If you have children who have ever been sick, the name Apiretal sounds familiar. It is an oral solution medicine used mainly to lower fever in children. And to remove any minor pain or discomfort. However, it is neither more nor less than Paracetamol, this being its active principle. Apiretal is one of the most used drugs in children, along with Dalsy (ibuprofen). It does not come in the same way as for adults since children need to take lower doses and not be able to take pills. And that is why the oral solution is much more comfortable for the child to ingest and calculate the dose. And what dose should you take? This will depend on the child’s weight and not on age, so be careful. Therefore, many parents hesitate to give it to the baby. In this FastlyHealarticle, we explain the appropriate Apiretal dose according to the child’s weight.
Table of Contents
What is the Apiretal for
Apiretal is nothing more than Paracetamol, although in another form of presentation. Therefore, it is an analgesic that can help with mild or moderate pain and acts as an antipyretic by lowering the fever. Of course, since it is indicated in children and babies, the concentration is lower, 100 mg of Paracetamol for each milliliter of Apiretal.
The oral solution is the most common form of presentation. Although it can also be found in dispersible tablets or suppositories, they are much less used.
Apiretal is a “basic medication,” It is what is usually in the medicine cabinet when you have children. Like Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for adults, Apiretal and Dalsy are essential for children.
For this reason, both the expiration date and the date we open the bottle must be considered. It is essential to know that Apiretal can last about six months, but it should be discarded after this time. Medications are not thrown away and are taken to a collection point in any pharmacy.
Dosage of Apiretal for babies and children according to weight
As we have said, Apiretal is not based on the child’s age but weight. It is intended for use in children between 3 and 32 kg and, therefore, dosages will be based on weight.
It should be taken into account that the recommended daily dose of Paracetamol is approximately 60 mg per day divided into 4 or 6 daily doses, so 15 mg is usually taken every 6 hours or 10 mg every 4 hours.
Apiretal can be counted with a dropper using the dispenser that comes with it. This is very convenient to give the correct dose to a baby under three years, thus dosing the medicine properly. Each drop would be 4 mg. However, there is also a syringe to dose the medicine, this time in ml, for oral use. This is convenient for children over three years old but not younger babies since it is more difficult to calculate the drops.
Apiretal: dosage
Considering the indication of 15 mg every 6 hours of Apiretal, we will see the doses indicated for each child according to weight. In addition, we include an age range, but you must bear in mind that it is indicative, and you should not look at the age but rather the weight of the child:
- Children up to 4 kg (from 0 to 3 months approximately) should take 0.6 ml, equivalent to 60 mg and 15 drops.
- Up to 8 kg (4 to 11 months), the dose will be 1.2 ml, which is 120 mg and is equivalent to 30 drops.
- Up to 10.5 kg (from 12 to 23 months approximately), a dose of 1.6 ml corresponds to 160 mg, 40 drops.
- Children weighing up to 13 kg (2 to 3 years) will take 2 ml, 200 mg, and 50 drops.
- Up to 18.5 kg (4 to 5 years) will take 2.8 ml or 280 mg. It is no longer necessary to count it in drops, using the syringe to measure the ml.
- Up to 4 kg (6 to 8 years), the dose is 3.6 ml or 360 mg.
- And finally, up to 32 kg (9 to 10 years), the dose is 4.8 ml or 480 mg.
To calculate it more quickly, if you do not have time to look for the dose, you can perform a calculation that consists of multiplying the child’s weight by 0.15, and the result will be the ml of Apiretal that you have to administer to the child.
Apiretal: every how many hours
These doses will be given every 6 or 8 hours. However, the effect of Apiretal is usually a maximum of 1 to 3 hours after application and usually lasts between 3 or 4 hours. Therefore, if after 3 or 4 hours the symptoms do not reduce or remit, the dose can be advanced every 4 hours, taking 10 mg instead of 15 mg.
How to take Apiretal
To give Apiretal to your baby, it is better to do it on an empty stomach since the effects are faster, but it is expected that the baby finds it challenging to take it. Therefore, try to pour the droplets into a teaspoon and spoon them instead of pouring them directly into his mouth, which may cost him more, or make him like it less. Unless the baby is tiny, it is better to put the drops directly on him and check that they have entered.
If your child vomits the dose of Apiretal you just gave, they probably have a food allergy. The Apiretal has a characteristic reddish color given by the red dye E-122. You will likely get an allergy, so if this happens, you can either go to the pharmacy and ask for one without dye from another brand or give Dalsy (Ibuprofen) instead of Apiretal. However, do not forget to take him to the doctor to treat this intolerance.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Apiretal: dose for children according to weight, we recommend that you enter our category of Medication and medical tests.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.