Lineaz Dosage/Direction for Use

Recommended dose: Linezolid is administered orally. Linezolid may be given without regard to meals.
Adult: (See Table 1).

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Pediatric: (See Table 2).

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Neonates: Most preterm neonates younger than 7 day of age (gestational age younger than 34 weekห) have lower systemic linezolid clearance values and larger area under the curve (AUC) value than many full-term neonates and older infants. These neonates should be initiated with a dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg every 12 hours. Consideration may be given to the use of a 10 mg/kg every 8 hours regimen in neonates with a suboptimal clinical response. All neonatal patients should receive 10 mg/kg every 8 hours by 7 days of life.
Administration in special patient population: Pediatric use: The maximum plasma concentration (C_max) and the volume of distribution of Linezolid are similar regardless of age in children. Weight-based clearance varies as a function of age. Weight-based clearance is most rapid in children older than 1 week to 11 years of age, resulting in lower area under the curve (AUC) and shorter half-life compared with adults. By adolescence, mean clearance values approach those observed in the adult population. Preterm (less than 34 weeks gestational age) neonates less than 7 days of age may have lower clearance than full-term neonates less than 7 days of age and may require less frequent dosing.
Geriatric use: No overall differences in safety, efficacy or pharmacokinetics have been observed in geriatric adults 65 years of age or older compared with younger adults. Dosage adjustments are not necessary in patients.
Patients with hepatic impairment: Dosage adjustments are not necessary in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class A or B). Data are not available regarding the pharmacokinetics of Linezolid in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Patients with renal impairment: Pharmacokinetics of Linezolid are not altered in patients with renal insufficiency. Linezolid requires no dose adjustment in renal failure. The two principal metabolites of Linezolid may accumulate in patients with renal impairment and the clinical importance of accumulation of these metabolites has not been determined. Approximately 30% of a dose is eliminated in a 3-hour dialysis session. Because Linezolid is removed by hemodialysis, patients undergoing hemodialysis should receive Linezolid doses after the dialysis session.
Obese patients: According to one study, the use of the standard dose of 600 mg every 12 hours for patients weighing 150 kg or less will provide AUC values similar to that seen in non-obese adult patients; patients weighing more than 150 kg were not included in the study.