Motrin For Children: Safety, Usage, Dosage And Side Effects

Image: Shutterstock

The pediatric version of Motrin for children is used to treat pain and fever. It is an over-the-counter pain relief medicine that contains Ibuprofen of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug family. The working mechanism involves the interference of prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins are a group of compounds that induce swelling and pain following an injury (1).

Some other medicines, such as Nurofen, Ibugesic, and Brufen, also consist of the same drug as their main ingredient. Additionally, ibuprofen can also be used in combination with paracetamol.

Read on to learn more about Motrin, including its variants, safety for children, required dosage, and more.

What Are The Variants Of Motrin?

The Motrin brand of pediatric ibuprofen is available in two variants for children   (2) (3).

•  Infant’s Motrin: The manufacturer makes this version for infants of six to 23 months old. It is available in oral suspension (liquid) form only.

Tessa Rayanne, a mother of four, used Motrin to alleviate her baby’s teething pain. Sharing her experience, she says, “Our sweet little Cash (her baby) turned eight months old last week!… He has started to finally sleep through the night for 12 hours, but we still have plenty of nights when he wakes up once because his gums hurt. He has the four top teeth coming in all at once; the poor little guy fights through the pain each day, drooling, hands, and everything in the mouth to try to remedy it. We give him infant motrin if it gets bad; it’s really hard to see him in pain, so I give him lots of love and extra attention when he’s teething (i).”

• Children’s Motrin: It is meant for children from the age of 24 months to 11 years. You can buy this version either as a liquid or as a chewable tablet.

Each variant comes with guidelines about the dosage based on the weight of the child (4).

Quick tip

Do not give chewable tablets to children below six years due to the risk of choking (9).

Is Motrin Safe for Children?

Motrin is a relatively safe analgesic to use for children, provided it is given within the prescribed dosage.

A clinical and safety review of the medicine showed that short-term (less than seven days) use of ibuprofen for mild to moderate pain relief has good safety and tolerability among pediatric patients (5). Additionally, ibuprofen aids in providing relief from headaches, toothache, joint pain, and muscle pain and acts as a fever reducer.

Nevertheless, it is always important to talk to your child’s doctor before giving Motrin, especially if it is bought as a prescription-free medication and if you are considering using it for a child below two.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), the safety and effectiveness of Motrin suspension below the age of six months have not been established (6). Therefore, never give Motrin to a baby younger than six months, without doctor consultation.

What Is The Safe Age To Start Motrin Dosage?

Image: Shutterstock

Since the safety of the drug is not established among infants, it is ideal to consult a doctor before administering Motrin to babies and toddlers. The manufacturer recommends doctor’s consultation for using Children’s Motrin for children under the age of two years. Do not give ibuprofen more than four times in 24 hours without a discussion with your healthcare provider.

Be watchful

In case of an overdose of ibuprofen, contact the nearest emergency room. Activated charcoal may be given to the child within an hour to stop the absorption of medicine by the body (10).

Infant Motrin dosage chart as recommended by the manufacturer

Children’s Motrin dosage chart as recommended by the manufacturer

Oral suspension 100mg/5ml

Chewable tablets 100mg/ chewable tablet

Note: This is a dosage chart indicated by the manufacturer, if your child’s doctor prescribes a different dosage, then you should follow it.

Who Should Not Take Ibuprofen (Motrin)?

Image: IStock

Ibuprofen may not be suitable for children:

• Known to have an allergic reaction to ibuprofen or have a history of drug allergies.
• Who have asthma, liver, kidney problems, heart problem, or inflammatory bowel syndromeⁱXA chronic condition caused by a group of digestive tract disorders resulting in inflammation of the intestines. (7)

Side Effects Of Motrin In Children

Image: Shutterstock

Motrin is generally well-tolerated by children; however, there could be a few side effects:

1. In some children, especially in those who are allergic to aspirin, ibuprofen can cause allergic reactions such as:

• HivesⁱXA common skin rash causing itchiness due to certain foods or medications.
• Facial swelling
• Asthma
• Shock
• Skin reddening
• Rash
• Blisters

If you find any of these symptoms in your child, stop using the medicine, and seek medical consultation.

Image: Shutterstock

2. Ibuprofen might cause stomach bleeding if your child:

• Has a previous history of stomach ulcers or bleeding problems
• Is on an anticoagulant or a steroid drug
• Is taking other drugs containing NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen)
• Has taken Motrin for a long time

3. Severe sore throat accompanied by high fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting may occur in some children, especially under the age of three years when given for several days.

So, always consult your doctor before giving this medicine to your child; strictly follow the prescribed dosages and do not opt for non-prescribed medications (3).

Never give Ibuprofen to a child that might be dehydrated due to any reason, such as vomiting or diarrhea, without first seeing your healthcare provider.

Point to consider

Try to give ibuprofen to your child along with food to avoid stomach upset (10).

Symptoms Of Motrin Overdose In Children

Accidental overdose of Motrin can cause adverse effects in children. Symptoms of Motrin overdose include:

• Nausea, vomiting, dyspeptic symptomsⁱXIndigestion characterized by gas, heartburn, and abdominal pain. , and abdominal pain.
• Renal failureⁱXA condition when the kidneys lose their capacity to filter wastes from the body.
• Generalized seizures, depressed level of consciousness and apneaⁱXA sleep disorder causing breathing to repeatedly stop and start, leading to snoring and fatigue. (8)
• Slurred speech
• Leg swelling
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain

If you are giving Motrin for the first time, then it is advised to carefully read the instructions and measure the dosage accurately to avoid overdosing your child. If accidental overdosing occurred and you noticed any of these symptoms, then take your child to the doctor.

This post is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for a doctor’s consultation. Do not use any medication without talking to your doctor.

Infographic: How Ibuprofen May Affect Stomach Functioning?

NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen have been found to affect the gastric mucosa adversely. Understanding these side effects may help devise strategies to reduce them. The infographic below enables you to get an insight.

Save

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Share

Discover proper guidelines for administering Advil/Motrin or Tylenol to ensure your child’s safety. Acquire accurate information regarding the appropriate usage and timing of these medications for your little one.

Was this article helpful?

The following two tabs change content below.

• Reviewer
• Author
• Editor
• Fact-checker

Dr. Wayne HoughMBChB, MMed, FC Paeds

Dr. Wayne Hough is a pediatrician with around six years of experience in the field. He is currently based in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town in South Africa. Dr. Hough got his medical degree from the University of Stellenbosch. He then worked at the Tygerberg Children's Hospital before completing his pediatric training and qualification from the South African College...more

shreeja pillaiMSc

Shreeja holds a postgraduate degree in Chemistry and diploma in Drug Regulatory Affairs from the University of Mumbai. Before joining MomJunction, she worked as a research analyst with a leading multinational pharmaceutical company. Her interest in the field of medical research has developed her passion for writing research-based articles. As a writer of more than two years experience, she aims...more

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in...more

Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD

Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer. Her research work was published in international journals and publications, such...more