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.
From the FDA label for Merrem IV (application NDA050706). Other meropenem products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
500 mg every 8 hours by intravenous infusion over 15 to 30 minutes for complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) for adult patients. When treating infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a dose of 1 gram every 8 hours is recommended. (2.1) 1 gram every 8 hours by intravenous infusion over 15 minutes to 30 minutes for intra-abdominal infections for adult patients. (2.1) 1 gram every 8 hours by intravenous bolus injection (5 mL to 20 mL) over 3 minutes to 5 minutes for adult patients. (2.1) Dosage should be reduced in adult patients with renal impairment. (2.2) Recommended Meropenem for Injection Dosage Schedule for Adult Patients with Renal Impairment Creatinine Clearance (mL/min) Dose (dependent on type of infection) Dosing Interval Greater than 50 Recommended dose (500 mg cSSSI and 1gram Intra-abdominal) Every 8 hours 26 to 50 Recommended dose Every 12 hours 10 to 25 One-half recommended dose Every 12 hours Less than 10 One-half recommended dose Every 24 hours Pediatric patients 3 months of age and older Recommended Meropenem for Injection Dosage Schedule for Pediatric Patients 3 Months of Age and Older with Normal Renal Function (2.3) Type of Infection Dose (mg/kg) Up to a Maximum Dose Dosing Interval Complicated skin and skin structure* 10 500 mg Every 8 hours Intra-abdominal 20 1 gram Every 8 hours Meningitis 40 2 gram Every 8…
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 (2% or less) are: headache, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, anemia, vomiting, and rash. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Eugia US LLC at 1-866-850-2876 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Adverse Reactions from Clinical Trials 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 practice. Adult Patients: During clinical…
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? | Typical price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 56/100 | Prescription | Injectable | — | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | — | — | View → |
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.
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.
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 anaphylactic reactions to β-lactams. ( 4 )
Co-administration of Meropenem for Injection with probenecid inhibits renal excretion of meropenem and is therefore not recommended. ( 7.1 ) The concomitant use of Meropenem 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. ( 5.5 , 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…