meropenem

Generic Name: meropenem (mer oh PEH nem)

Brand names: Merrem, Merrem Novaplus

What is meropenem?

Meropenem is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body.

Meropenem is used in the treatment of infections of the abdomen, such as appendicitis and peritonitis, bacterial meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain), and skin infections.

Meropenem may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

What is the most important information I should know about meropenem?

Do not take meropenem without first talking to your doctor if you have an allergy to meropenem, imipenem (Primaxin), a penicillin antibiotic, or a cephalosporin antibiotic.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking meropenem?

Do not take meropenem without first talking to your doctor if you have an allergy to meropenem, imipenem (Primaxin), a penicillin antibiotic, or a cephalosporin antibiotic.

Before taking meropenem, talk to your doctor if you have

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  a head injury or brain tumor;

  
  


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  epilepsy or a seizure disorder; or

  
  


• kidney disease.

You may not be able to use meropenem, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Meropenem is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use meropenem without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether meropenem passes into breast milk. Do not take meropenem without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take meropenem?

Meropenem will be administered as an intravenous (into a vein) injection by a healthcare provider.

If you are using meropenem at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions regarding preparation, administration, and storage of the medication.

It is important to take meropenem regularly to get the most benefit.

Take all of the meropenem that has been prescribed for you, even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with meropenem to monitor progress and side effects.

See also: Meropenem dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since meropenem is usually administered by a healthcare provider, missing a dose is not likely to occur.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose of meropenem is suspected.

Symptoms of a meropenem overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking meropenem?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activities during treatment with meropenem unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Meropenem side effects

If you experience a rare but serious side effects, stop taking meropenem and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

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  allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives)

  
  


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  seizures;

  
  


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  severe or watery diarrhea;

  
  


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  a skin rash;

  
  


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  unusual tiredness or weakness; or

  
  


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  unusual bleeding or bruising.

  
  

Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to use meropenem and talk to your doctor if you experience:

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  nausea or vomiting;

  
  


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  diarrhea or constipation;

  
  


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  headache; or

  
  


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  soreness, redness, or mild swelling at the injection site.

  
  

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Meropenem Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Intraabdominal Infection:

1 g IV every 8 hours for 7 to 14 days

Usual Adult Dose for Meningitis:

1 to 2 g IV every 8 hours for 7 to 21 days

Usual Adult Dose for Nosocomial Pneumonia:

1 g IV every 8 hours
Initial empiric treatment with broad-spectrum coverage according to the hospital's and/or ICU's antibiogram is recommended if multidrug-resistant organisms are suspected.

Duration: If the causative organism is not Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the duration of treatment should be as short as clinically possible (e.g., as little as 7 days) to reduce the risk of superinfections with resistant organisms.

Usual Adult Dose for Skin or Soft Tissue Infection:

Complicated infection: 500 mg IV every 8 hours

Duration: Therapy should generally be continued for approximately 7 to 10 days, or for 3 days after the acute inflammation disappears, depending on the nature and severity of the infection. For more severe infections, such as diabetic soft tissue infections, 14 to 21 days of therapy may be required.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Intraabdominal Infection:

3 months or older: 20 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
Maximum dose: 3 g/day

Children 50 kg or more: 1 g IV every 8 hours

Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningitis:

3 months or older: 40 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
Maximum dose: 6 g/day

Children 50 kg or more: 2 g IV every 8 hours

Usual Pediatric Dose for Skin and Structure Infection:

Complicated: 3 months or older: 10 mg/kg IV every 8 hours
Maximum dose: 1.5 g/day

Children 50 kg or more: 500 mg IV every 8 hours

What other drugs will affect meropenem?

Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking meropenem if you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

More meropenem resources

• Meropenem Side Effects (in more detail)
• Meropenem Dosage
• Meropenem Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Meropenem Drug Interactions
• Meropenem Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Meropenem - Add your own review/rating

• meropenem Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Meropenem Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Meropenem Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Meropenem Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Meropenem MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Merrem Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Merrem Consumer Overview

Compare meropenem with other medications

• Intraabdominal Infection
• Meningitis
• Nosocomial Pneumonia
• Skin and Structure Infection
• Skin Infection

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about meropenem written for health professionals that you may read.

See also: meropenem side effects (in more detail)