Medication Doses: Dosage of common prescriptions
COMMONLY USED MEDICATIONS AND DOSAGES
Analgesics/Anti-inflammatory/Anti-pyretic agents
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg po q4-6h prn fever, pain
(NB: not anti-inflammatory)
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 200-800 mg po qid
Antimicrobials
Against Gram-positives:
Ampicillin 1-2g IM/IV q4-6h or 250-500 mg po qid
Amoxicillin clavulanate (Augmentin) 250-500 mg po tid
(broad-spectrum – many Gram-negatives, too!)
Erythromycin ethyl succinate (EES) 400 mg po qid
Ampicillin-sulbactam (Unasyn) 1.5-3 mg IV q6h (broadspectrum
- many Gram-negatives, too!)
Vancomycin 500 mg IV q6h or 1g IV q12h (powerful initial
broad-spectrum against Gram-positives, but be sure to change
to a narrower-spectrum antibiotic as soon as culture &
sensitivity results are available! Be sure to ask your resident
before using this drug first! Beware of vanc-resistant
enterococci, an unfortunate consequence of overuse,
especially at the VA!)
Against Gram-negatives:
Ceftazidime (Fortaz) 1-2g IV q8-12h (very good broadspectrum
against Gram-negatives)
Gentamicin 1 mg/kg IV q8h. Be sure to check peak/trough
with 3rd dose (normal peak is 5-10 mcg/ml, normal trough is
<2 mcg/ml)
Against anaerobes:
Clindamycin (Cleocin) 600-900 mg IV q8h
Imipenem-cilastatin (Primaxin) 250-1000 mg IV/IM q6-8h
Metronidazole (Flagyl) 500 mg po tid
Empiric therapy for bacterial meningitis:
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 1-2g IV q24h
Cefotaxime (Claforan) 1-2g IV q6-8h
Empiric therapy for UTIs:
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) 250-750 mg po bid or 200-400 mg IV
q12h
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX, Bactrim) DS
(double-strength) one tablet po bid
Ofloxacin (Floxin) 200-400 mg IV/po q12h
Against TB:
Isoniazid (INH) 300 mg po qd. Be sure to supplement with
pyridoxine (B6) 25-50 mg po qd
Rifampin 600 mg po/IV qd
Pyrazinamide 15-30 mg/kg up to 2000 mg po qd
Ethambutol 15-25 mg/kg up to 2500 mg po qd
Against HIV:
Zidovudine (AZT) 200 mg po tid
Lamivudine (3TC) 150 mg po bid
Saquinavir (Invirase) 600 mg po tid
(PCP prophylaxis for CD4 < 200: Bactrim DS one po q
M,W,F)
Antihypertensives
Metoprolol (Lopressor) start 50 mg po bid, max 450 mg/day
Amlodipine (Norvasc) start 2.5-5 mg po qd, max 10 qd
Clonidine (Catapres) start 0.1 mg po bid, max 2.4 mg/day
Captopril (Capoten) start 25 mg po bid/tid, max 450 mg/day
Gastrointestinal
Famotidine (Pepcid) 20 mg IV q12h or 20-40 mg po qhs
Nizatidine (Axid) 150-300 mg po qhs
Omeprazole (Prilosec) 20 mg po qd for duodenal ulcer or
erosive esophagitis; 40 qd for gastric ulcer
Metoclopramide (Reglan) 10-30 mg po qid, 30 min before
meals and qhs
Promethazine (Phenergan) 25-50 mg po/IM/PR q4-6h prn
Nausea
Anticoagulants/Anti-platelet Agents
Aspirin, enteric-coated (ECASA) 325 mg po qd
Heparin load 80 units/kg IV, then mix infusion 25,000 units in
250 ml D5W (100 units/ml) and start at 18 units/kg/hr. Titrate
to APTT 2-3x normal. DVT prohylaxis: 5000 units SC q8-
12h.
Warfarin (Coumadin) load 10 mg po qd for 2-4 days, then
adjust daily dosage to APTT 2-3x normal.
Pulmonary
Albuterol (Ventolin) NMT (nebulizer mask treatment) 0.5 cc
in 2.5 cc NS q4-6h
Ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) MDI (metered-dose inhaler)
2-3 puffs qid
Salmeterol (Serevent) 2 puffs bid (regularly, not prn)
PRN Meds (very handy info – the Medicine float will love
you if you get these in the admission orders!)
Tylenol 650 mg po q4-6h prn T>101.5 or HA
Benadryl 25 mg po qhs prn insomnia
Maalox 30 cc po q4h prn indigestion/dyspepsia
MOM 30 cc po q4h prn constipation
Tags: advil, ampicillin, antimicrobials, augmentin, broad_spectrum, clavulanate, dose, drug dose, erythromycin, ethyl, medication doses, medications, motrin, spectrum_antibiotic, tylenol, vancomycin
