Cloxacillin Oral: Dosing and Precautions
Cloxacillin guidance for impetigo, with adolescent and adult dosing plus penicillin allergy precautions.
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source date listed on the source page
Guide category
Oral drugs
Safety boundary
Prescription medicine information for clinician-guided use.
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Therapeutic action
Penicillin antibacterial.
Indications
Impetigo. Preferably use cefalexin for this indication.
Forms and strengths
- 250 mg and 500 mg capsules.
Dose and duration
- Child over 10 years: 15 mg/kg 3 times daily for 7 days, maximum 3 g daily.
- Adult: 1 g 3 times daily for 7 days.
- 10 to < 13 years and 30 to < 45 kg: 2 capsules of 250 mg 3 times daily or 1 capsule of 500 mg 3 times daily.
- 13 to < 15 years and 45 to < 55 kg: 3 capsules of 250 mg 3 times daily.
- Adult >= 55 kg: 4 capsules of 250 mg 3 times daily or 2 capsules of 500 mg 3 times daily.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with allergy to penicillin.
- Administer with caution to patients with allergy to cephalosporins because cross-sensitivity may occur, or severe renal impairment by reducing the dosage.
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances, particularly diarrhoea, allergic reactions sometimes severe, and rarely haematological disorders.
- Do not combine with methotrexate because methotrexate toxicity increases.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Dosage and duration
| Age | Weight | 250 mg capsule | 500 mg capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 to < 13 years | 30 to < 45 kg | 2 cap x 3 | 1 cap x 3 |
| 13 to < 15 years | 45 to < 55 kg | 3 cap x 3 | - |
| Adult | ≥ 55 kg | 4 cap x 3 | 2 cap x 3 |
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.
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