1 May 2026Injectable drugsSource update: September 2022
Chloramphenicol injectable
Chloramphenicol guidance for plague meningitis, with age restriction and haematologic-toxicity precautions.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Phenicol antibacterial.
Indications
Plague meningitis.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- 1 g powder for injection, to be dissolved in 10 ml of water for injection, for IV injection over 1 to 2 minutes.
Dose and duration
- Child 1 to 12 years: 25 mg/kg every 8 hours for 10 to 14 days.
- Child 13 years and over and adult: 1 g every 8 hours for 10 to 14 days.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to children under 1 year.
- Do not administer to patients with history of allergic reaction or bone marrow depression during previous treatment with chloramphenicol, or to patients with G6PD deficiency.
- May cause dose-related bone marrow depression, anaemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, and peripheral or optic neuropathies.
- Reduce dosage in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.
- Avoid or monitor combination with potentially haematotoxic drugs.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication for plague meningitis.
- If used during the third trimester of pregnancy, there is a risk of grey syndrome in the neonate.
- If used during breast-feeding, monitor the neonate for haematological disorders and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Dosage
| Age | Weight | 1 g vial (to be dissolved in 10 ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to < 2 years | 10 to < 13 kg | 3 ml x 3 |
| 2 to < 3 years | 13 to < 15 kg | 3.5 ml x 3 |
| 3 to < 6 years | 15 to < 20 kg | 5 ml x 3 |
| 6 to < 8 years | 20 to < 25 kg | 6 ml x 3 |
| 8 to < 9 years | 25 to < 30 kg | 7 ml x 3 |
| 9 to < 11 years | 30 to < 35 kg | 8 ml x 3 |
| 11 to < 13 years | 35 to < 45 kg | 9 ml x 3 |
| ≥ 13 years and adult | ≥ 45 kg | 10 ml x 3 |
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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