Table 3. Recommended dosages for paracetamol*1.
| Single initial dose at start of therapy (mg/kg) | Follow-on dose (mg/kg) | Dose interval (h) | Max. daily dose (mg/kg/day) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rectal | ||||
| Premature infants 28th–30th GW | 20 | 15 | 12 | 35 |
| Premature infants 31st–38th GW | 20 | 15 | 12 | 45 |
| Newborns and infants up to age 6 months | 30 | 15 | 8 | 60 |
| Infants after 6th month | 35–45 | 15–20 | 6–8 | 60 |
| Young children >1 year | 35–45 | 15–20 | (4–)6 | 75 |
| Children >6 years | 35–45 | 15–20 | (4–)6 | 90 Absolute maximum 4000 mg/day |
| Oral | ||||
| Newborns and infants up to age 6 month | 20 | 20 | 8 | 60 |
| Infants after 6th month | 30 | 10–20 | (4–)6 | 60 |
| Young children >1 year | 30 | 15 | (4–)6 | 75 |
| Children >6 years | 30 | 15 | (4–)6 | 90 Absolute maximum 4000 mg/day |
| Intravenous | ||||
| All age groups | 15 | 15 | 6 | 60 Absolute maximum 4000 mg/day |
After rectal administration the peak plasma level is only reached after 2 to 3 hours because of slow and variable absorption (e18).
For oral or rectal administration a saturation dose should be given on starting treatment. For intravenous therapy the saturation dose is not required.
Maximal analgesia is achieved 1 to 2 hours after rapid (within 10 min) intravenous administration (e18). Because of the narrow therapeutic range the age adapted maximum daily dose should not be exceeded and not administered for longer than 48 hours;