Tazivex Dosage/Direction for Use

Ceftazidime is available as the pentahydrate but it is formulated with sodium carbonate, to form the sodium salt solution, or with arginine. Dosage is expressed in terms of anhydrous ceftazidime. It is administered by deep intramuscular injection or slow intravenous injection over 3 to 5 minutes, or intravenous infusion over up to 30 minutes. The usual dose for adults range from 1 to 6 g daily in divided doses at every 8 to 12 hours. The higher doses are used in severe infections especially in immunocompromised patients. In adults with cystic fibrosis who have pseudomonal lung infections, high doses of 100 to 150 mg per kg body weight daily in 3 divided doses are used, up to 9 g daily has been given to adults with normal renal function. Single dose of more than 1 g should be given intravenously.
Children are usually given Ceftazidime 30 to 100 mg per kg daily in 2 to 3 divided doses, but in severely ill children up to 150 mg per kg daily to a maximum of 6 g daily may be given in 3 divided doses. Neonates and infants up to 2 months old have been given 25 to 60 mg per kg daily in 2 divided doses.
In the elderly the dose should generally not exceed 3 g daily. In patients with impaired renal function the dosage of Ceftazidime may need to be reduced. Following a loading dose of 1 g, maintenance doses are based on creatinine clearance. Suggested maintenance doses are: creatinine clearance 31 to 50 mL per minute, 1 g every 12 hours; creatinine clearance 16 to 30 mL per minute, 1 gram every 24 hours; creatinine clearance 16 to 6 mL per minute, 0.5 g every 24 hours; creatinine clearance less than 5 mL per minute, 0.5 g every 48 hours. In severe infections, these doses may need to be increased by 50%. In these patients, ceftazidime through serum concentration should not exceed 40 μg per mL. In patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis a loading dose of 1 g may be given followed by 500 mg every 24 hours; Ceftazidime sodium may also be added to the dialysis fluid. In patients on hemodialysis, the appropriate maintenance dose of ceftazidime should be repeated after each dialysis period.
For surgical injection prophylaxis in patients undergoing prostatic surgery, a dose of 1 g may be given at induction of anesthesia and repeated if necessary when the catheter is removed. Ceftazidime can be used in association with aminoglycosides, another beta-lactam antibiotic such as piperacillin, or vancomycin in patients with severe neutropenia, or if infection with Bacteroides fragilis is suspected, in association with an antibiotic such as clindamycin or metronidazole. The drugs should generally be administered separately, or as prescribed by a physician.