b. Usual Dosage. The usual dosage is 325 to 650 mg, every 4-6 hours as
needed, not to exceed 2.6 grams per 24-hour period. The pediatric dose is as follows
(see Table 3-1).
0-3 months
40 mg
4-11 months
80 mg
1-2 years
120 mg
2-3 years
160 mg
4-5 years
240 mg
6-8 years
320 mg
9-10 years
400 mg
11 years
480 mg
Table 3-1. Pediatric dose of Acetaminophen.
c. Adverse Effects. Gastrointestinal irritation is negligible. Prolonged
administration may cause methemoglobinemia and other abnormal pigmentation,
hemolytic anemia, and with large doses, hepatic toxicity.
d. Cautions and Warnings.
(1) Do not exceed the recommended dosage. Consult a physician for use
in children under three years or for oral use longer than 10 days.
(2)
Chronic daily ingestions have resulted in liver damage.
e. Supply. Acetaminophen is supplied as an elixir, containing 160 mg per 5 ml;
as a 10 percent solution in a bottle for pediatric use, supplied with a dropper calibrated
at 0.6 ml; as 325 mg and 500 mg tablets, and as 120 mg, 325 mg, and 650 mg
suppositories.
Section VI. CNS STIMULANTS
3-30. INTRODUCTION
In this lesson, we have discussed many drugs that are depressant to the CNS.
There are many more that we did not mention. Drugs that are used to stimulate the
CNS, on the other hand, are few in number. They stimulate various portions of the
CNS and differ in site and mechanism of action. They are not employed exclusively as
CNS stimulants because they have many other actions. The CNS can be stimulated
only for a brief period, because the excitation is soon followed by depression.
MD0913
3-24
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