Detailed dose evidence documented for Colistin in its monograph — reference only, not dosing recommendations.
Reference only — not a dosing recommendation.
Approved regimen
Approved labeled regimen
Product-, indication-, and jurisdiction-specific — see the monograph
CMS IV (Coly-Mycin M Parenteral): 2.5-5 mg/kg/day colistin base activity divided q8-12h. The vial is labeled as 150 mg colistin base activity (CBA) per vial.
Critical dosing safety note: In the US, CMS vials are labeled as "150 mg colistin base activity." In Europe (Colomycin), vials are labeled in International Units (1 MU = 80 mg CMS = 30 mg CBA). This difference has caused fatal medication errors.
Studied in trials
Studied regimens (not recommendations)
Studied in trials — not a recommended dose
A loading dose of 300 mg CBA (approximately 9 MU), followed by maintenance dosing, is recommended in international consensus guidelines (Tsuji et al. 2019, endorsed by IDSA/SCCM/ACCP/SIDP) to achieve therapeutic colistin concentrations more rapidly in critically ill patients. This is a consensus recommendation, not a labeled regimen.
Not established
What is not established
Optimal dosing for critically ill patients (loading dose is guideline-based, not prospectively validated in an RCT vs no-loading approach).
Inhaled colistin (used as adjunctive therapy for VAP or for cystic fibrosis, but not FDA-labeled for these indications).
Monotherapy for bloodstream infections (combination therapy generally recommended).