thereafter.
- maximum single dose is 1g (adult dose), which can be given to all children once 50kg.
- oral and IV dosing are the same.
- use ideal body weight (in overweight children), not actual body weight.
- for information on how to do this, please see the medication prescribing in children page.
- dosing interval is no closer than 4 hourly, with a maximum dose of 60mg/kg/day.
- neonatal paracetamol dosing uses different rules, please refer to the relevant guideline.