Infant and children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen shortage

Updated: April 18, 2023
Date published: October 26, 2022

On this page

• Shortage of infant and children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• What you should do
• Speak to a health care provider/pharmacist
• List of products eligible for importation

Shortage of infant and children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen

There is a current shortage of acetaminophen and ibuprofen products for infants and children across Canada. There has been unprecedented demand for these products, and while supply has increased, we continue to experience shortages.

Health Canada continues to work with the suppliers of these drugs and has provided access to import foreign authorized products.

We are also working with expert groups and those directly affected, listed below, to help increase supply and implement measures to address the shortage:

• manufacturers
• hospitals
• provinces and territories
• health-related associations, such as:
  • Canadian Paediatric Society
  • Canadian Pharmacists Association
• Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada

Learn more:

• Update on supply of children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen products
• Children's ibuprofen/acetaminophen shortage: What you should know and do

What you should do

This medication shortage can be a distressing situation for parents and caregivers. If the shortage has affected you, the following information may help.

DO

• Only buy what you need. We want to make sure that everyone has access to the medications they need.
• Remember that a fever is a sign that the body is fighting an infection. Keep your child comfortable, use cold compresses and have them drink plenty of fluids. Warm baths can help manage pain.
• If you decide to use medication to treat a fever, make sure you:
  • use the right medication for your child's age
    • giving the wrong medicine or the wrong amount can do more harm than good
  • read and follow the dosing information carefully for any product that you use
• Make sure your child's vaccines are up to date to reduce the risk of serious illness.
• Avoid using expired products.

DO NOT

• Use adult fever and pain medications on children under 12 years of age without consulting a health care professional. There is a serious risk of overdosing, especially when administering acetaminophen, and a risk of liver injury in infants and children.
• Obtain these products from unknown sources, such as online groups or third parties.

Speak to a health care provider/pharmacist

Contact your doctor or a qualified health care professional if:

• you are concerned about your child's symptoms
• their fever persists for several days
• they are not acting like themselves:
  • overly sleepy
  • not eating
  • not drinking
• your child is under 6 months old

Your pharmacist can help you choose the right product, based on availability.

List of products eligible for importation

As of April 18, 4,402,310 units of children's pain and fever medications were imported into Canada for hospitals, community pharmacies and retail outlets. This is an additional 910,530 units imported during the period of April 5 and April 18.

This will supplement the increased domestic production of Canadian supply, which remains at record levels.

Products listed below include both acetaminophen and ibuprofen containing products that Health Canada has authorized to be imported to alleviate the shortage.

Related resources

Health Canada:

• Using medications safely
• Body: Caring for a sick child
• Safe use of medication for children
• Health Canada secures additional supply of children's acetaminophen products

Canadian Paediatric Society:

• Fever and temperature taking
• Shortage of children's liquid pain and fever medications

Canadian Pharmacists Association and children's hospitals:

• Information for families and caregivers on children's fever and pain medication
• Clarification: Requirement for prescriptions for Tylenol and Advil for children