Assessment and Management of Pediatric Trauma
Module 6: Pediatric Trauma Analgesia and Sedation
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Analgesia: Non-sedating Medications

Medication Class Most Common Uses Dosage Duration Pros Cons
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Aleve) NSAID Mild pain or adjunct PO: 10 mg/kg 6-8 h Good analgesia especially for musculoskeletal pain Bleeding risk, gastric acid suppression, kidney injury, oral formulation only
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Analgesic/antipyretic Mild pain or adjunct PO, PR, or IV: 12.5-15 mg/kg 4-6 h Good adjunct used with almost all types of pain. Multiple routes of administration Liver injury in overdose, often found in combination analgesics
Ketorolac (Toradol) NSAID Moderate pain or adjunct IV: 0.5 mg/kg 4-6 h Good analgesia, especially for musculoskeletal pain. Stronger and faster-acting than ibuprofen Risk of bleeding, peptic ulceration, kidney injury
Module 6: Pediatric Trauma Analgesia and Sedation