What is the recommended dosage of Moxifloxacin (a fluoroquinolone antibiotic)?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: April 29, 2025View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

From the Guidelines

The recommended dosage of moxifloxacin for adults is 400 to 600-800 mg daily, and for children, it is 10-15 mg/kg/d once daily. According to the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis guideline published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in 2019 1, moxifloxacin can be administered orally or intravenously.

Key Considerations

  • The dosage for adults can range from 400 to 600-800 mg daily, as indicated in the guideline 1.
  • For children, the recommended dosage is 10-15 mg/kg/d once daily, as stated in the same guideline 1.
  • No change in dosage is needed for patients with reduced renal function, as specified in the guideline 1.

Administration and Precautions

  • Moxifloxacin should be taken at the same time each day, with or without food, and patients should drink plenty of fluids while using it.
  • Patients should complete the full course of treatment even if symptoms improve before completion to prevent antibiotic resistance.
  • Important precautions include avoiding antacids, multivitamins, or products containing magnesium, aluminum, iron, or zinc within 4 hours of taking moxifloxacin, as these can reduce the drug's effectiveness.

From the FDA Drug Label

The dose of moxifloxacin is 400 mg (orally) once every 24 hours. Table 1: Dosage and Duration of Therapy in Adult Patients Type of Infectiona Dose Every 24 hours Durationb (days) Community Acquired Pneumonia (1. 1) 400 mg7 to 14 Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections (SSSI ) (1.2) 400 mg7 Complicated SSSI (1.3) 400 mg7 to 21 Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections (1.4) 400 mg5 to 14 Plague (1.5)C 400 mg10 to 14 Acute Bacterial Sinusitis (ABS) (1.6) 400 mg10 Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis (ABECB) (1. 7)400 mg5

The recommended dosage of moxifloxacin is 400 mg orally every 24 hours. The duration of therapy varies depending on the type of infection, ranging from 5 to 21 days.

  • Community Acquired Pneumonia: 400 mg every 24 hours for 7 to 14 days
  • Uncomplicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections: 400 mg every 24 hours for 7 days
  • Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections: 400 mg every 24 hours for 7 to 21 days
  • Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections: 400 mg every 24 hours for 5 to 14 days
  • Plague: 400 mg every 24 hours for 10 to 14 days
  • Acute Bacterial Sinusitis: 400 mg every 24 hours for 10 days
  • Acute Bacterial Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis: 400 mg every 24 hours for 5 days 2 2

From the Research

Moxifloxacin Dosage

  • The standard oral dosage of moxifloxacin is 400 mg once a day 3.
  • Dosage adjustment is unnecessary in patients with renal dysfunction or mild to moderate hepatic dysfunction 3.
  • In patients with acute renal failure who undergo extended daily dialysis, the standard dosage of moxifloxacin (400 mg/d intravenously) can be used 4.
  • The pharmacokinetics of moxifloxacin in critically ill patients with acute renal failure and undergoing extended daily dialysis are similar to those in healthy subjects without renal impairment 4.

Special Patient Populations

  • Fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin, have a predictable and mild-to-moderate adverse-event profile and are generally well tolerated 5.
  • However, fluoroquinolones are associated with rare but clinically important adverse events in special patient populations, such as the elderly, patients with hepatic, renal, or glycemic disorders, and those at risk for cardiovascular events 5.
  • Recognition of differences in the clinical efficacy and safety profiles of fluoroquinolones in special patient populations can lead to better antimicrobial agent selection 5.

Clinical Efficacy

  • Moxifloxacin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, and acute sinusitis 3, 6.
  • Moxifloxacin achieves high bacteriological and clinical success rates, with rates of approximately 90% or higher 6.
  • Moxifloxacin is as effective as, or more effective than, comparators such as clarithromycin, cefuroxime axetil, and high-dose amoxicillin in clinical trials 6.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Moxifloxacin: clinical efficacy and safety.

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2001

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.