Cloxacillin dose depends primarily on the severity of a patient’s infection. Medical history may also be important, as this medication can be dangerous for patients with kidney problems. It can be delivered by tablet or injection and may need to be taken for several weeks to adequately resolve an infection. Patients who start to experience severe side effects should discuss them with their medical providers to determine if they can safely continue use of the medication.
The most important factor in a cloxacillin dose is the intensity of the infection. Patients can take up to 4 grams of the medication per day, in divided doses given every six hours. For severe infections, high doses may be used from the start to knock out the organisms responsible. More mild infections may be treatable with a lower dose, which comes with a lower risk of side effects and may be preferred.
If a patient has kidney impairment, this could be considered with a cloxacillin dose. It may be necessary to take less of the medication to protect the kidneys and to be monitored during treatment for signs of kidney compromise. In addition, the drug can conflict with some antibiotics and anticoagulant medications, so it is important for patients to discuss any other drugs they may be taking. This allows a medical professional to determine if cloxacillin will be safe or if the patient would benefit from a different medication.
Patients should take their cloxacillin dose on an empty stomach to give it time to absorb. They may experience some gastrointestinal distress while on the drug. More serious side effects like rashes and difficulty breathing can indicate an allergy. If someone has a history of bad reactions to cloxacillin or other medications in the penicillin family, it may not be safe to take this medication. Other drugs are available to manage bacterial infections with a reduced risk for the patient.
Use of cloxacillin appears to be safe in pregnancy. Women with concerns about a cloxacillin dose can discuss a pregnancy with their medical providers to determine whether the medication is safe, or if another drug should be used instead. Generally, the risks of a bacterial infection outweigh that of an antibiotic that is usually safe, because untreated infections can cause severe pregnancy complications. If there are concerns that a patient may not be able to use cloxacillin, another medication can be recommended to treat the infection.
