Augmentin Dosing for a 115 lb (52 kg) Patient
For a 115 lb (52 kg) adult patient with normal renal and hepatic function, prescribe Augmentin 875 mg/125 mg every 12 hours for respiratory tract infections or more severe infections, or 500 mg/125 mg every 8 hours as an alternative regimen. 1
Standard Adult Dosing
The usual adult dose is 500 mg/125 mg every 12 hours or 250 mg/125 mg every 8 hours for mild to moderate infections. 1
For more severe infections and respiratory tract infections, the dose should be 875 mg/125 mg every 12 hours or 500 mg/125 mg every 8 hours. 1
The 115 lb patient qualifies for standard adult dosing since pediatric dosing applies only to patients weighing less than 40 kg (88 lb), and this patient weighs 52 kg. 1
Administration Guidance
Administer Augmentin at the start of a meal to enhance absorption of clavulanate and minimize gastrointestinal intolerance. 1
The medication may be taken without regard to meals, but taking it with food significantly reduces the risk of nausea and diarrhea. 1
Critical Dosing Considerations
Never substitute two 250 mg/125 mg tablets for one 500 mg/125 mg tablet, as both contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (125 mg) and are not equivalent. 1
The clavulanic acid component is fixed at 125 mg per dose in adult tablets to avoid tolerability issues, particularly gastrointestinal side effects. 2
Infection-Specific Recommendations
For urinary tract infections in adults, a dose of 375 mg (equivalent to one 250 mg/125 mg tablet) three times daily has shown approximately 70% success rates, though current FDA labeling supports higher doses. 3, 4
For respiratory infections including sinusitis and lower respiratory tract infections, the higher dose regimen (875 mg/125 mg every 12 hours) is preferred to achieve adequate pharmacodynamic targets. 1, 5
Duration of Therapy
Treatment duration typically ranges from 7-10 days for most infections, though this should be tailored to clinical response. 6, 3
For urinary tract infections, 6-12 days of therapy has been studied, with most patients showing clinical improvement by day 6-7. 3
Common Prescribing Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not use pediatric weight-based dosing (mg/kg/day) for patients weighing ≥40 kg; use standard adult tablet formulations instead. 1
Avoid prescribing the 250 mg/125 mg tablet and the 250 mg/62.5 mg chewable tablet interchangeably, as they contain different amounts of clavulanic acid and are not equivalent. 1
Do not empirically use amoxicillin/clavulanate for infections likely caused by ESBL-producing organisms without culture data, as this may select for resistance. 2
Monitoring and Tolerability
The most common adverse effects are gastrointestinal, including diarrhea and nausea, which occur less frequently with the every-12-hour regimen compared to every-8-hour dosing. 1
Patients generally tolerate the medication well when taken with food, with minimal side effects reported in clinical trials. 3, 4