Augmentin Injectable Dosing for Adults
For intravenous Augmentin in adults, administer 1.2 g (1000 mg amoxicillin/200 mg clavulanate) every 8 hours, or 600 mg every 8 hours for less severe infections. 1
Standard IV Dosing Regimens
- 1.2 g IV every 8 hours is the standard dose for moderate-to-severe infections requiring parenteral therapy 1
- 600 mg IV every 8 hours can be used for milder infections or as step-down therapy 1
- The IV formulation provides immediate therapeutic levels and is indicated when oral administration is not feasible 1
Clinical Context and Indications
Injectable Augmentin is primarily used in:
- Intra-abdominal infections requiring surgical intervention, where prophylactic dosing of 1.2 g IV at induction of anesthesia followed by 600 mg every 8 hours has demonstrated efficacy 1
- Severe respiratory tract infections when oral therapy is inadequate or not tolerated 2
- Hospitalized patients with serious bacterial infections requiring parenteral antibiotics 3
Transition to Oral Therapy
- Once clinical improvement occurs and oral intake is tolerated, transition to oral Augmentin 875 mg/125 mg twice daily for respiratory infections 4, 5
- For other infections, 500 mg/125 mg three times daily is appropriate for mild-to-moderate disease 6, 5
- The total duration of therapy (IV plus oral) should be based on the specific infection being treated 1
Critical Dosing Considerations
- Do not use ceftriaxone 1-2 g/day IV for 5 days as an alternative when high-dose coverage is needed for resistant pathogens 4
- For patients requiring extended IV therapy beyond 3 days, reassess the need for continued parenteral administration versus oral step-down 1
- Renal dose adjustment is required: reduce frequency to every 12 hours for creatinine clearance 10-30 mL/min, and every 24 hours for <10 mL/min 7
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Avoid prolonged prophylactic use: surgical prophylaxis beyond 24-48 hours postoperatively does not reduce infection rates and promotes resistance 1
- The IV formulation has different clavulanate ratios than oral formulations—do not attempt direct dose conversions without accounting for this difference 7
- Monitor for hypersensitivity reactions, particularly in the first dose, as IV administration delivers higher peak drug levels than oral formulations 3