Cravit IV Dosage/Direction for Use

Cravit i.v. should only be administered by intravenous infusion. It is not for intramuscular, intrathecal, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous administration. The dosage depends on the type and severity of the infection and the sensitivity of the presumed causative pathogen. The duration of therapy varies according to the course of the disease. As with antibiotic therapy in general, administration of Cravit i.v. should be continued for a minimum of 48 to 72 hours after the patient has become afebrile or evidence of bacterial eradication has been obtained. It is usually possible to switch from initial intravenous treatment to the oral route after a few days.
The usual dose is 500 mg administered by slow infusion over 60 minutes every 24 hours or 750 mg administered by slow infusion over 90 minutes every 24 hours as described in the following dosing chart. (See Tables 1 and 2.)

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image


Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

 When only the serum creatinine is known, the following formula may be used to estimate creatinine clearance. (See Equation.)

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The serum creatinine should represent a steady state of renal function.
PRECAUTION ASSOCIATED WITH DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: General: As a general rule, the duration of administration of this drug should be limited to the minimum period required for the treatment of the patient's condition, after susceptibility of the causative bacteria to this drug has been confirmed, in order to prevent emergence of drug resistant-bacteria.
Special population: Careful administration should be considered in the following patients group: Patients with impaired liver function: No adjustment of dosage is required since levofloxacin is not metabolized to any relevant extent by liver and is mainly excreted by kidney.
Patients with impaired renal function: Blood concentrations of leveofloxacin are sustained in patients with renal dysfunction. It is advisable, therefore, that the dose be reduced and the dosing interval lengthened is required (see Patients with impaired renal function in previous text).
Pediatric patients: As the safety and effectiveness of levofloxacin in low birth weight infants, new born infants, infants or children and adolescents below the age of 16 years has not been established, levofloxacin should not be administrated in pediatric patients. In animal studies, arthropathy was noted [in juvenile dogs, young adult dogs (13-month-old), and juvenile rats].
Geriatric patients: The pharmacokinetic properties of levofloxacin in younger adults and elderly adults do not differ significantly when creatinine clearance is taken into consideration. However since the drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.
For compatibility and incompatibility with other infusion solution see Cautions for Usage.