Meropenem: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Meropenem is a penem antibacterial sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for appendicitis, bacteroides infections and escherichia coli infections. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Penem Antibacterial
- Treats (across its forms)
- Appendicitis, Bacteroides Infections and Escherichia Coli Infections
- Available as
- Injectable · Powder
- Sold as
- 2 products — Merrem IV and Meropenem
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
How meropenem is dosed
From the FDA label for Meropenem (application NDA215212). Other meropenem products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Pediatric patients 3 months of age and older with bacterial meningitis ( 2.1 ) Recommended Meropenem for Injection Dosage Schedule for Pediatric Patients 3 Months of Age and Older with Bacterial Meningitis and Normal Renal Function (2.1) Type of Infection Dose (mg/kg) Up to a Maximum Dose Dosing Interval Bacterial Meningitis 40 2 grams Every 8 hours - Intravenous infusion is to be given over approximately 15 minutes to 30 minutes. - There is no experience with the use of Meropenem for Injection in pediatric patients with renal impairment. 2.1 Recommended Dosage in Pediatric Patients 3 Months of Age and Older with Bacterial Meningitis • For pediatric patients 3 months of age and older with bacterial meningitis, the Meropenem for Injection recommended dosage is 40 mg/kg every 8 hours (maximum dosage is 2 grams every 8 hours). • For pediatric patients weighing over 50 kg administer Meropenem for Injection at a dosage of 2 grams every 8 hours for bacterial meningitis. • Administer diluted Meropenem for Injection as an intravenous infusion over approximately 15 minutes to 30 minutes [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 )] . • There is limited safety data available to support the administration of a 40 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 2 grams) intravenous bolus injection. There is no experience with the use of Meropenem for Injection in pediatric patients with renal impairment [see…
Meropenem side effects
The following are discussed in greater detail in other sections of labeling: • Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] • Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] • Rhabdomyolysis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] • Seizure Potential [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] • Risk of Breakthrough Seizures Due to Drug Interaction with Valproic Acid [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] • Clostridioides difficile – Associated Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] • Development of Drug-Resistant Bacteria [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] • Overgrowth of Nonsusceptible Organisms [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] • Thrombocytopenia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] • Potential for Neuromotor Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 )] Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 1%) are: diarrhea, rash (mostly diaper area moniliasis), oral moniliasis, and glossitis ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact WG Critical Care, LLC at 1-866-562-4708 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in…
Who shouldn’t take meropenem
Meropenem for injection is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of this product or to other drugs in the same class or in patients who have demonstrated anaphylactic reactions to beta (β)-lactams. • Known hypersensitivity to product components or other drugs in the same class or in patients who have demonstrated anaphylactic reactions to beta (β)-lactams. ( 4 )
Meropenem drug interactions
Co-administration of meropenem for injection with probenecid inhibits renal excretion of meropenem and therefore Meropenem for Injection is not recommended ( 7.1 ) • The concomitant use of Meropenem for Injection and valproic acid or divalproex sodium is generally not recommended. Antibacterial drugs other than carbapenems should be considered to treat infections in patients whose seizures are well controlled on valproic acid or divalproex sodium. ( 5.4 , 7.2 ) 7.1 Probenecid Probenecid competes with meropenem for active tubular secretion, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of meropenem. Co-administration of probenecid with meropenem is not recommended. 7.2 Valproic Acid Case reports in the literature have shown that co-administration of carbapenems, including meropenem, to patients receiving valproic acid or divalproex sodium results in a reduction in valproic acid concentrations. The valproic acid concentrations may drop below the therapeutic range as a result of this interaction, therefore increasing the risk of breakthrough seizures. Although the mechanism of this interaction is unknown, data from in vitro and animal studies suggest that carbapenems may inhibit the hydrolysis of valproic acid’s glucuronide metabolite (VPA-g) back to valproic acid, thus decreasing the serum concentrations of valproic acid. If administration of meropenem for injection is necessary, then supplemental anti-convulsant therapy should be considered [ see Warnings and Precautions( 5.4 ) ].
Every meropenem product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 64/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
Combination products containing meropenem
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
How long meropenem keeps
No meropenem label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does meropenem expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsMeropenem and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for meropenem: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadAlthough no information is available on the use of meropenem during breastfeeding, milk levels appear to be low and beta-lactams are generally not expected to cause adverse effects in breastfed infants. Occasionally disruption of the infant's gastrointestinal flora, resulting in diarrhea or thrush have been reported with beta-lactams, but these effects have not been adequately evaluated. Vaborbactam, which is available in combination with meropenem in the product Vabomere, has not been studied in nursing mothers, but the combination is expected to have similar concerns as with meropenem alone.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised January 18, 2021. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about meropenem
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 34,268 reports naming meropenem, and the FDA flagged 97% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- pyrexia2,339 reports
- pneumonia1,619 reports
- sepsis1,516 reports
- septic shock1,500 reports
- acute kidney injury1,350 reports
- multiple organ dysfunction syndrome1,335 reports
- febrile neutropenia1,221 reports
- thrombocytopenia1,218 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean meropenem caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is meropenem?
Meropenem for Injection contains meropenem a synthetic carbapenem antibacterial. Meropenem is (4R,5S,6S)-3-[[(3S,5S)-5-(Dimethylcarbamoyl)-3-pyrrolidinyl]thio]-6-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-4-methyl-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid trihydrate.
What kind of drug is meropenem?
The FDA classifies meropenem as a penem antibacterial. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take meropenem with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run meropenem against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is meropenem sold under?
We track 2 meropenem-containing products in the U.S.: Merrem IV and Meropenem. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does meropenem come in?
Across the brands we track, meropenem is currently marketed as injectable and powder, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic meropenem?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic meropenem product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Meropenem: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/meropenem
- MLA
- “Meropenem: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/meropenem.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for meropenem on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.