Adult Dosing
IM
- Serious infection: 600 mg IM q24 hrs
- More severe infections: 600 mg IM q12 hrs or more often
IV
- Serious infection: 600-1000 mg IV q8-12 hrs
- More severe infections: May increase the dose
- Life-threatening situations: Up to 8 gm/day IV
- Max: 8 gm/day
Note:
- For IV administration dilute 1 g in not less than 100 ml of diluent
Subconjunctival Injection
- 75 mg (0.25 mL) inject subconjunctivally
Pediatric Dosing
IM (>1 month)
- Serious infection: 10 mg/kg IM q24 hrs
- More severe infections: 10 mg/kg IM q12 hrs or more often
IV (>1 month)
- 10-20 mg/kg/day IV in divided doses q8-12 hrs, depending on the severity of the infection
Note:
- For IV administration dilute 1 g in not less than 100 ml of diluent
- Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) ranging from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis occurs with lincomycin therapy [US Black Box Warning]
- Lincomycin product contains benzyl alcohol as a preservative, which can cause fatal gasping syndrome in premature infants. Hence should not be used in infants <1 months
- Although lincomycin appears to diffuse into cerebrospinal fluid, drug levels in the CSF may be inadequate for the treatment of meningitis
- Lincomycin can cause serious anaphylactoid reactions. In such case provide immediate emergency treatment with epinephrine, oxygen, intravenous corticosteroids
- Overgrowth of nonsusceptible organism may result from lincomycin use. Provide appropriate treatment, if such superinfections occurs
- Prescribing antibiotics in the absence of proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection increases the risk of development of drug-resistant bacteria
- Use cautiously in elderly patients with associated severe illness and carefully monitor them for change in bowel frequency, as they may not tolerate diarrhea
- Use cautiously in renal and hepatic impairment, as serum half-life of lincomycin is prolonged in severe renal impairment and is twofold longer in hepatic impairment
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic impairment
- History of gastrointestinal disease
- History of colitis
- History of asthma
- History of significant allergies
- Elderly patients
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Lincomycin is excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing, or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
