What do Advil children’s products treat?
Advil children’s products are used to treat aches, pains, or fever. The active ingredient in Advil products for children is ibuprofen, which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen blocks certain substances in the body that cause pain, inflammation, and fever. Advil products for children are available in chewable tablets and oral liquids.
There are Advil products for children as young as 6 months old.
What are the possible side effects of Advil children’s products?
Some possible side effects of ibuprofen, which is the active ingredient in Advil products for children, include the following.
- Stomach pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Gas or heartburn
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Rash
- Bleeding
If an Advil product upsets your child’s stomach, you can give it with food or milk to reduce the risk of this happening.
Stop using the medicine if you develop a rash or hives. Get medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
What should I know before using Advil children’s products?
The dosing of Advil products for children is based on your child’s weight or age. When possible, use your child’s weight to see which dose to give. Using weight to calculate doses is more accurate than using age. If you do not know how much your child weighs or have a way to check their weight, you can use the child’s age to see what dose to give.
Be sure to shake oral liquid Advil products for children before measuring the dose. This helps to make sure the medicine is evenly mixed up so that your child gets the right dose. All the oral liquid Advil products for children should come with a dosing cup or oral syringe. You should always use this to measure doses. If you no longer have the dosing cup or oral syringe that came with the product, ask your pharmacist which measuring device to use. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to measure the wrong dose.
Watch your child for signs of dehydration. Your child may lose too much water if they have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. If your child has not been drinking fluids or may be dehydrated, talk to your health care provider before giving them an Advil product.
Your child should not take any other over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medicine with ibuprofen or any other NSAID in it while taking an Advil product. If you are not sure which medicines are NSAIDs or have ibuprofen in them, ask your pharmacist. You should not give an Advil product to your child if any of these apply.
- Sore throat and younger than 3 years old (unless recommended by a health care provider)
- Past allergic reaction to another pain reliever or fever-reducing medicine
- Right before or after heart surgery
Your child should stop taking Advil products and you should contact their health care provider if any of the following happen or apply.
- No relief at all after taking it for 24 hours
- Fever or pain gets worse instead of better or lasts longer than three days
- Sore throat that lasts longer than two days
- Redness or swelling in the painful area
- Stomach bleeding symptoms, such as feeling faint, vomiting blood, bloody or black poop, or stomach pain that will not go away
- Heart problem or stroke symptoms, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness on one side of the body, swelling of the legs, or slurred speech
- New symptoms appear
There may be side effects, additional warnings, and interactions with other medicines that are not listed here. These may vary depending on the combination of ingredients in the specific Advil product you are using. Always check the label before taking any over-the-counter medicine. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your health conditions and other medicines to help determine which products are safe for your child.
Which Advil product is right for my child’s symptoms?
Use the table below to help you find the best Advil product to treat your child’s symptoms.
| Child’s Age and Symptoms | Children’s Advil Product |
|---|---|
| Infants 6 to 23 months old with fever or minor aches and pains from the common cold, flu, headaches, and toothaches | Infants’ Advil Concentrated Drops |
| Children 2 to 11 years old with fever or minor aches and pains from the common cold, flu, headaches, sore throat, and toothaches | Junior Strength Advil Chewables Children’s Advil Suspension Sugar-Free Children’s Advil Suspension
|