In this article, we will discuss Cephalosporins – Dosage (Part-I). So, let’s get started.
Cephalosporins
Cefaclor 20-40 mg/kg/day q 8 hr oral (maximum dose 2 g/day). Use higher dose for acute otitis media.
Adult dose: 250 500 mg q8 hr (maximum dose 4 g/day).
(Keflor, distaclor, vercef caps 250 mg, 500 mg, keflor, halocef, distaclor dispersible tabs 125 mg, 250 mg: keflor drops 50 mg per ml; susp 125 mg and 187 mg per 5 ml).
Cefadroxil 30-50 mg/kg/day q 12 hr oral.
Adult dose: 1-2g/day q 12-24 hr.
C/I: Hypersensitivity to cephalosporin.
(Cefadrox kefloxin, cefadur cap 500 mg; odoxil tabs 500 mg, 1g lydroxil cap 500 mg; cefadrox DT, vepan kid 125 mg; cedrox DT, vepan kid 250 mg; cefadrox, bidroxil, cefduxodoxil syrup 125 mg per 5 ml; syrup lydroxil 125 mg, 250 mg/per 5 ml; droxyl syrup 250 mg per 5 ml).
Cefazolin sodium 50-100 mg/kg/day IM, IV q 6 hr. Intravenous infusion is given over 5-10 minutes.
Adult dose: 500 mg-1 g IV or IM q 6-8 hr.
Caution: Safety not established in newborn babies.
(Inj azolin, reflin, cezolin, orizolin, cefadin, ciprid, reflin, sefazol 250 mg, 500 mg, 1 g vials).
Cefdinir 14 mg/kg/day single or two divided doses. Effective coverage of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms with beta-lactamase stability.
Adult dose: 300-600 mg daily q 12-24 hr.
C/I: Hypersensitivity to penicillins or cephalosporins.
(Aldinir, zefdinir, zifnir, zinir, rtist, cefdiel, sefdin, adcef, cednir, adinir dry syrup 125 mg/5 ml, cap 300 mg, zinir-LB tabs 100 mg DT, 150 mg DT and 300 mg).
Cefditoren pivoxil It is a semisynthetic cephalosporin for oral administration. 3 mg/kg/dose q8 hr for 5 days for eradication of Group A Staphylococcus haemolyticus. It is broad spectral against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and S. typhi.
Adult dose: 200 mg q 2-3 hr/day.
(Cefdicare, cefditoren, ceflorin, spectoren, taxitorin, torocef-O, zostum-O tabs 50 mg DT and 200 mg, susp 100 mg/5 ml).
Cefepime Children >2 months: 100 mg/kg/day IV q 12 hr, meningitis, febrile neutropenia, serious infections, cystic
fibrosis: 150 mg/kg/day IV q 8 hr, <2 months: 60 mg/kg/day.
Adult dose: 1 gm q 12 hr IV or IM.
Indication: Broad spectrum activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria. Its antipseudomonal activity is similar to that of ceftazidime.
(Inj ceficad, megapime, maxicef, magnora, novapime, pimera, sefdin 250 mg, 500 mg, 1 g vials).
Cefixime 8 mg/kg/day oral once or twice a day. For enteric fever, 20 mg/kg/day q 12 hr or 24 hr.
Adult dose: 200-400 mg daily q 12–24 hr.
(Taxim-o, zifi, cefi, zofix, omnatax-o, ziprax, cefolac, biotax-o, fixx, extacef tabs, 50 mg DT, 100 mg DT; 200 mg DT, 400 mg syrup taxim-o, zifi, zofix, ziprax, hifen, topcef, ceftas, biotax-o, brutacef, brutacef DS, 50 mg and 100 mg per 5 ml).
Cefoperazone 100-150 mg/kg/day in 2–3 doses IV. Not recommended in meningitis.
Adult dose: 1-2 g IV or IM q 12 hr; maximum 8 g/day.
Caution: It does not cross the blood-brain barrier.
(Inj magnamycin, cefomycin, cefrazo, 3 cef novo 1.5 g, cefkem, cefazone 1 g 2 g vials; myticef 250 mg, 500 mg, 1 g, 2 g vials).
Cefoperazone with sulbactum sodium It has extended equal amount of both. Dose is 40-80 mg/kg/day q 6-12 hr. For spectrum activity against ESBL organisms. Each vial contains serious infections, up to 160 mg/kg/day can be given. (Dose is mentioned in term of cefoperazone). Maximum dose of sulbactam is 80 mg/kg/day (maximum
dose 4 g). If more than 80 mg/kg/day of cefoperazone activity is required, additional cefoperazone should be administered.
Adult dose: 2-4 g/day IV or M q 12 hr (maximum 8 g/day).
(Inj lactagard, cefkem, cefozen, ceftop, magnazone, cefaguard, ceforex, ciso-DS, kefchek, fytobact, kephazon S, kyzone, magnex 500 mg, 1 g 2 g vials; inj sanbax, sulcef, zosul 1 g vial).
Cefotaxime sodium 100-150 mg/kg/day q 6-8 hr. For meningitis, use 200 mg/kg/day q 6 hr.
Adult dose: 1-2 g IM or IV q 12 hr; maximum 12 g/day 96-
8 hr.
C/I: Cephalosporin hypersensitivity.
(Inj claforan, biotax, lyforan, omnatax, sifotaxim, taximevacef, cefotax 250 mg, 500 mg, 1 g per vial).
Cefpirome 30-60 mg/kg/day q 12 hr IV. Higher dose in severe infections. Active against Pseudomonas, Gram-positive organisms including methicillin sensitive staphylococci, coagulase negative staphylococci and Enterococcus faecalis.
Adult dose: 1-2 g 4 12 hr IV.
Indication: Sepsis, skin and soft tissue infections, infections in immunocompromised host, and severe pneumonia.
(Inj cefor, cefrom, forgenrefzil 250 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg: inj ceforth, bacirom 250 mg, 1 g; in IVCef 1 g).
Cefpodoxime proxetil 10 mg/kg/day orally q 12 hr, maximum 400 mg/day, administered with food.
Adult dose: 100-200 mg 2 12 hr oral.
Indication: Covers both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including S. typhi.
(Cepodem XP, cefoprox, cepocor, cefective, cefantib, monotax-cefakind, acepod, cefetil, ceftyl tabs 100 mg, 200 mg, monocef-o, monotax-o, cepodem XP DT 50 mg: syrup 50 mg: and 100 mg per 5 ml).