Fevers......question..........

[cindys732003]

Can anyone tell me what the deal is with alternating Tylenol/motrin? Is it better to alternate them, can you give it more often you do? Does it work better keeping a fever down if you alternate? Is there anything wrong with just using Motrin?
TIA!!!

[kscwgirl]

It works better and you can alternate every 2 hours

[pewtertm]

Our pedi told us that they both work in slightly different ways, and Rachel's fevers HAVE come down quite a bit faster when we alternate the two.

[BrattyMeg]

I start with Tylenol and alternate 2 hours later with Motrin then 2 hours again with Tylenol if needed and I stop after that...

The thing with Motrin I think it's only supposed to be given every 8-12 hours so I usually only do 1 dose...it can be kinda hard to the kiddo's tummy

[BrattyMeg]

oh was going to say I prefer Motrin...I think it works better for fevers but if it doesn't come down after a dose and 2 hours later with the tylenol I feel kinda stuck...so I try and start with Tylenol

[emmasmommy]

what Meg said...

[nanienamou]

I personnaly never alternate when the fever comes down good after one dose of tylenol or motrin.

I prefer lukewarm baths (not cold, as they will shiver). Usually does the trick very well here combined with one dose of Motrin or tylenol.

[cindys732003]

So just to clarify.....If I started with Motrin......and his fever hasn't come down much, then 2 hours later I can give him Tylenol? I thought it was 4 hours for some reason? We've just been doing the Motrin every 8 hours, but his fever isn't going down a lot. TIA!

[nanienamou]

Yes, two hours later.

[krystalhartley]

The main reason is so that you can get 2 kinds of fever reducing meds in their system. Tylenol is HARD on the liver and can't be administered in larger doses or more frequently without becoming toxic to the system. Motrin can be given more frequently and in larger doses, but it can also cause stomach irritability.

[cindys732003]

thanks for the info everyone

[Julie Billingsley]

hugs to your little guy

[schock77]

Alternate- check out Dr.Sears website for info on why... HTH! Hugs for him!

[*Kelly*]

I just dealt with my 15 month old having a viral infection with 103 fever on and off for 3 days. Pedi told me Tylenol every 4 hours and Motrin every 6 hours. You can do 2-4 hours between the two as long as you are 4 hours from tylenol to tylenol and 6 hours from motrin to motrin. It took awhile for Kieran's fever to come down.. a good 2 hours plus multiple baths with both tylenol and the motrin.