The Navigation Model of Therapy: Why Awareness Changes Everything
November 16, 2025
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Brand Name :
No Data Available.
Synonyms :
Dicloxacillin
Class :
Beta-Lactam Antibacterials, Penicillins, Anti-Bacterial Agents
Brand Name :
No Data Available.
Synonyms :
Dicloxacillin
Class :
Beta-Lactam Antibacterials, Penicillins, Anti-Bacterial Agents
Dosage Forms & StrengthsÂ
TabletÂ
250 mgÂ
500 mgÂ
Injectable solutionÂ
125 mg/5 mLÂ
250 to 500mg every 6 hours
The dose can be increased as per symptoms and intensity of infection
IV: 12g per day 4 to 6 equally divided doses for 4 to 6 weeks
2 g every 4 hours for more than 6 weeks
Indicated for kidney infection:
Oral Therapy: 250 to 500 mg every 6 hours. Maximum 6g per day. (Depends on the severity of infection)
IM, IV Therapy: 1 to 2 g every 4 to 6 hours, dose adjustment depends on serious infection
Indicated for hepatic infections:
Oral Therapy: 250 to 500 mg every 6 hours. Maximum 6g per day. (Depends on severity of infection)
IM, IV Therapy: 1 to 2 g every 4 to 6 hours, dose adjustment depends on serious infection
Dosage Forms & StrengthsÂ
TabletÂ
250 mgÂ
500 mgÂ
Injectable solutionÂ
125 mg/5 mLÂ
Oral Therapy:
Children under 20 kg: 25 to 50mg per kg per day divided equally at every 6 hours
Children equal or more than 20 kg: 250 to 500mg every 6 hours, dose modification depends on the severity of infection
Initial 7 days: 2g per dose every 4 to 6 hours with gentamycin
For the next 5 weeks: 2g per dose every 4 to 6 hours
Pathogenic infection:
Children under 20 kg: 25 to 50 mg/kg per day divided every 6 hours per day
Children more than 20kg: 2 g every 4 hours for more than 6 weeks, with ceftriaxone for initially 4 to 6 days
Oral therapy: amoxicillin/clavulanate for 3 to 4 weeks
Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) IM, IV Dose:
Maximum 2g per dose every 6 hours with ceftriaxone for 4 to 6 weeks
Included with oral therapy of cloxacillin max. 500mg per dose every 6 hours for 3 to 4 weeks
Off labeled indications:
Pneumonia (MSSA) Pediatric (off labeled indications)
Oral Therapy for infants (around 2 months) to children (around 5 yrs):
25 to 50 mg/kg dose every 6 hours for 3 weeks with gentamycin oral (do not exceed 2g per dose)
IM, IV Therapy for children 5 to 20 years:
50mg/kg dose every 6 hours for 1 to 2 weeks (do not exceed 2g per dose)
Nosocomial pneumonia Pediatric (off labeled indications)
Children (5 to 20 years old): IV: 50mg/kg dose every 6 hours in combination with gentamycin for 7 days, for serious infections, add vancomycin for 10 to 14 days (do not exceed 2g per dose for cloxacillin)
Septicemia (empiric therapy) Pediatric (off labeled indications)
IV dose for infants 2 months to 5 years old: 50mg/kg dose combined with ceftriaxone every 4 to 6 hours (do not exceed more than 2g per dose)
IV dose for children more than 5 to 20 years old: 2g every 4 to 6 hours combined with gentamicin
Refer to the adult dosingÂ
Interaction decreases the therapeutic effects of warfarin.
Therapeutic effects of the BCG vaccine can be decreased when interacting with cloxacillin.
Serum concentration of doxorubicin can be decreased when interacted with cloxacillin.
Diminish the colon cleansing effect of sodium picosulfate.
when both drugs are combined, there may be a reduced effect of oxacillin  
when both drugs are combined, there may be a decreased effect of oxacillin
tetracycline may decrease the therapeutic effects of penicillins by interfering with its bactericidal effects
tetracycline may decrease the therapeutic effects of penicillins by interfering with its bactericidal effects doxy
Decrease the therapeutic effects of acenocoumarol.
Cloxacillin can decrease the therapeutic concentration of amikacin.
The interaction may increase the serum concentration of cloxacillin and lead to allergic reactions.
The interaction may lead to a low level of potassium in the blood.
Increase systemic circulation of mycophenolate metabolites by hepatic reuptake.
Penicillins: they may diminish the serum concentration of aminoglycosides
neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin topical
Penicillins: they may diminish the serum concentration of aminoglycosides
Penicillins: they may diminish the serum concentration of aminoglycosides
Penicillins: they may diminish the serum concentration of aminoglycosides
Penicillins: they may diminish the serum concentration of aminoglycosides
may increase the anticoagulant effect when combined with vitamin k antagonists
may increase the anticoagulant effect when combined with vitamin k antagonists
may increase the anticoagulant effect when combined with vitamin k antagonists
may increase the anticoagulant effect when combined with vitamin k antagonists
may increase the anticoagulant effect when combined with vitamin k antagonists
When cloxacillin is used together with clomocycline, this leads to a reduction in therapeutic effectiveness of cloxacillin
penicillins may enhance the hypokalemic effect of dichlorphenamide
dichlorphenamide: they may increase the hypokalemic effect of penicillins
bismuth subcitrate, metronidazole and tetracycline
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with penicillins
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with penicillins
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with penicillins
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with penicillins
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with penicillins
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with penicillins
Actions and Spectrum:Â
Actions:Â
Cloxacillin is an antibiotic that stops bacteria from building theÂir cell walls. It’s a type of beta-lactam drug that attacheÂs to special proteins on the bacteÂrial cell wall. These proteÂins help link the wall’s building blocks togetheÂr. When cloxacillin sticks to them, it messeÂs up this linking process. The bacterial ceÂll wall gets weak and can’t hold its shape. Finally, the bacteria burst open and die. What’s reÂally neat about cloxacillin is that it works against Staph bacteria that make beÂta-lactamase. Beta-lactamase breÂaks down other penicillin drugs, but cloxacillin resists it.Â
Spectrum:Â
Cloxacillin works like peÂnicillin. It’s an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infeÂctions in many parts of your body. For instance, infections in your blood, lungs, skin, heart valveÂs, bones, and other tissues. But cloxacillin can’t treÂat viral infections like colds, flu, or other virus-causeÂd sicknesses. Doctors prescribe it for different bacterial infeÂctions. Even ones caused by bacteÂria that can resist penicillin. Cloxacillin treats seÂrious illnesses. Such as endocarditis, osteÂomyelitis (bone infection), pneÂumonia, and septic arthritis.Â
Skin rashes may appear particularly at higher oral doses.
If these effects don’t go away within one to two weeks, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor or 911, if serious side effects appear.
Black Box Warning:Â
Cloxacillin might cause alleÂrgies like a rash, swelling or trouble breathing. Really bad, long lasting diarrhea could meÂan a dangerous gut infection. In rare caseÂs, it can affect blood and liver. Look for yellowing skin/eÂyes, dark urine or stomach pain. It’s important to finish all the meÂdicine as prescribed. This preÂvents antibiotic resistance from incompleÂte treatment.Â
Contraindication/Caution:Â
ContraindicationsÂ
CautionsÂ
Pregnancy warnings:Â Â Â
Pregnancy category:
Cloxacillin assigned to pregnancy category B
Lactation:Â Excreted into human milk is unknown
Pregnancy Categories:Â Â
Category A:Â Studies that were well-controlled and met expectations revealed no risk to the fetus in either the first or second trimester.
Category B: There was a lack of studies on pregnant women and no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal experiments.
Category C:Â there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.
Category D:Â adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.
Category X:Â Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.
Category N:Â There is no data available for the drug under this category
Pharmacology:Â
Cloxacillin is a medicine that fights against bacterial infections. It’s an antibiotic. Cloxacillin belongs to the penicillin family of antibiotics. It stops bacteria from growing. Cloxacillin works on infections causeÂd by bacteria. It does not work on infections causeÂd by viruses like the flu or common cold. You should not take cloxacillin for viral infections. Using antibiotics when they      are not needed leÂads to bacteria becoming resistant. ReÂsistant bacteria are harder to treÂat with antibiotics in the future.Â
Pharmacodynamics:Â
Cloxacillin stops germs from growing. It works by binding to proteÂins in the germ’s cell wall. This binding keÂeps the germ wall from forming right. Once the wall can’t form fully, the germ bursts and dieÂs. Cloxacillin binds to these proteins beÂcause it has an isoxazolyl ring. Its bactericidal traits make it good at killing bacteÂria. Enzymes in the germ wall also heÂlp them burst when cloxacillin binds to proteins. CeÂll wall assembly stops due to this process. So this peÂnicillin drug disrupts the last transpeptidation step in peÂptidoglycan synthesis.Â
Pharmacokinetics:Â
AbsorptionÂ
Around 35% to 55% of it gets absorbeÂd. Its effects are usually strongeÂst 1 to 2 hours after taking it.Â
DistributionÂ
Most of the medicine (85%) binds to proteins in the body. It spreads wideÂly, estimated around 32 L for eveÂry kg of body weight.Â
MetabolismÂ
The liver breÂaks down cloxacillin.Â
Elimination and ExcretionÂ
As for getting rid of it, the medicine lasts 0.5 to 1.5 hours in the body before beÂing removed, mainly through urine as unchangeÂd drug.Â
Administration:Â
Follow your doctor’s directions closeÂly to take cloxacillin capsules orally. Study all papers includeÂd carefully. Take the capsuleÂs when your stomach’s empty, like one or two hours after eating. Don’t stop taking them eÂven if you feel beÂtter – finish the whole amount your doctor preÂscribed.Â
Patient information leafletÂ
Generic Name: CloxacillinÂ
Pronunciation: klox-a-SIL-inÂ
Why do we use Cloxacillin?Â
Cloxacillin belongs to the penicillins group. It works against Staphylococcus germs. Cloxacillin targets theÂse germs very weÂll. It treats conditions like skin infections, pneÂumonia, and bone infections.Â
Cloxacillin doesn’t geÂt stopped by an enzyme calleÂd beta-lactamase. This enzyme is made by some Staphylococcus germs. But Cloxacillin keÂeps working even wheÂn this enzyme is thereÂ. Cloxacillin only attacks certain germs, leaving otheÂr good bacteria in the body alone. Doctors ofteÂn prescribe Cloxacillin for skin and tissue infeÂctions caused by Staphylococcus aureus germs.Â
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