As parents we have many decisions to make regarding our children. Which diapers or formula to use, when to give them table food, but which medicine to give them many be one of the most important decisions we make. Time has changed our decision on this subject. Parent’s use to choose between Tylenol and baby aspirin, but it was discovered that giving children aspirin could increase the chances of Rye Syndrome, a deadly disease.
With the elimination of aspirin, the decision of which medicine was clearly Tylenol. It wasn’t until October 1995 that Motrin introduced the first children’s OTC form of Ibuprofen. In 1989 there were 11 million prescriptions written for children’s Motrin as a fever reducer. The McNeil Consumer Products Company markets Children’s Motrin and Children’s Tylenol. The have been in the business of children fever reducers for more than four decades. Tylenol is still the number one seller in children fever reducer’s. Let’s review the benefit each medicine can provide.
Children’s Tylenol is the number one trusted fever reducer among doctors and parents. Tylenol’s active ingredient is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen is the most gentle on the lining of the stomach since it does not block the substance that carries pain messages to the brain. This substance also protects the lining of the stomach. NSAID do block this substance and therefore can cause more stomach irritation. Tylenol can reduce fever for about 4 hours. Dosing can be repeated every 4 hours up to 5 times in a 24-hour period. This only gives you 20 hours of fever reducing in a 24-hour period.
Tylenol is also recommended to relieve pain from minor aches and pain due to the common cold, flu, headaches, toothaches, sore throat and immunizations. My pediatrician personally recommends giving a dose of Tylenol before each immunization to help reduce pain and the occasion on set of fever due to the shots. I have also used Tylenol to reduce pain from teething, as well.
Children’s Motrin has come to be the number two trusted fever reducer on the market by doctors and parents. The active ingredient in Motrin is ibuprofen it is a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). It does block the substance that protects the lining of the stomach.6 Motrin has a much longer dosing period though. One dose can last from 6-8 hours. Motrin can be give up to 4 times per day possibly allowing for a full 24 hours of fever reduction. Motrin also comes with a rather long list of side effects and warning. It is not to be given to children allergic to aspirin. Although their first interaction with this allergic reaction will most likely be Motrin since aspirin is no longer given to children.
Motrin is also recommended for relieve of minor aches and pain due to the common cold, flu, sore throat, headaches and toothaches. It is not recommended for immunizations though. It is also important not to give Motrin with other NSAID your child may be taking. It can be taken with food or milk to help reduce stomach irritation. My physician has recommended Motrin to be used when my child has a high fever over 102.5 to help quickly reduce the fever.
It has been my experience that Motrin is best to reduce a high fever more quickly than Tylenol. It not only helps to bring the fever down but also typically keeps the fever down longer than Tylenol does. Tylenol is still my first defense against minor aches and pains such as teething and low grade fevers. It is nice to have a second choice when it comes to medicating your child.
I had sworn never to use Motrin after all the reports of children going blind from an allergic reaction to ibuprofen. My daughter was first given Motrin in the doctor’s office when I had taken her in with a high fever. They immediately gave her a dose of Motrin and even calmed my fevers of the product. They said that it was the best for high fevers to reduce them quickly. I was amazed at how fast the Motrin worked and how long it kept her fever down. I only use Motrin to reduce high fevers and keep Tylenol around for everyday aches and pains and low-grade fevers.
Both products are good but for me they have two very different uses. I keep Motrin around as a back up in case Tylenol is just not strong enough for major illness like high fevers. Tylenol still remains my number one choice for treating my daughters for fever, aches and pains.
