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Ceftriaxone Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 8, 2023.

Applies to the following strengths: 250 mg; 500 mg; 1 g; 2 g; 10 g; 1 g/50 mL-iso-osmotic dextrose; 2 g/50 mL-iso-osmotic dextrose

Usual Adult Dose for Bacteremia

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Joint Infection

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Osteomyelitis

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Pneumonia

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Septicemia

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Bacterial Infection

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Urinary Tract Infection

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Bronchitis

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of the following infections when due to susceptible organisms:

Usual Adult Dose for Gonococcal Infection - Uncomplicated

250 mg IM as a single dose

Uses: For the treatment of uncomplicated cervical/urethral and rectal gonorrhea due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae (including penicillinase- and nonpenicillinase-producing strains) and pharyngeal gonorrhea due to nonpenicillinase-producing strains of N gonorrhoeae

US CDC Recommendations:


Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Intraabdominal Infection

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of intraabdominal infections due to E coli, K pneumoniae, Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium species, or Peptostreptococcus species

Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Surgical Infection Society (SIS) Recommendations: 1 to 2 g IV every 12 to 24 hours

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Meningitis

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Use: For the treatment of meningitis due to H influenzae, N meningitidis, or S pneumoniae

IDSA Recommendations:

US CDC Recommendations:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Use: For the treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) due to N gonorrhoeae

US CDC Recommendations: 250 mg IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of skin and skin structure infections due to S aureus, S epidermidis, S pyogenes, viridans group streptococci, E coli, E cloacae, K oxytoca, K pneumoniae, P mirabilis, M morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S marcescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, B fragilis, or Peptostreptococcus species

IDSA Recommendations:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Skin and Structure Infection

1 to 2 g IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)

Duration of therapy: 4 to 14 days


Comments:

Uses: For the treatment of skin and skin structure infections due to S aureus, S epidermidis, S pyogenes, viridans group streptococci, E coli, E cloacae, K oxytoca, K pneumoniae, P mirabilis, M morganii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S marcescens, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, B fragilis, or Peptostreptococcus species

IDSA Recommendations:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Surgical Prophylaxis

1 g IV as a single dose 30 to 120 minutes before surgery

Comments:


American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), IDSA, SIS, and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Recommendations:

Comments:

Uses: For surgical prophylaxis for the following procedures:

Usual Adult Dose for Chancroid

US CDC Recommendations: 250 mg IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Conjunctivitis

US CDC Recommendations: 1 g IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Endocarditis

American Heart Association (AHA) and IDSA Recommendations:


US CDC Recommendations:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Bacterial Endocarditis Prophylaxis

AHA and IDSA Recommendations: 1 g IV or IM as a single dose 30 to 60 minutes before dental procedure

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Epididymitis - Sexually Transmitted

US CDC Recommendations: 250 mg IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Gonococcal Infection - Disseminated

US CDC Recommendations:


Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Lyme Disease - Arthritis

IDSA, American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Recommendations: 2 g IV once a day

Duration of Therapy:


Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Lyme Disease - Carditis

IDSA, American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Recommendations: 2 g IV once a day

Duration of Therapy:


Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Lyme Disease - Neurologic

IDSA, American Academy of Neurology (AAN), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Recommendations: 2 g IV once a day

Duration of Therapy:


Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Meningococcal Meningitis Prophylaxis

US CDC Recommendations: 250 mg IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Neurosyphilis

US CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and HIV Medicine Association of the IDSA (HIVMA/IDSA) Recommendations for HIV-infected Patients: 2 g IV or IM once a day for 10 to 14 days

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Proctitis

US CDC Recommendations:


Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Salmonella Enteric Fever

US CDC, NIH, and HIVMA/IDSA Recommendations for HIV-infected Patients: 1 g IV every 24 hours

Duration of Salmonellosis Therapy:
For gastroenteritis without bacteremia:


For gastroenteritis with bacteremia:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Salmonella Gastroenteritis

US CDC, NIH, and HIVMA/IDSA Recommendations for HIV-infected Patients: 1 g IV every 24 hours

Duration of Salmonellosis Therapy:
For gastroenteritis without bacteremia:


For gastroenteritis with bacteremia:

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for STD Prophylaxis

US CDC Recommendations: 250 mg IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Adult Dose for Syphilis - Early

US CDC, NIH, and HIVMA/IDSA Recommendations for HIV-infected Patients: 1 g IV or IM once a day for 10 to 14 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacteremia

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include:


American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Neonates: 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours

1 month or older:
Mild to moderate infections: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV or IM once a day
Maximum dose: 1 g/day

Severe infections: 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Joint Infection

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include:


American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Neonates: 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours

1 month or older:
Mild to moderate infections: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV or IM once a day
Maximum dose: 1 g/day

Severe infections: 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Osteomyelitis

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include:


American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Neonates: 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours

1 month or older:
Mild to moderate infections: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV or IM once a day
Maximum dose: 1 g/day

Severe infections: 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Septicemia

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include:


American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Neonates: 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours

1 month or older:
Mild to moderate infections: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV or IM once a day
Maximum dose: 1 g/day

Severe infections: 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Infection

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include:


American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Neonates: 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours

1 month or older:
Mild to moderate infections: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV or IM once a day
Maximum dose: 1 g/day

Severe infections: 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Urinary Tract Infection

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include:


American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations:
Neonates: 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours

1 month or older:
Mild to moderate infections: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV or IM once a day
Maximum dose: 1 g/day

Severe infections: 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningitis

1 month or older:
Initial dose: 100 mg/kg IV or IM at the start of therapy
Maximum dose: 4 g/dose

Maintenance dose: 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses every 12 hours)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day
Duration of therapy: 7 to 14 days

Comments:


Use: For the treatment of meningitis due to H influenzae, N meningitidis, or S pneumoniae

IDSA Recommendations:
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

US CDC Recommendations:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Otitis Media

50 mg/kg IM as a single dose
Maximum dose: 1 g/dose

Uses: For the treatment of acute bacterial otitis media due to S pneumoniae, H influenzae (including beta-lactamase producing strains), or Moraxella catarrhalis (including beta-lactamase producing strains)

AAP Recommendations:
1 month or older: 50 mg/kg IM once a day
Maximum dose: 1 g/dose
Duration of therapy: 1 to 3 days

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Skin and Structure Infection

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of skin and skin structure infections due to S aureus, S epidermidis, S pyogenes, viridans group streptococci, E coli, E cloacae, K oxytoca, K pneumoniae, P mirabilis, M morganii, P aeruginosa, S marcescens, A calcoaceticus, B fragilis, or Peptostreptococcus species

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pneumonia

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include lower respiratory tract infections due to S pneumoniae, S aureus, H influenzae, H parainfluenzae, K pneumoniae, E coli, E aerogenes, P mirabilis, or S marcescens

US CDC, NIH, HIVMA/IDSA, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), and AAP Recommendations for HIV-exposed and HIV-infected Children: 50 to 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bronchitis

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include lower respiratory tract infections due to S pneumoniae, S aureus, H influenzae, H parainfluenzae, K pneumoniae, E coli, E aerogenes, P mirabilis, or S marcescens

US CDC, NIH, HIVMA/IDSA, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), and AAP Recommendations for HIV-exposed and HIV-infected Children: 50 to 100 mg/kg IV or IM once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 4 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Intraabdominal Infection

1 month or older: 50 to 75 mg/kg/day IV or IM in divided doses every 12 hours
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Uses: For the treatment of serious miscellaneous infections when due to susceptible organisms; may include intraabdominal infections due to E coli, K pneumoniae, B fragilis, Clostridium species, or Peptostreptococcus species

IDSA and SIS Recommendations: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV once a day (or in equally divided doses twice a day)
Maximum dose: 2 g/day

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Gonococcal Infection - Uncomplicated

US CDC Recommendations:
Neonates (without signs of infection) born to mothers with gonococcal infection: 25 to 50 mg/kg IV or IM as a single dose
Maximum dose: 125 mg/dose

Infants and children weighing up to 45 kg: 25 to 50 mg/kg IV or IM as a single dose
Maximum IM dose: 125 mg/dose

Children weighing more than 45 kg and adolescents:


Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Gonococcal Infection - Disseminated

US CDC Recommendations:
Neonates:


Duration of therapy: 7 days

Children:
45 kg or less: 50 mg/kg IV or IM every 24 hours for 7 days
Maximum dose: 1 g/day

Greater than 45 kg: 1 g IV or IM once a day for 7 days

Adolescents:

Duration of therapy:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningococcal Meningitis Prophylaxis

AAP and US CDC Recommendations:
Less than 15 years: 125 mg IM as a single dose
15 years or older: 250 mg IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Endocarditis

AHA Recommendations:
1 year or older: 100 mg/kg/day IV in divided doses every 12 hours OR 80 mg/kg IV every 24 hours
Maximum dose: 4 g/day
Duration of therapy: At least 4 to 6 weeks

US CDC Recommendations for Adolescents:


Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Endocarditis Prophylaxis

AHA and IDSA Recommendations for Children: 50 mg/kg IV or IM as a single dose 30 to 60 minutes before dental procedure
Maximum dose: 1 g/dose

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Lyme Disease

IDSA, AAN, and ACR Recommendations for Children: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV once a day
Maximum dose: 2 g/dose

Duration of Therapy:


Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Salmonella Enteric Fever

US CDC, NIH, and HIVMA/IDSA Recommendations for HIV-infected Adolescents: 1 g IV every 24 hours

Duration of Salmonellosis Therapy:
For gastroenteritis without bacteremia:


For gastroenteritis with bacteremia:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Salmonella Gastroenteritis

US CDC, NIH, and HIVMA/IDSA Recommendations for HIV-infected Adolescents: 1 g IV every 24 hours

Duration of Salmonellosis Therapy:
For gastroenteritis without bacteremia:


For gastroenteritis with bacteremia:

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for STD Prophylaxis

US CDC Recommendations:
Adolescents: 250 mg IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Conjunctivitis

US CDC Recommendations:
Adolescents: 1 g IM as a single dose

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Ocular Infection

US CDC Recommendations:
Neonates: 25 to 50 mg/kg IV or IM as a single dose
Maximum dose: 125 mg/dose

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Chancroid

AAP Recommendations:
1 month or older: 50 mg/kg IM as a single dose
Maximum dose: 250 mg/dose

Comments:

Usual Pediatric Dose for Surgical Prophylaxis

ASHP, IDSA, SIS, and SHEA Recommendations:
1 year or older:
Preoperative dose: 50 to 75 mg/kg IV as a single dose, starting within 60 minutes before surgical incision
Maximum dose: 2 g/dose

Comments:


Uses: For surgical prophylaxis for the following procedures:

Renal Dose Adjustments

Renal dysfunction alone: No adjustment recommended.

Significant renal dysfunction plus liver dysfunction: Caution recommended; dose should not exceed 2 g/day.

Comments:

Liver Dose Adjustments

Liver dysfunction alone: No adjustment recommended.

Liver dysfunction plus significant renal dysfunction: Caution recommended; dose should not exceed 2 g/day.

Dose Adjustments

Elderly patients: No adjustment needed for doses up to 2 g/day, as long as there is no severe renal and liver dysfunction.

Precautions

CONTRAINDICATIONS:


Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Renal failure: No adjustment normally needed when standard doses are used.

Comments:


Some experts recommend:

Other Comments

Administration advice:


Storage requirements:

Reconstitution/preparation techniques:

IV compatibility:

General:

Monitoring:

Patient advice:

Frequently asked questions

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.