Colomycin Dosage/Direction for Use

Depending on the reason (see Indications/Uses), Colomycin may be given by fast injection (over 5 minutes into a special kind of tube in a vein) or slow injection (infusion over about 30 to 60 minutes) into a vein. Colomycin may occasionally be given by injection into the brain or the spine. Colomycin can also be breathed into the lungs as a fine spray made using a machine called a nebuliser. The droplets of the spray produced by the nebuliser are small enough to enter the lungs so that Colomycin can reach the site of the bacterial infection.
Always use Colomycin exactly as the doctor has told. Check with the doctor if unsure.
For use by infusion or injection: Colomycin is given to the patient by the doctor as an infusion into a vein over 30 - 60 minutes.
The usual daily dose in adults is 9 million units, divided into two or three doses. If the patient is quite unwell, he/she will be given a higher dose of 9 million units once at the start of treatment.
In some cases, the doctor may decide to give a higher daily dose of up to 12 million units.
The usual daily dose in children weighing up to 40 kg is 75,000 to 150,000 units per kilogram body weight, divided into three doses.
Higher doses have occasionally been given in cystic fibrosis.
Children and adults with kidney problems, including those on dialysis, are usually given lower doses.
The doctor will monitor the kidney function regularly while the patient receives Colomycin.
Method of administration: Colomycin is given by injection mainly in hospitals. If the patient is to treat him/herself at home, the doctor or nurse will show the patient how to dissolve the powder and inject the right dose of solution.
Duration of treatment: The doctor will decide how long the treatment should last depending of the severity of the infection. When treating bacterial infections it is important to complete the full course of treatment so as to prevent worsening of the existing infection.
For use in a nebuliser: The usual dose for adults, adolescents and children aged 2 years or older is 1-2 million units two to three times per day (maximum 6 million units per day).
The usual dose for children less than 2 years old is 0.5-1 million units twice daily (maximum 2 million units per day).
The doctor may decide to adjust the dose depending on the circumstances. If the patient also takes other inhaled medicines, the doctor will tell the patient which order to taken them in.
Method of administration: If the patient is treating him/herself at home, the doctor or nurse will show the patient how to use Colomycin in the nebuliser when the patient first starts the treatment. The following are general instructions.
The plastic cap is flipped open and the foil seal carefully ripped from around the top of the vial to remove it completely. The rubber bung is taken out carefully and sterile water or sterile salt water (saline) is added to each vial to dissolve the powder as follows: 1 million unit vial: 2ml sterile water / saline.
The solution is then poured into the nebuliser.
IMPORTANT: Do not mix Colomycin with any other product for nebulisation at the same time.
Duration of treatment: For nebulised use the doctor will advise on the course of the treatment.
If the patient forgets to use Colomycin: If the patient is treating him/herself and have missed any doses, he/she should give the missed dose as soon as he/she remembers and then give the next dose 8 hours later if using Colomycin three times a day, or 12 hours later if using Colomycin twice a day. Carry on from there as instructed. Do not take a double dose to make up forgotten dose.
If the patient stops using Colomycin: Do not stop the treatment early unless the doctor says the patient can. The doctor will decide how long the treatment should last. If the patient has any further questions on the use of this medicine, he/she should ask the doctor.