Maximum Dose of Oral Cefuroxime Axetil in Adults
The maximum adult daily dose of oral cefuroxime axetil is 4000 mg/day, though standard dosing for most infections ranges from 250-500 mg twice daily (500-1000 mg/day total). 1
Standard Adult Dosing by Indication
For the 250 mg/5 mL oral suspension formulation, adult dosing follows these parameters:
Mild to Moderate Infections
- 250 mg (5 mL) twice daily is appropriate for most upper respiratory tract infections, uncomplicated urinary tract infections, and mild skin/soft tissue infections 1, 2
- This represents a total daily dose of 500 mg 2
More Severe Infections
- 500 mg (10 mL) twice daily should be used for pneumonia, severe lower respiratory tract infections, and more serious bacterial infections 1, 2, 3
- This represents a total daily dose of 1000 mg 2, 4
Specific Clinical Scenarios
- Early Lyme disease (erythema migrans): 500 mg twice daily for 14-21 days 1, 5
- Uncomplicated gonorrhea: Single 1-g dose (20 mL of the 250 mg/5 mL suspension) 2
- Chronic rhinosinusitis: 500 mg twice daily for 14 days 1
- Animal bites: 500 mg twice daily for 14 days 1
Important Administration Considerations
Cefuroxime axetil must be taken with food to increase absorption 1. This is a critical point that directly impacts bioavailability—the absolute bioavailability of tablets is 68% when taken after a meal 2.
Maximum Dose Context
While the absolute maximum is 4000 mg/day 1, this ceiling is rarely approached in standard outpatient practice. The typical maximum used in clinical practice is 1000 mg/day (500 mg twice daily) for severe community-acquired infections 1, 4, 3. The 4000 mg/day maximum likely represents a safety threshold rather than a commonly prescribed dose.
Treatment Duration
Standard treatment courses range from 5-10 days for most respiratory infections 4, with 14-21 days for Lyme disease 1, 5 and 10 days for most other bacterial infections 2.