Class Dosage Form Contraindications & Patient Consultation
Precautions
PENICILLINS Powder for Oral Solution: Hypersensitive Refrigerate
(Cell wall inhibitors) 125mg/5ml Coss-sensitivity: 5%-16%
250mg/5ml Pregnancy Category B
Penicillin V Tablets:
250mg
* *Hives, Rash 500mg
* 125mg to 500mg every 6-8 hours for 5-10days (qid,
5-10 days)
* Take on empty stomach with 240mL of water
Powder or Oral Suspension: Hypersensitive Refrig. discard after 14 days
Amoxicillin 50mg/mL Coss-sensitivity: 5%-16%
(Amoxil®) 125mg/5mL Renal function
200mg/5mL Colitis
** Diarrhea, Rash 250mg/5mL Pregnancy Category B
400mg/5mL
3g single dose bottle
Tablets, Chewable:
125 mg
250mg
Capsules:
250mg
500mg
Tablets:
500mg
775mg
875mg
* 250mg to 500mg every 8 hrs (qid)
* 500mg to 875mg every 12 hrs (bid)
* Take on empty stomach with 240mL of water
Amoxicillin + Clavulonic Oral Suspension Hypersensitivity Keep in the fridge, discard after
(Augmentin®) ‘125’: Amo 125mg + Cla 31.25mg (banana) Coss-sensitivity: 5%-16% 10 days
‘200’: Amo 200mg + Cla 28.5mg (orange- Renal functioin Two 250 tablets do not equal
** Diarrhea, Rash raspberry) Colitis one 500 tablet.
‘250’: Amo 250mg + Cla 62.5mg (orange) C. difficile
‘400’: Amo 400mg + Cla 57mg Pregnancy Category B
(orange-raspberry)
ES-600: Amo 600mg + Cla 42.9mg (orange-
raspberry)
Chewable Tablets
‘200’: Amo 200mg + Cla 28.5mg
‘250’: Amo 250mg + Cla 62.5mg
‘400’: Amo 400mg + Cla 57mg
Tablets
‘250’: Amo 250mg + Cla 125mg
‘500’: Amo 500mg + Cla 125mg
‘875’: Amo 875mg + Cla 125mg
XR extended release: Amo 1000mg + Cla 62.5
mg
* 1 Augmentin ‘500’ every 8 hrs (qid)
* 1 Augmentin ‘875’ every 12 hrs (bid)
* Take it with meal, increase absorption
* Take chewable tablets with 240mL of water
CEPHALOSPORINS Suspension: 100mg/5mL, 125mg/5mL, Hypersensitivity to penecillins Refrig., discard after 14 days
(Cell wall inhibitors) 250mg/5mL and/or cephalosporins
Tablets: Cross sensitivity 5% to 16%
1st Gen 250mg Renal function impairment
500mg Pseudomembranous colitis
Cephalexin Capsules: Pregnancy Category B
(Keflex®) 250mg
500mg
**Diarrhea, Hives Itching, 750mg
Rash
* 250mg-1g/6hrs (4/day)
* Take with empty stomach
2ND Gen Suspension: Hypersensitivty to penecillins Discard after 10 days
125mg/5mL and/or cephalosporins Store cool (2-25 C)& dry & light
Cefuroxime Axetil 250mg/5mL Cross sensitivity: 5% to 16%
(Ceftin®) Tablets: Renal function impairment
* Diarrhea, Hives, Itching, 250 mg Pseudomembranous colitis
and Rash 500 mg Pregnancy Category B
*250mg-500mg 2/day
* Tablets can be taken without food
* Suspension with food can increase
absorption
3rd Gen Powder Suspension: Hypersensitivity to penicillin or Discard after 10 days
125mg/5mL cephalosporin Store cool & dry & light
Cefdinir 250mg/5mL Cross Sensitivity 10%
(Omnicef®) 60mL and 100mL bottles (Strawberry Renal function impairment
*Diarrhea flavor) Pseudomembranous colitis
Capsules: Clostridium difficile
300 mg Pregnancy Category B
* 600mg/day in 1-2 doses
No acid or iron within 2 hours
TETRACYCLINES Capsules: Contraindicated: Avoid exposure to light
Binds to 30S ribosomal 50mg Hypersensitive to Teracycline Store cool & dry & light
subunit 100mg Precaution with:
Tablets: Children <8
100mg Impaired renal function
Doxycycline Syrup: Lactation (only if it outweigh
(Vibramycin®, Vibra- (Raspberry/ Apple-flavored suspension) risks)
Tabs®) 50mg/5mL Clostridium difficile
Powder for Oral Suspension: (Raspberry Pregnancy Category D
flavored)
25mg as monohydrate/5mL
Power for injection:
100mg/vial
200mg/vial
*100 mg/ 12 hr
* Take on empty stomach with 240mL of
water
* Take it with food or milk if GI upset
Minocycline Capsules: Contraindicated: Store cool & dry & light
(Minocin®) 50mg Hypersensitive to Teracycline Away from children
100mg Precaution with:
Children <8
200mg initially followed by Impaired renal function
100mg/12hrs Lactation
* Take on empty stomach with 240mL of Clostridium difficile
water C. difficile should be
* Take it with food or milk if GI upset considered in all cases of
* No antacids within 2hr persistent or severe diarrhea
Benign Intracranial
Hypertension (rare)
Pregnancy Category D
Tetracycline Capsules: Contraindicated:
(Sumycin®, Panmycin®) 250 mg Hypersensitive to Teracycline Avoid exposure to light
500mg Precaution with: Stop use and contact doctor if
Children <8 blurred vision and severe
* 250mg -500mg, 2-4/day Impaired renal function headaches
* Take on empty stomach with 240mL of Lactation
water Clostridium difficile
* No dairy, antacids, laxatives, iron C. difficile should be
supplements within 2hr considered in all cases of
persistent or severe diarrhea
Benign Intracranial
Hypertension (rare)
Pregnancy Category D
MACROLIDES Tablets: Hypersensitivity to macrolides or Store cool & dry & light
Binds to the 50s 200 mg ketolides
ribosomal subunit 500 mg Pseudomembranous colitis
600 mg Impaired hepatic function.
Z-pak contains 6 250 mg tablets Secondary bacterial infections
Tri pak contains 3 500 mg tablets Do not use for complicated
Azithromycin Zmax powder Suspension 2g pneumonia, gonorrhea, or syphilis
(Zithromax) azithromycin Pregnancy Category B
*Diarrhea Suspension:
300mg (100mg/5mL)
600mg
900mg
1200mg (each containing
200mg/5mL)
Powder for injection:
500mg azithromycin in lyophilized
form
* 500mg first day, 250mg/day for 4 days
* May be taken without food
* No antacids within 1 hour
Tablets: Hypersensitivity to any macrolide Store at room temp. Discard
Clarithromycin 250mg antibiotic after 14days
(Biaxin) 500 mg Use caution in pregnant and After each dose use fluids to
Tablets extended release: nursing women rinse medication from the
* Diarrhea 500 mg Pseudomembranous colitis mouth
Suspension: 125mg/5mL (vanilla) Clostridium difficile
250mg/5mL (fruit) Renal impairment
Pregnancy category C
* 1000mg/day for 7-14 days
* Take Biaxin XL tablets with food
* Biaxin can be taken without food
FLUROQUINOLONES Tablets: Hypersensitivity to quinolones If missed do NOT double
Second Generation 100mg (Cystitis Pak) Use caution in: dose
250mg Pregnant Shake well for 15 seconds
Inhibit DNA gyrase 500mg Children Avoid sunlight
750mg Adolescents Susp store at room t* or
Ciprofloxacin Tablets, extended-release: Known or suspect CAN disorders refrigerate. Discard after
(Cipro®) 500mg Predispose to seizures 14days
1000mg Avoid in patient with receiving May cause dizziness or
* Rash Oral suspension: theophylline light headedness. Caution
100mL (5% or 10%) Needs to be well hydrated to avoid if using while operating
Injection: crystalluria machinery or mental
200mg in 20mL (1%) Convulsions alertness required
100mL in 5% dextrose (0.2%) Increased intracranial pressure Don’t take antacids, zinc,
400mg in 40mL vials (1%) Psychosis iron with Cipro
200mL in 5% dextrose (0.2%) Serious and sometimes fatal Don’t chew, crush, or slit
hypersensitivity reactions Cipro XR tablets
* 250mg- 500mg/ 12hrs Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, &
* Drink 240mL of water with each dose Achilles tendons
* may take it with or without meal
Pregnancy category C
No antacids, calcium, zinc, iron. It
can only be taken 2 hrs before or 6
hrs after these products
* Stop therapy at the fist sign of skin rash
or other allergic reaction, if patient feels
pain, inflammation or rupture of a
tendon
Third Generation Tablets: Hypersensitivity to quinolones Complete full course
Levofloxacin 250mg Use caution in: therapy
(Levaquin®) 500mg - Known or suspect CAN disorders If miss a dose, take it asap
750mg - Predispose to seizures but do no double dose
* Tendinitis, Tendon Oral solution: - Impaired liver function Shake 15 second
rupture 25mg/mL - In nursing months suspension before use
Injection (concentrate): Periodic liver function test should be Avoid prolong exposure
25mg/mL in 20 & 30mL vials performed during prolonged (>21 to light
Injection (premix): days) therapy Store cool & dry & light
5mg/mL in 50, 100, & 150mL Avoid in patients: Away from children
containers - With uncorrected hypokalemia Monitor blood glucose if
- Receiving class IA (quinidine, taking an anti-diabetic
* 500mg q24h for 7days procainamide) medication, stop if
* Drink 240mL of water with each dose - Receiving class III (amiodarone, hypoglycemic reaction
* May take it with or without meal sotalol, antiarrhythmic agents) occurs
No antacids, sucralfate, calcium, - < 18 years old
zinc, iron. It can only be taken 2 hrs Convulsions
before or 6 hrs after these products Increased intracranial pressure
* Stop therapy at the fist sign of skin rash Psychosis
or other allergic reaction, if patient feels Prolongation of the QT interval
pain, inflammation or rupture of a Serious and sometimes fatal
tendon hypersensitivity reactions
Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, &
Achilles tendons
Pregnancy category C
Fourth Generation Tablets: Hypersensitivity to quinolones Complete full course
Moxifloxacin 400mg Use caution in: therapy
(Avelox®) Injections (premix): - Known or suspect CAN disorders If miss a dose, take it asap
400mg with 0.8% NaCl in 250mL - Predispose to seizures but do no double dose
flexible bags - In nursing months Shake 15 second
Avoid in patients: suspension before use
* 400mg/day for 5 days - prolonged QT inter cal Avoid exposure to light,
* Drink 240mL of water with each dose - With uncorrected hypokalemia Avoid prolong skin
* May take it with or without meal - Receiving class IA (quinidine, exposure to light ( wear
No antacids, sucralfate, calcium, procainamide) sun screen and
zinc, iron. It can only be taken 2 hrs - Receiving class III (amiodarone, appropriate clothing until
before or 6 hrs after these products sotalol, antiarrhythmic agents) the level of sensitivity is
- < 18 years old determined)
* Stop therapy at the fist sign of skin rash Convulsions Store cool & dry
or other allergic reaction, if patient feels Increased intracranial pressure Away from children
pain, inflammation or rupture of a Psychosis May cause dizziness or
tendon Prolongation of the QT interval light headedness. Caution
Serious and sometimes fatal if using while mental
hypersensitivity reactions alertness is required
Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, &
Achilles tendons
Pregnancy category C
