Home > OTC Drugs > Tylenol > Tylenol Dosage

Tylenol Dosage

by on June 28, 2012

Regular Strength Tylenol (325 mg acetaminophen):

Dose for adults and children over 12 years old:

  • Take 2 tablets every 4-6 hours. The maximum daily dose is 10 tablets.

Dose for children 6-11 years:

  • The recommended dose is 1 tablet every 4-6 hours. The maximum daily dose is 5 tablets.

Extra Strength Tylenol:

It is available as tablets and oral suspension. Each tablet and each tablespoon of the suspension contain 500 mg acetaminophen.

Dose for adults and children over 12 years:

  • The recommended dose is 2 tablets (or 2 tablespoons=30 ml) of the suspension every six hours but not more than 6 tablets (or 6 tablespoons) in 24 hours.

Tylenol Arthritis Pain (650 mg acetaminophen):

  • Take 2 tablets every 8 hours. Do not take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours.
  • Do not give to children under 18 years of age.

Tylenol Sinus and Allergy includes several products containing 325 or 500 mg acetaminophen and other active ingredients.

Dose for adults and children over 12 years:

The recommended dosage is 2 tablets every four hours but not more than 12 tablets a day. This applies to all the medicines of this group except Tylenol Sinus Severe Congestion Daytime and Tylenol Severe Allergy. The maximum daily dose of them is 8 tablets. Always read the labels before taking any drugs.

Most of the Cold and Flu Tylenol products contain 325 mg acetaminophen in a single tablet or tablespoon (15 ml). The recommended dose for adults and children over 12 years old is 2 tablets (or 2 tablespoons) of the liquid every 4 hours. Not more than 12 tablets (or 12 tablespoons) a day should be taken.

Tylenol Cold and Cough Night and Tylenol Cold Sore Throat contain 500 mg acetaminophen. That’s why adults and children over 12 years old should take 2 tablets (or 2 tablespoons) of the liquid every 6 hours. The maximum daily dose is 8 tablets or tablespoons.

The recommended dose of Tylenol PM for adults and children above 12 years old is 1-2 tablets at bedtime. You should not take more than this.

Tylenol is also available in children’s formulations. The recommended doses are:

  • 2-3 years - 160 mg
  • 4-5 years - 240 mg
  • 6-8 years - 320 mg
  • 9-10years - 400mg
  • 11 years - 480 mg

These doses should not be repeated more than 5 times a day.

Some of the children’s products contain active ingredients other than acetaminophen and should not be used in children under 5 years. Different doses may apply to them. Always read the labels before giving medicines to children.

Senior patients: No dose adjustment is required.

  • Do not take more than 4000 mg of acetaminophen a day as this poses risk of severe liver failure.
  • Stop taking Tylenol and consult a doctor if you have fever for more than 3 days or pain for more than 10 days (or 5 days in children).
  • Do not take Tylenol with other medicines containing acetaminophen or paracetamol as this can cause overdose.
Back to Top