How often should tigecycline be administered to adults?

Standard Dosing for Tigecycline in Adults

Tigecycline, an intravenous glycylcycline antibiotic, is administered 100 mg loading dose followed by 50 mg every 12 hours for most approved infections in adults, including complicated skin and skin structure infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.[1]

Adjustments for Specific Conditions

• Obesity: No change needed; use actual body weight for dosing.
  
• Renal or hepatic impairment: No adjustment required for mild to moderate cases. For severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C), reduce maintenance dose to 25 mg every 12 hours after 100 mg load.
  
• Duration: Typically 5-14 days depending on infection type and response.[1]
  
  

Why Every 12 Hours?

Tigecycline has a long half-life (about 42 hours) and concentration-dependent activity, allowing twice-daily dosing despite once-daily potential in some studies. This schedule maintains therapeutic levels above MIC for key pathogens like MRSA and resistant Enterobacteriaceae.[2]

Common Administration Details

Infuse over 30-60 minutes. Compatible with normal saline or dextrose; avoid with bicarbonates. No oral formulation exists.[1]

Potential Risks with Dosing Errors

Overdosing risks nausea, vomiting, or pancreatitis; underdosing risks treatment failure in resistant infections. Monitor for superinfections like C. difficile.[3]

Sources:
[1] [FDA Label - Tygacil (tigecycline)]
[2] [Clinical Pharmacokinetics Review]
[3] [DrugPatentWatch - Tygacil]