Meropenem | Side Effects | Dosage | Precautions

Meropenem injection belongs to the antibiotic class of medications. It kills the bacteria that cause infection. It is also known as Merrem, an intravenous -lactam antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Meningitis, intra-abdominal infection, pneumonia, sepsis, and anthrax are just a few examples.

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Meropenem Uses

Meropenem injection is used for treating bacterial skin and abdominal infections, as well as meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) in adults and children 3 months and older. Antibiotics, such as meropenem injection, are ineffective against colds, flu, and other viral infections. Taking antibiotics when they have not required increases your chances of developing an infection that is resistant to antibiotic treatment later on.

How to use Meropenem Vial

Before you begin using this, and each time you get a refill, read the Patient Information Leaflet if it is available from your pharmacist. If you have any worries, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

This medication is usually administered every 8 hours by injection into the vein as directed by your doctor.

If you are using this medication at home, make sure you understand all preparation and usage instructions from your doctor. Before using, visually inspect this product for particles or discoloration. If either of these conditions exists, do not use the liquid. Learn how to safely store and dispose of medical supplies.

The dosage depends on your medical condition as well as your response to treatment. The dosage for children is also determined by their age and weight.

Use this antibiotic at evenly spaced intervals for the best results. Use this medication at the same time(s) every day to help you remember.

Meropenem Side Effects

Some common side effects are:

Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea
Constipation
Vomiting
Pain
Redness
Swelling at the injection site
Tingling or pricking sensation
Difficulty falling asleep
Sores

Some of the serious side effects are:

Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea
Constipation
Vomiting
Pain
Redness
Swelling at the injection site
Tingling or pricking sensation
Difficulty falling asleep
Sores

Precautions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it, or carbapenems, penicillins or cephalosporins, or any other medications. Any kind of inactive ingredients present in this product may cause allergic reactions or other problems.

Before taking this medication, inform your doctor or pharmacist of your medical history, such as: brain disorders (such as seizures, head injury, or tumor), kidney disease, or stomach or intestinal diseases (such as colitis).

The medication may cause headaches, numbness or tingling of the skin or seizures in rare cases. This medication contains sodium in some forms. If you are on a salt-restricted diet or have a condition that could worsen if you consume more salt, consult your doctor or pharmacist (such as congestive heart failure).

It also may impair the effectiveness of live bacterial vaccines (such as typhoid vaccine). Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, do not have any immunizations or vaccinations while taking this medication.

This medicine is not recommended to use in pregnancy. Before using this medication, inform your doctor. This medication is excreted in breast milk.

Interactions

Drug interactions can affect the way your medications function or put you at risk for serious side effects. Valproic acid and related drugs are examples of products that may interact with this medication (such as divalproex sodium, sodium valproate).

Overdose

If someone has taken an overdose of this medicine and has serious symptoms such as trouble breathing, seek medical advice immediately. Never take more doses than what is prescribed to you by your doctor.

Missed Dose

It is necessary to take each dose of this medication on time. If you forget a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible to arrange for a new dosing schedule. Do not double the dose.

Storage

The medicine should not come in direct contact with heat, air, light and may damage your medicines. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and far away from children’s reach.

Meropenem vs Ertapenem

Meropenem	Ertapenem
This injection belongs to the antibiotic class of medications. It kills the bacteria causing infections.	Ertapenem belongs to the carbapenem antibiotics class of drugs. These injections are used to treat infections of the abdomen, lungs, upper part of the female reproductive system, and diabetic foot.
This injection is used to treat bacterial skin and abdominal infections, as well as meningitis in adults and children 3 months and older.	Ertapenem injection is used to treat serious infections caused by bacteria, such as pneumonia and urinary tract, skin, diabetic foot, gynecological, pelvic, and abdominal infections. It is also used to prevent infections after colorectal surgery.
It kills the bacteria that cause infection., injection, is ineffective against colds, flu, and other viral infections.	It works by destroying bacteria. Colds, flu, and other viral infections will not respond to antibiotics such as ertapenem injection.

Citations

Meropenem, https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00003495-199550010-00007

Safety Profile of Meropenem, https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00002018-200730080-00002

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meropenem used to treat?

This injection is used for treating bacterial skin and abdominal infections, and also treats the infection of the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord in adults and children.

Is meropenem a strong antibiotic?

It is a carbapenem-family broad-spectrum antibacterial agent used as empirical therapy prior to identifying causative organisms, for a disease that is caused by single or multiple susceptible bacteria in both adults and children with kinds of serious infections.

Is meropenem penicillin?

It is an antibiotic that is used to treat many of the same infections as penicillin. It may be an option for patients who are penicillin-allergic. Meropenem and penicillins, on the other hand, have similar chemical structures; thus, doctors frequently avoid using this medication in patients who are allergic to penicillin.

How strong is meropenem?

MERREM IV comes in injection vials of 20 mL and 30 mL that contain enough of this to deliver 500 mg or 1 gram intravenously, respectively.

Does meropenem treat UTI?

Meropenem and vaborbactam injection is used for treating serious bacterial infections of the urinary tract, including kidney infections.

How long does meropenem take to work?

In Meningitidis, it takes 7–10 days. In influenzae type b infection, it takes 10–14 days for pneumoniae infection.

Is meropenem safe in renal failure?

In patients with renal impairment, meropenem-related seizures were uncommon (0.1 percent). It is appropriate for use in elderly or renally impaired patients.

Is meropenem used to treat sepsis?

It is a carbapenem antibiotic that is commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections. Early and appropriate antibiotic therapy is recognized as the most important intervention available to clinicians for critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Is meropenem used for pneumonia?

This medicine is a carbapenem antibiotic, a standard therapy for nosocomial pneumonia patients, but the emergence and spread of mechanisms that confer carbapenem resistance have created a need for new treatment options.