Cefotax Dosage/Direction for Use

It is given as the sodium salt by deep intramuscular injection or intravenously by slow injection over 3 to 5 minutes or by infusion over 20 to 60 minutes. Doses are expressed in terms of the equivalent amount of cefotaxime; 1.05 g of cefotaxime is equivalent to about 1 g of cefotaxime. It is usually given in doses of 2 to 6 g daily in to 2 to 4 divided doses to adults. In severe infections up to 12 g may be given daily by intravenous route in up to 6 divided doses; pseudomonal infections usually require more than 6g daily, but a cephalosporin with greater antipseudomonal activity, such as ceftazidime, is preferrable. Children may be given 100 to 150 mg/kg body weight (50 mg/kg for neonates) daily in 2 to 4 divided doses, increased in severe infections to 200 mg/kg (150 to 200 mg/kg for neonates) daily if necessary.
Administration in renal impairment: Doses of Cefotaxime should be reduced in severe renal impairment; after an initial loading dose of 1 g, halving the dose while maintaining the usual frequency of dosing has been suggested.
In the treatment of gonorrhea, a single dose of 0.5 or 1 g of cefotaxime is given.
For surgical infection prophylaxis, 1 g is given 30 to 90 minutes before surgery. At caesarian section, 1 g is given intravenously to the mother as soon as the umbilical cord is clamped and two further doses intramuscularly or intravenously 6 and 12 hours later.