Aztreonam inhalation

Name: Aztreonam inhalation

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Aztreonam dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Bacteremia:

2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours

Therapy should be continued for approximately 10 to 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Bacterial Infection:

Moderately severe infections: 1 to 2 g IV or IM every 8 to 12 hours
Severe infections: 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours (maximum, 8 g/day)

Usual Adult Dose for Cystic Fibrosis:

Inhalation:
Initial dose: 75 mg via nebulizer over approximately 2 to 3 minutes 3 times a day for 28 days; doses should be at least 4 hours apart

Maintenance dose: Administer in alternating cycles of 28 days on and 28 days off.

For patients on multiple inhaled therapies, the following order of administration is recommended: bronchodilator, mucolytics, and lastly, aztreonam for inhalation.

Usual Adult Dose for Febrile Neutropenia:

2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours

Therapy should be continued until the absolute neutrophil count is greater than 500/mm3 and no infection is found or until an adequate clinical response is achieved if a susceptible infection is found and the patient has been afebrile for at least 24 hours. Therapy for neutropenic patients is often required for up to 3 weeks.

Usual Adult Dose for Intraabdominal Infection:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued for approximately 10 to 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Peritonitis:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued for approximately 10 to 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Osteomyelitis:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued for approximately 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. Chronic osteomyelitis may require an additional 2 months of oral antibiotics.

Usual Adult Dose for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued until this patient is afebrile and pain-free for 24 to 36 hours.

Usual Adult Dose for Pneumonia:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued for approximately 21 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Pyelonephritis:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued for approximately 14 days, depending on the nature and severity of the infection.

Usual Adult Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued for approximately 7 days or until 3 days after acute inflammation disappears. For more severe infections, such as diabetic soft tissue infections, 14 to 21 days of therapy may be required.

Usual Adult Dose for Urinary Tract Infection:

500 mg to 1 g IV or IM every 8 to 12 hours

Usual Pediatric Dose for Intraabdominal Infection:

7 days or less, 2000 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
7 days or less, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

8 to 30 days, 1199 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
8 to 30 days, 1200 to 2000 g: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
8 to 30 days, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 hours

1 month to 18 years: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 to 8 hours, up to a maximum of 2 g/dose or 8 g/day

Usual Pediatric Dose for Pneumonia:

7 days or less, 2000 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
7 days or less, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

8 to 30 days, 1199 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
8 to 30 days, 1200 to 2000 g: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
8 to 30 days, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 hours

1 month to 18 years: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 to 8 hours, up to a maximum of 2 g/dose or 8 g/day

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Infection:

7 days or less, 2000 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
7 days or less, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

8 to 30 days, 1199 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
8 to 30 days, 1200 to 2000 g: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
8 to 30 days, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 hours

1 month to 18 years: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 to 8 hours, up to a maximum of 2 g/dose or 8 g/day

Usual Pediatric Dose for Urinary Tract Infection:

7 days or less, 2000 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
7 days or less, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

8 to 30 days, 1199 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
8 to 30 days, 1200 to 2000 g: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
8 to 30 days, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 hours

1 month to 18 years: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 to 8 hours, up to a maximum of 2 g/dose or 8 g/day

Usual Pediatric Dose for Skin and Structure Infection:

7 days or less, 2000 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
7 days or less, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

8 to 30 days, 1199 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
8 to 30 days, 1200 to 2000 g: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
8 to 30 days, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 hours

1 month to 18 years: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 to 8 hours, up to a maximum of 2 g/dose or 8 g/day

Usual Pediatric Dose for Cystic Fibrosis:

Inhalation:
7 years or older:
Initial dose: 75 mg via nebulizer over approximately 2 to 3 minutes 3 times a day for 28 days; doses should be at least 4 hours apart

Maintenance dose: Administer in alternating cycles of 28 days on and 28 days off.

For patients on multiple inhaled therapies, the following order of administration is recommended: bronchodilator, mucolytics, and lastly, aztreonam for inhalation.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

  • Cayston

Available Dosage Forms:

  • Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Monobactam

Uses For aztreonam

Aztreonam inhalation is an antibiotic that is used to treat lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. The medicine is breathed into the lungs through the mouth to treat infections caused by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Aztreonam works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, aztreonam will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

aztreonam is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Precautions While Using aztreonam

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to make sure aztreonam is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

aztreonam may cause bronchospasm, which may be life-threatening. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child are having a cough, difficulty with breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing after using the medicine.

Stop using aztreonam and check with your doctor right away if you or your child develop a skin rash, hives, swelling of the face, tightness in the throat, or any allergic reaction to aztreonam.

If your or your child's symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.

In Summary

Commonly reported side effects of aztreonam include: fever. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

For the Consumer

Applies to aztreonam: inhalation powder for solution

Other dosage forms:

  • powder for solution, solution

Along with its needed effects, aztreonam may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking aztreonam:

More common
  • Chest discomfort
  • cough
  • difficulty with breathing or troubled breathing
  • fever
Less common
  • Noisy breathing
  • shortness of breath
  • tightness in the chest

Some side effects of aztreonam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common
  • Abdominal or stomach pain
  • sore throat
  • stuffy nose
  • vomiting
Less common
  • Rash

Usual Adult Dose for Osteomyelitis

1 to 2 g IV every 8 or 12 hours

For severe or life-threatening infections, a dose of 2 g IV every 6 to 8 hours is recommended. Therapy should be continued for approximately 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. Chronic osteomyelitis may require an additional 2 months of oral antibiotics.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Infection

7 days or less, 2000 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
7 days or less, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

8 to 30 days, 1199 g or less: 30 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
8 to 30 days, 1200 to 2000 g: 30 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
8 to 30 days, 2001 g or more: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 hours

1 month to 18 years: 30 mg/kg IV every 6 to 8 hours, up to a maximum of 2 g/dose or 8 g/day

Dose Adjustments

Parenteral:
CrCl 10 to 30 mL/min: Loading dose of 1 to 2 g IV followed by one-half of the normal dose at the usual dosage interval

CrCl 9 mL/min or less: Loading dose of 500 mg to 2 g IV followed by one-fourth of the normal dose at the usual dosage interval

Inhalation:
No adjustment recommended.

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