Updated Reviewed

Tables

Table 6. Dosing Recommendations for Drugs Used to Treat or Prevent Opportunistic Infections That Require Dosage Adjustment in Patients with Renal Insufficiency

When renally cleared drugs are administered to patients with reduced renal function, drug accumulation leading to supratherapeutic concentrations and drug toxicities is a primary concern. However, clearance is only one of the pharmacokinetic parameters that affect a drug’s disposition. The volume of distribution of a drug also can be altered in patients with reduced renal function. Furthermore, some patients with HIV or diabetes mellitus can have reduced oral absorption of certain drugs. Therefore, although a drug may require a dose reduction in renal failure based on reduced clearance (i.e., increased concentrations), other factors—such as an increased volume of distribution or reduced oral absorption—may decrease concentrations.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), if available and appropriate, may facilitate dose adjustments in these complicated patients. TDM allows the clinician to make informed, individualized decisions about dose adjustments that are more precise than standardized dose adjustments based on estimated creatinine clearance. Drugs that are marked with an asterisk (*) in the table below are known to have assays (for clinical and/or research purposes) available within the United States and typically in Europe as well. When TDM is appropriate, clinicians should contact their clinical laboratory to determine assay availability and turnaround time for their institution.

Drug(s)Usual DoseDosage Adjustment in Renal Insufficiency
CrCl^ or eGFR# (mL/min)Dose
Acyclovir*

IV Dose

Serious HSV

  • 5 mg/kg IV every 8 hours

VZV Infections or HSV encephalitis

  • 10 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
26–50100% of dose IV every 12 hours
10–25100% of dose IV every 24 hours
<1050% of dose IV every 24 hours
HD50% of dose every 24 hours; administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.
PO Dose for Herpes Zoster: 800 mg PO five times per day10–25800 mg PO every 8 hours
<10800 mg PO every 12 hours
HD800 mg PO every 12 hours; administer dose after HD on days of dialysis
Adefovir10 mg PO every 24 hours30–4910 mg PO every 48 hours
10–2910 mg PO every 72 hours
HD10 mg PO weekly; administer dose after HD

Amikacin*

For mycobacterial infections

IV 15 mg/kg per day

or

25 mg/kg three times per week

 

Use with caution in patients with renal insufficiency and family history of ototoxicity.

15 mg/kg two to three times per week

Perform TDM to adjust dose, with target peak concentration 35–45 mcg/mL and trough concentration <4 mcg/mL.

Administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.

Amphotericin B*

3–6 mg/kg IV per day (lipid formulation)

or

0.7–1.0 mg/kg IV per day (amphotericin B deoxycholate)

N/A

No dosage adjustment necessary; consider alternative antifungals if renal insufficiency occurs during therapy despite adequate hydration.

 

 

Cidofovir

5 mg/kg IV on Day 0, repeat 5 mg/kg IV dose on Day 7, then 5 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks

Give each dose with probenecid and saline hydration (see Table 2 for dosing instructions).

Pretreatment SCr >1.5 mg/dL

or

CrCl <55 mL/min

or

Proteinuria ≥100 mg/dL (≥2 +)

Cidofovir is not recommended unless benefits outweigh risks. See “Pharmacokinetics of cidofovir in renal insufficiency and in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis or high-flux hemodialysis” for recommendations on renal dose adjustments.
If SCr increases by 0.3–0.4 mg/dL above baseline

Decrease to 3 mg/kg IV per dose.

 

If SCr increases >0.5 mg/dL above baseline

or

Proteinuria ≥3 +

Discontinue therapy.
Ciprofloxacin*

500–750 mg PO every 12 hours

or

400 mg IV every 8–12 hours

 

30–50

 

500–750 mg PO every 12 hours

or

400 mg IV every 12 hours

<30

250–500 mg PO every 24 hours

or

400 mg IV every 24 hours

HD or PD

250–500 mg PO every 24 hours

or

200–400 mg IV every 24 hours; administer after HD or PD on days of dialysis.

Clarithromycin*500 mg PO every 12 hours30–60Usual dose unless used with an HIV PI or with COBI, then reduce dose by 50%.
<30

250 mg PO twice daily

or

500 mg PO once daily

If used with an HIV PI or COBI, reduce dose by 75% (or consider using azithromycin as alternative).

Cycloserine*

10–15 mg/kg/day PO in two divided doses (maximum 1,000 mg/day); start at 250 mg once daily and increase dose per tolerability.

Target peak concentration 20–35 mcg/mL

30–80Usual dose; consider TDM and monitor for toxicities.
<30 (not on HD) or HD

250 mg once daily or 500 mg three times per week

Perform TDM and adjust dose accordingly. Monitor for toxicities.

Use with caution in patients with ESRD who are not on dialysis.

Emtricitabine*a
(FTC)

One 200-mg capsule PO once daily

or

240-mg solution PO once daily

CrCl^ or eGFR# (mL/min)Oral CapsulesOral Solution
15–29200 mg every 72 hours80 mg every 24 hours
<15 and not on HD200 mg every 96 hours60 mg every 24 hours
HDa (administer dose after HD on days of dialysis)200 mg every 24 hours240 mg every 24 hours

Emtricitabine*/
Tenofovir* Alafenamide (FTC/TAF)

(FDC Trade Name: Descovy)

Note: Please refer to product labels for dosing recommendations for other ARV FDC products containing FTC/TAF.

One tablet (FTC 200 mg/TAF 25 mg) PO once daily<30 and not on HDCoformulated tablet is not recommended.
HDOne tablet daily. Administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.

Emtricitabine*/
Tenofovir* Disoproxil Fumarate (FTC/TDF)

(FDC Trade Name: Truvada)

Note: Please refer to product labels for dosing recommendations for other ARV FDC products containing FTC/TDF.

One (FTC 200 mg/TDF 300 mg) tablet PO daily

 

30–49One tablet PO every 48 hours (monitor for worsening renal function or consider switching to TAF)
<30 or HD

Do not use coformulated tablet.

Use formulation for each component drug and adjust dose according to recommendations for the individual drugs.

Entecavir

Usual Dose: 0.5 mg PO once daily

For Treatment of 3TC-Refractory HBV or for Patients with Decompensated Liver Disease: 1 mg PO once daily

 

CrCl^ or eGFR# (mL/min)Usual Renal Dose Adjustment3TC-Refractory or Decompensated Liver Disease
30 to <50
  • 0.25 mg PO every 24 hours, or
  • 0.5 mg PO every 48 hours
  • 0.5 mg PO every 24 hours, or
  • 1 mg PO every 48 hours
10 to <30
  • 0.15 mg PO every 24 hours, or
  • 0.5 mg PO every 72 hours
  • 0.3 mg PO every 24 hours, or
  • 1 mg PO every 72 hours
<10 or HD or CAPD (administer after HD on days of dialysis)
  • 0.05 mg PO every 24 hours, or
  • 0.5 mg PO once every 7 days
  • 0.1 mg PO every 24 hours, or
  • 1 mg PO once every 7 days
Ethambutol*

For MAI: 15 mg/kg PO daily

For MTB: 15–25 mg/kg PO daily

(See the Dosing Recommendations table in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis section for additional MTB dosing recommendations.)

<30 or HD

 

 

 

 

Usual dose PO three times weekly (in patients on HD, give dose after dialysis).

 

PD

Do not use in patients on PD. Consider alternative MAI or MTB treatment (e.g., moxifloxacin).

Perform TDM to guide optimal dosing.

Ethionamide*

15–20 mg/kg PO daily

(usually 250–500 mg PO once or twice daily)

<30 or HD

250–500 mg PO once daily

Consider TDM.

Famciclovir*

For Herpes Zoster: 500 mg PO every 8 hours

For HSV: 500 mg PO every 12 hours

40–59500 mg PO every 12 hours
20–39500 mg PO every 24 hours
<20250 mg PO every 24 hours
HD250 mg PO only on HD days, administer after HD
Fluconazole*200–1,200 mg PO or IV every 24 hours (dose and route of administration depends on type of OI)≤50Administer 100% of the indication-specific initial dose, then adjust maintenance doses to 50% of dose every 24 hours.
HDAdminister 100% of the indication-specific initial dose, then adjust maintenance doses to full dose three times per week after HD.
Flucytosine*

25 mg/kg PO every 6 hours

TDM is recommended for patients to guide optimal dosing (target peak serum concentration 2 hours after dose: 25-100 mcg/mL). If TDM is not possible, monitor CBC twice weekly.

21–4025 mg/kg PO every 12 hours
10–2025 mg/kg PO every 24 hours
<1025 mg/kg PO every 48 hours
HD

25–50 mg/kg PO every 48–72 hours; administer dose after HD.

 

Foscarnet

Induction Therapy for CMV Infection: 180 mg/kg/day IV in two divided doses

Maintenance Therapy for CMV Infection or for Treatment of HSV Infections: 90–120 mg/kg IV once daily

Dosage adjustment needed according to calculated CrCl/kg; consult product label for dosing table.Dosage adjustment needed according to calculated CrCl/kg; consult product label for dosing table.
Ganciclovir*

Induction Therapy: 5 mg/kg IV every 12 hours

 

50–692.5 mg/kg IV every 12 hours
25–492.5 mg/kg IV every 24 hours
10–241.25 mg/kg IV every 24 hours
<10 or HD1.25 mg/kg IV three times per week; administer dose after HD.

Maintenance Therapy: 5 mg/kg IV every 24 hours

 

50–692.5 mg/kg IV every 24 hours
25–491.25 mg/kg IV every 24 hours
10–240.625 mg/kg IV every 24 hours
<10 or HD0.625 mg/kg IV three times per week; administer dose after HD.
Lamivudineb (3TC)300 mg PO every 24 hours15–29150 mg PO once, then 100 mg PO every 24 hours
5–14150 mg PO once, then 50 mg PO every 24 hours
<5 or HD50 mg PO once, then 25 mg PO every 24 hours; administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.

Lamivudine/
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (3TC/TDF)

(FDC Trade Names: Cimduo or Temixys)

Note: Please refer to product information for dosing recommendations for other ARV FDC products containing 3TC/TDF.

One (3TC 300 mg/TDF 300 mg) tablet PO every 24 hours

 

<50

Coformulated tablet is not recommended.

 

Levofloxacin*500 mg (low dose) or 750–1,000 mg (high dose) IV or PO dailyCrCl^ or eGFR# (mL/min)Low DoseHigh Dose
20–49500 mg once, then 250 mg every 24 hours, IV or PO750 mg every 48 hours IV or PO
<20 or CAPD or HD (administer dose after HD on days of dialysis)

500 mg once, then 250 mg every 48 hours, IV or PO

Dose can be adjusted based on serum concentrations.

750 mg once, then 500 mg every 48 hours, IV or PO
Paromomycin500 mg PO every 6 hours<10Minimal systemic absorption. No dosage adjustment necessary but monitor for worsening renal function and ototoxicity in patients with ESRD.
Peginterferon Alfa-2a180 mcg SQ once weekly<30135 mcg SQ once weekly
HD

135 mcg SQ once weekly

May reduce to 90 mcg once weekly if severe adverse effects or laboratory abnormalities occur.

Penicillin G (Potassium
or Sodium)

Neurosyphilis, Ocular Syphilis, or Otosyphilis

  • 3–4 million units IV every 4 hours, or
  • 18–24 million units IV daily as continuous infusion
10–50

2–3 million units every 4 hours

or

12–18 million units as continuous infusion

<102 million units every 4–6 hours, or 8–12 million units as continuous infusion
HD or CAPD2 million units every 4–6 hours, or 8 million units as continuous infusion
Pentamidine

4 mg/kg IV every 24 hours

May reduce dose to 3 mg/kg IV daily in the event of toxicities

<104 mg/kg IV every 48 hours
Posaconazole*

IV: 300 mg twice daily on Day 1; then 300 mg once daily

Delayed-Release Tablet: 300 mg PO once daily

Oral Suspension: 400 mg PO twice daily

 

<50

No dosage adjustment of oral dose in patients with renal insufficiency. Higher variability in serum concentrations observed in patients with CrCl <20 mL/min.

Perform posaconazole TDM (target trough concentration at least >1.25 mcg/mL for treatment).

IV posaconazole is not recommended by the manufacturer because of potential toxicity due to accumulation of SBCD (vehicle of IV product). However, an observational study did not find worsening in renal function in patients with CrCl <50 mL/min given SBCD.

Switch patients with CrCl <50 mL/min to oral posaconazole when feasible.

Pyrazinamide*See the Mycobacterium tuberculosis section for weight-based dosing guidelines.<30 or HD25–35 mg/kg/dose three times per week; administer dose after HD.
Quinine Sulfate*650 mg salt (524 mg base) PO every 8 hours<10 or HD650 mg once, then 325 mg PO every 12 hours
Rifabutin*

5 mg/kg PO daily (usually 300 mg PO daily)

See the Mycobacterium tuberculosis section and Drug–Drug Interactions in the Adult and Adolescent Antiretroviral Guidelines for dosage adjustment based on interactions with ARVs.

<30If toxicity is suspected, consider 50% of dose once daily and perform rifabutin TDM.
Sofosbuvir*400 mg PO daily<30Not recommended. Up to 20-fold higher sofosbuvir metabolite observed in patients with this level of renal impairment.
Streptomycin

15 mg/kg IM or IV every 24 hours

or

25 mg/kg IM or IV three times per week

Use with caution in patients with renal insufficiency.

TDM is no longer available. Consider an alternative aminoglycoside, as clinically appropriate. If used:

15 mg/kg two to three times weekly. Administer dose after HD.

Sulfadiazine1,000–1,500 mg PO every 6 hours (1,500 mg every 6 hours for patients >60 kg)

≤ 50

 

No data. Use alternative anti-toxoplasma therapy.

 

Tecovirimat

IV:

35 to <120 kg: 200 mg every 12 hours

≥120 kg: 300 mg every 12 hours

30–89

No dosage adjustment necessary

Use with caution due to potential accumulation of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin.

<30

Contraindicated due to potential accumulation of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin.

Note: IV formulation may be considered in patients with CrCl <30 only if drug absorption via enteral administration is expected to be problematic based on an individual risk-benefit assessment in consultation with CDC. In these circumstances, use with caution and monitor renal function continuously. Switch to the oral formulation as soon as possible.

PO:

40 to <120 kg: 600 mg every 12 hours

≥120 kg: 600 mg every 8 hours

Any eGFRNo dosage adjustment necessary

Tenofovir* Alafenamide (TAF)

Note: Please refer to product labels for dosing recommendations for other ARV FDC products containing FTC/TAF.

25 mg PO daily

<15

 

Not recommended

 

<15 on HDNo dosage adjustment required. Administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.

Tenofovir* Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF)

Note: Please refer to product labels for dosing recommendations for other ARV FDC products containing TDF.

300 mg PO daily30–49300 mg PO every 48 hours (consider switching to TAF for treatment of HBV)
10–29300 mg PO every 72–96 hours (consider switching to alternative agent for treatment of HBV)
<10 and not on dialysisNot recommended
HD300 mg PO once weekly; administer dose after dialysis
Trimethoprim* /
Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)

For PCP Treatment

  • 5 mg/kg (of TMP component) IV every 6–‍8 hours, or
  • Two TMP-SMX DS tablets PO every 8 hours

 

15–305 mg/kg (TMP) IV every 12 hours, or two TMP-SMX DS tablets PO every 12 hours
<155 mg/kg (TMP) IV every 24 hours, or one TMP-SMX DS tablet PO every 12 hours (or two TMP-SMX DS tablets every 24 hours)
HD

5 mg/kg/day (TMP) IV, or two TMP-SMX DS tablets PO daily; administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.

Consider TDM to optimize therapy (target TMP concentrations: 5–8 mcg/mL).

For PCP Prophylaxis

  • One TMP-SMX DS tablet PO daily,
  • One TMP-SMX DS tablet PO three times per week, or
  • One TMP-SMX SS tablet PO daily
15–30Reduce dose by 50% (e.g., 1 SS tablet PO daily).
<15Reduce dose by 50% or use alternative agent.

For Toxoplasmosis Encephalitis (TE) Treatment: 5 mg/kg (TMP component) IV or PO every 12 hours

 

15–305 mg/kg (TMP component) IV or PO every 24 hours
<155 mg/kg (TMP component) IV or PO every 24 hours or use alternative agent

For TE Chronic Maintenance Therapy

One TMP-SMX DS tablet twice daily, or

  • One TMP-SMX DS tablet daily
15–30Reduce dose by 50%.
<15Reduce dose by 50% or use alternative agent.
For Toxoplasmosis Primary Prophylaxis: One TMP-SMX DS tablet PO daily15–30Reduce dose by 50%.
<15Reduce dose by 50% or use alternative agent.
Valacyclovir*For Herpes Zoster: 1 g PO three times daily30–491 g PO every 12 hours
10–291 g PO every 24 hours
<10500 mg PO every 24 hours
HD500 mg PO every 24 hours; administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.

For Herpes Simplex Virus Treatment: 1 g PO twice daily

For Herpes Simplex Chronic Suppressive Therapy: 500 mg PO twice daily.

30–49No dosage adjustment
10–29

For Treatment: 1 g PO every 24 hours

For Suppressive Therapy: 500 mg PO every 24 hours

<10500 mg PO every 24 hours
HD500 mg PO every 24 hours; administer dose after HD on days of dialysis.
Valganciclovir

Induction Therapy: 900 mg PO twice daily

Maintenance Therapy: 900 mg PO once daily

CrCl^ or eGFR# (mL/min)InductionMaintenance
40–59450 mg PO twice daily450 mg PO daily
26–39450 mg PO daily450 mg PO every 48 hours
10–25450 mg PO every 48 hours450 mg PO twice weekly
<10 and not on dialysis

Not recommended

Use IV ganciclovir.

May consider:

  • 200 mg (oral powder for solution) PO three times per week

If oral powder formulation is not available, consider:

  • 450 mg (tablet) PO three times weekly

Not recommended

Use IV ganciclovir.

May consider:

  • 100 mg (oral powder for solution) PO three times per week

If oral powder formulation is not available, consider:

  • 450 mg (tablet) PO twice weekly
HD

Not recommended

Use IV ganciclovir.

May consider:

  • 200 mg (oral powder for solution) PO three times per week after HD

If oral powder formulation is not available, consider:

  • 450 mg (tablet) PO three times per week after HD

Not recommended

Use IV ganciclovir.

May consider:

  • 100 mg (oral powder for solution) PO three times per week after HD

If oral powder formulation is not available, consider:

  • 450 mg (tablet) PO twice per week after HD
Voriconazole*

6 mg/kg IV every 12 hours for two doses, then 4 mg/kg IV every 12 hours

or

200–300 mg PO every 12 hours

 

<50

IV voriconazole is not recommended by the manufacturer because of potential toxicity due to accumulation of SBCD (vehicle of IV product). An observational study did not find worsening in renal function in patients with CrCl <50 mL/min.

Switch patients with CrCl <50 mL/min to oral voriconazole when feasible. No need for dosage adjustment when the oral dose is used.

Perform TDM to adjust dose.

* Drugs marked with asterisk (*) are those known to have assays available (for clinical and/or research purposes) within the United States and typically in Europe. When TDM is appropriate, clinicians should contact their clinical laboratory to determine assay availability and turnaround time for their institution.

a The prescribing information for emtricitabine (Emtriva) recommends adjusting doses for patients with CrCl 30-49 and for patients on hemodialysis. However, the prescribing information for several FDC products that contain emtricitabine (including Descovy, Biktaryy, Genvoya, and Odefsey) recommends that the standard dose (emtricitabine 200 mg) can be given once daily in these patients (on days of hemodialysis, give after completion of dialysis). The recommendations in this table incorporate the dosing guidance from the FDC products.

b The prescribing information for lamivudine (Epivir) recommends dosage adjustment from 300 mg once daily to 150 mg once daily for patients with CrCl 30–49 mL/min. However, the prescribing information for several FDC products that contain lamivudine (including Epzicom, Dovato, and Triumeq) recommends no dose adjustment for CrCl 30–49 mL/min. The recommendation in this table incorporates the dosing guidance from the FDC products.
^Creatinine Clearance Calculation

Male:

[(140 - age in years) x (weight in kg)] / [72 x (serum creatinine)]

Female:

<img

#When estimating kidney function to facilitate drug dosing in patients with renal insufficiency, please refer to the drug’s prescribing information and to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ Determining Drug Dosing in Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease page for a discussion on using CrCl based on the Cockcroft-Gault equation versus eGFR.

Key: 3TC = lamivudine; ARV = antiretroviral; CAPD = continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; CBC = complete blood count; CMV = cytomegalovirus; COBI = cobicistat; CrCl = creatinine clearance; DS = double strength; eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate; ESRD = end-stage renal disease; FDC = fixed-dose combination; FTC = emtricitabine; HBV = hepatitis B virus; HD = hemodialysis; HSV = herpes simplex virus; IM = intramuscular; IV = intravenous; MAI = Mycobacterium avium intracellulare; MTB = Mycobacterium tuberculosis; N/A = not applicable; OI = opportunistic infection; PCP = Pneumocystis pneumonia; PD = peritoneal dialysis; PI = protease inhibitor; PO = orally; SCr = serum creatinine; SQ = subcutaneous; SBCD = sulfobutylether cyclodextrin; SS = single strength; TAF = tenofovir alafenamide; TDF = tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; TDM = therapeutic drug monitoring; TMP-SMX = trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; VZV = varicella zoster virus

Download Guidelines