Table 1.

Pharmacologic Therapy for the Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis

Patient Type	Drug	Dose	Length of Therapy
HIV-negative, healthy host	amphotericin B	0.7−1 mg/kg/day	6−10 weeks
	plus 5-flucytosine	100 mg/kg/day	6−10 weeks
	Alternative Therapy
	amphotericin B	0.7−1 mg/kg/day	2 weeks
	plus 5-flucytosine	100 mg/kg/day	2 weeks
	followed by fluconazole*	400 mg/day	10 weeks (minimum)
HIV-negative, immunocompromised host	Same regimens as above
HIV-positive host	amphotericin B	0.7−1 mg/kg/day	2 weeks
	plus 5-flucytosine	100 mg/kg/day	2 weeks
	followed by fluconazole	400 mg/day*	10 weeks (minimum)

^*Itraconazole (200−400 mg/day) is an acceptable alternative for patients who cannot tolerate fluconazole.Source: Saag et al., 2000.