Antibiotic Doses

For convenience only.  Please consult full prescribing information.
Standard Doses (certain infections require special dosing)
Maximum pediatric dose is the adult dose
 
Amoxicillin-Clavulante 500 mg/125 mg T.I.D. or 875 mg/125 mg B.I.D.
  • Peds: see below
Azithromycin (Adult):  500 mg on Day #1, then 250 mg daily x4 more days
  • Alternative: 500 mg daily x3 days
  • Alternative (extended-release suspension): 2 gm single dose
  • Chlamydia (STD): Extended-release suspension 1 gm single dose
Azithromycin (Peds):  10 mg/kg on Day#1, then 5mg/kg daily x4 more days
  • Alternative: 10 mg/kg daily x3 days
  • Alternative: 30 mg/kg as single dose (max. 1500 mg)
Cefazolin 1 gm IM
  • Peds: 50 mg/kg IM
Ceftriaxone 1 gm IM
  • Peds: 50 mg/kg IM
Cefuroxime 250 mg B.I.D.
  • Peds: 20-30 mg/kg/d in 2 divided doses
Cephalexin 500 mg Q.I.D.
  • Peds: 25-50 mg/kg/d in 4 divided doses
Clarithromycin 500 mg B.I.D.
  • Peds:  15 mg/kg/d in 2 divided doses
Clindamycin 300-600 mg T.I.D.
  • Peds: 10-40 mg/kg/d divided in q8h doses
Dicloxacillin 500 mg   Q.I.D.
  • Peds: 25-50 mg/kg/d in 4 divided doses
Doxycycline 100 mg B.I.D.
  • Peds >8 y.o.: 2 mg/kg/dose B.I.D.
Levofloxacin 500 mg daily
  • Peds: Avoid
  • 10-20 mg/kg/d for Pen-allergic without other options
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole DS, 1 tab B.I.D. *
  • Peds: See below

* I’ve seen a variety of oral TMP-SMX doses used for MRSA.  The Infectious Disease Society of America Guidelines hedge: DS Tablets: 1-2 B.I.D. for 5-10 days.  Don’t worry about an overdose: for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in AIDS, the dose is 2 tabs Q.I.D.

Peds:  complicated descriptions

Amoxicillin-clavulanate (doses in terms of amoxicillin component):

  > Preparations:
  • “Standard”: 125 mg or 250 mg / 5 cc
  • “Newer”: 200 mg or 400 mg/5cc suspensions; 200 mg or 400 mg chewable tabs
  • “Newer” more expensive, not always covered by insurance
  > Dosing:
  • “Standard”:  20-40 mg amoxicillin/kg/day in q8h dosing
  • “Newer”: 25-45 mg amoxicillin/kg/day in q12h dosing

Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (doses in terms of TMP component)

   > Preparations:
  • “Double-Strength” (DS) tab = TMP 160 mg + SMX 800 mg
  • “Single-Strength” tab = TMP 80 mg + SMX 400 mg
  • Suspension = TMP 40 mg + SMX 200 mg per 5 ml.

> Dosing: 8-12 mg trimethoprim/kg/day in 2 divided doses

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