RT Journal
A1 Tice AD
T1 GUidelines for treatment of anthrax
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2002
FD October 16
VO 288
IS 15
SP 1848
OP 1849
DO 10.1001/jama.288.15.1845
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.15.1845
AB 
I was concerned, however, that the authors did not recommend loading
doses of antibiotics. Without a loading dose, serum levels do not reach a
steady state until after several doses of the drug have been administered.
For compartments such as infected lymph nodes and the mediastinum, effective
concentrations would be even more difficult to achieve. This may be a particular
problem for doxycycline, which has a half-life of 18 hours.2 A
loading dose of twice the standard intermittent dose should carry no more
likelihood of toxicity than a regular dose and may be appropriate for ciprofloxacin
as well.