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Dicloxacillin Dosage
Available in the form of a capsule, dicloxacillin is an antibiotic that is usually taken every six hours to treat certain bacterial infections. The dicloxacillin dosage your healthcare provider prescribes will depend on the type and severity of the infection, among other factors. The length of treatment will usually continue for at least two days after signs of the infection are gone.
from eMedTV.comAn Introduction to Dosing With Dicloxacillin
The dosage of dicloxacillin your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on factors such as:
- Your age
- Your weight
- The type and severity of the infection being treated
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically tells you to do so.
What Is the Recommended Dicloxacillin Dosage for Adults?
The standard dicloxacillin dosage for treating mild-to-moderate infections in adults is 125 mg every six hours. For severe infections, the recommended amount is dicloxacillin 250 mg every six hours. Oddly enough, this drug is available only in 250-mg and 500-mg capsules, which means a 125-mg dosage is not possible; also, there is no officially recommended usage for the 500-mg capsules.
Dicloxacillin Dosing Guidelines for Children
The standard recommended dose of dicloxacillin for children will vary, depending mostly on the child's weight and the severity of the infection. In general, the standard amount for treating mild-to-moderate infections is 12.5 mg per kg (about 5.7 mg per lb) total per day, split up into four smaller doses given every six hours. For more serious infections, the standard amount is 25 mg per kg (about 13.4 mg per lb) total per day, split up into four smaller doses given every six hours.
Dicloxacillin is available only in capsule form, making it inappropriate for young children who cannot swallow capsules or for small children for whom the available strengths are too much.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD