Alternating paracetamol/ibuprofen regimen effectively lowers fever in children
An alternating regimen of paracetamol and ibuprofen lowers fever faster than either drug alone in children aged six to 36 months, without increasing adverse effects, according to a paper published in the Archives
of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine this month (2006;160:197).
Researchers in Israel randomised 464 children aged six to 36 months to
receive either paracetamol syrup (12.5mg/kg every six hours) or ibuprofen
suspension (5mg/kg every eight hours) or alternating paracetamol and
ibuprofen every four hours for three days. All children were given a
double loading dose of either paracetamol (25mg/kg) or ibuprofen (10mg/kg).
The researchers found that the group receiving alternating therapy had
a lower mean temperature and more rapid reduction of fever compared with
the single therapy groups (P<0.001). In addition, the alternating
group received fewer antipyretic medicines, had lower stress scores and
required fewer days away from nursery (P<0.001). None of the patients
had a drug-related adverse event or serious illness, the researchers
say.
The researchers highlight that their results cannot be extrapolated to
children younger than six months or to those with renal or hepatic abnormalities.
They also note that all children in their study visited a doctor for
treatment so may have been more seriously ill than children who receive
over-the-counter antipyretics. |
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