Linelid Dosage/Direction for Use

Before drug use, skin test for sensitivity to Linezolid should be carried out. Linezolid is given twice a day by intravenous injection. Solution for infusion should be administered within 30-120 minutes.
Patients, treatment of which has been started with Linezolid in form of intravenous infusions, could be allowed for treatment with oral Linezolid. In this case dose adjustment is not necessary, as oral administration bioavailability of Linezolid is approximately 100%.
Doses recommended for adults and children in age over 12 years: See Table 1.

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Doses recommended for children (from birth* up to 11 years): See Table 2.

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*Premature neonates aged up to 7 days (gestational age is less than 34 weeks) have lower systemic clearance of Linezolid and higher value for AUC than full-term neonates and older infants. Starting from the 7^th day of life, values of Linezolid clearance and AUC in premature neonates are the same as in full-term neonates and older infants.
Treatment duration depends on causative agent, infection localization and severity, as well as on clinical effect.
Administration instructions: Infusion is administered within 30-120 minutes.
Don't connect infusion bags in series. Immediately before use remove protective wrapping, and for about 1 minute firmly squeeze the bag in order to make sure of its integrity. If leaks are detected, the solution is non-sterile. The residues of unused solution should be utilized. Don't use partially filled packages.
Compatible solutions for infusion: 5% glucose (dextrose) solution for injection, 0.9% sodium chloride solution, lactated Ringer's solution for injection.
Use in elderly patients: dose adjustment is not necessary.
Use in patients with renal failure: dose adjustment is not necessary.
Patients with severe renal failure (in particular, with creatinine clearance <30 mL/min): Dose adjustment is not necessary.
Due to unknown clinical significance of higher systemic exposure (up to 10 times) of two main Linezolid metabolites in patients with severe renal failure, the drug should be used with caution in these patients, and only if expected therapy benefit exceeds potential risk. Approximately 30% dose of Linezolid is eliminated during 3-hour hemodialysis session, therefore Linezolid should be administered after use of dialysis for patients receiving such a therapy. Main Linezolid metabolites are removed from the body by hemodialysis at a certain quantity, however, concentrations of these metabolites remained considerably higher after dialysis procedure than concentrations observed in patients with normal renal function or with insignificantly or moderately expressed renal failure. Therefore, Linezolid should be prescribed with caution to patients with severe renal failure undergoing hemodialysis, and only if expected therapy benefit exceeds potential risk.
To date there is no clinical experience of Linezolid use in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis or alternative treatment for liver failure (other than hemodialysis).
Use in patients with liver failure: dose adjustment is not necessary. However clinical data on this issue are limited, so it is recommended to prescribe Linezolid only if expected treatment benefit exceeds potential risk.