Augmentin 1g BID Dosing for a 14-Year-Old Girl
Augmentin 1g (875mg amoxicillin/125mg clavulanate) twice daily is appropriate for a 14-year-old girl if she weighs more than 40 kg and has a severe infection requiring treatment. 1
Weight-Based Dosing Criteria
The FDA labeling establishes clear weight thresholds for adult-strength dosing:
- For patients ≥40 kg and ≥3 months old: The 875mg/125mg tablet twice daily is the standard dose for severe infections of the ear/nose/throat, skin/skin structure, or genitourinary tract 1
- For lower respiratory tract infections: 875mg twice daily is appropriate regardless of severity in patients ≥40 kg 1
Most 14-year-old girls weigh more than 40 kg, making the adult formulation appropriate. If she weighs less than 40 kg, weight-based dosing of 45 mg/kg/day of the amoxicillin component divided every 12 hours should be used instead 1.
Infection-Specific Considerations
The appropriateness of this dose depends on the infection type:
- Severe infections (skin/soft tissue, respiratory): 875mg BID is the recommended dose 2, 1
- Mild to moderate infections: 500mg every 12 hours may be sufficient 1
- Animal/human bite wounds: 875mg/125mg BID is specifically recommended for amoxicillin-clavulanate therapy 2
Treatment Duration
- Streptococcus pyogenes infections: Minimum 10 days to prevent acute rheumatic fever 2, 1
- Most other infections: Continue 48-72 hours beyond symptom resolution or bacterial eradication 1
Important Caveats
Renal function must be assessed: Patients with glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min should NOT receive the 875mg dose 1. For severe renal impairment (GFR 10-30 mL/min), reduce to 500mg every 12 hours 1.
Administration timing: Take at the start of meals to minimize gastrointestinal intolerance 1.
The 1g formulation referenced in your question likely refers to the amoxicillin component (1000mg amoxicillin with clavulanate), which exceeds standard FDA-approved dosing for twice-daily regimens. The standard high-strength tablet contains 875mg amoxicillin, not 1000mg 1. If a true 1g amoxicillin formulation is being considered, this would be off-label dosing and should only be used for specific resistant pathogens under infectious disease consultation.