Acetaminophen
- Commonest non-opioid analgesic used in children
- Inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the CNS and has no sedative effects
- Provides a minimal anti-inflammatory effect
- No gastritis, no inhibition of platelet function
- Standard dose is 15 mg/kg every 4 - 6 hours.
Anti-pyretic action and so if there is a risk of febrile neutropenia should not be used - as infection might be masked.
Here is a link for:
Calculating the dose of Acetaminophen
Information about Acetaminophen overdose and toxicity
Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin are CONTRAINDICATED in pediatric oncology patients.
- Risk of bleeding (adverse effects on platelet function)
- Reye's syndrome with aspirin
Inhibit peripheral cyclooxygenases
Codeine
- Weak Opioid
- 0.5 to 1 mg/kg every 4 hours
- Codeine is a pro-drug and is O-demethylated to morphine as the active agent
- 4 - 14% of patients lack the enzyme functions to convert codeine to morphine
- Will not mask a fever if a child is at risk for neutropenia.
See also Pain Control in Palliative Care
