Sparfloxacin Dosage

Applies to the following strengths: 200 mg

Usual Adult Dose for:

Bronchitis
Leprosy - Borderline
Leprosy - Lepromatous
Pneumonia

Additional dosage information:

Renal Dose Adjustments
Liver Dose Adjustments
Precautions
Dialysis
Other Comments

Usual Adult Dose for Bronchitis

Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis:
400 mg orally once as a loading dose, followed by 200 mg orally once a day thereafter for a total of 10 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Leprosy - Borderline

200 mg orally daily.

Therapy may be required for several months to 1 year, depending on clinical and histopathological response.

Sparfloxacin has been used successfully in a limited number of patients either alone, or followed by the WHO recommended regimen of rifampin, dapsone, and clofazimine.

Usual Adult Dose for Leprosy - Lepromatous

Usual Adult Dose for Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia:
400 mg orally once as a loading dose, followed by 200 mg orally once a day thereafter for a total of 10 days.

Renal Dose Adjustments

CrCl<50 mL/min: 400 mg orally as a loading dose, followed 48 hours later by 200 mg orally every 48 hours.

Liver Dose Adjustments

Mild to moderate hepatic impairment without cholestasis: No adjustment recommended
Severe hepatic impairment: Data not available

Precautions

Sparfloxacin is contraindicated in patients with a history of photosensitivity reactions.

Patients should avoid any exposure to direct or indirect sunlight and artificial ultraviolet light, even while using sunscreens, during therapy and for 5 days after therapy is complete. Sparfloxacin is contraindicated in any patient that cannot comply with these precautions due to lifestyle or occupational demands. Therapy should be discontinued at the first signs of phototoxicity (e.g., sunburn, redness, burning, itching, rash, blistering).

Sparfloxacin is contraindicated in patients with proarrhythmic conditions, or known QTc prolongation, and in patients who are taking drugs known to cause QTc interval prolongation or torsade de pointes (e.g., erythromycin, cisapride, pentamidine, tricyclic antidepressants, some antipsychotics, amiodarone, disopyramide, quinidine, procainamide, sotalol, bepridil).

May cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Patients should be advised to avoid driving or engaging in other tasks requiring mental alertness and coordination until they know how the drug affects them.

Patients should be advised to discontinue the drug, rest, and avoid exercise if they experience pain, inflammation or rupture of a tendon.

The safety and effectiveness of sparfloxacin in pediatric patients less than 18 years have not been established. An increased incidence of osteochondrosis and arthropathy has been reported in studies with juvenile animals.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

May be taken without regard to meals. Patients should be advised to drink plenty of fluids.

Doses should be taken at least 4 hours before iron-, zinc-, calcium-, aluminum-, or magnesium-containing compounds (e.g., antacids, sucralfate, mineral supplements, buffered didanosine).