Meropenem

Meropenem is a prescription medication used to treat serious skin and stomach infections and certain types of meningitis (irritation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord). 

Meropenem may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Merrem

Serious side effects have been reported with meropenem. See the “Meropenem Precautions” section.

Meropenem should not be mixed with other drugs going into the vein at the same time.  

• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Tell your healthcare provider if you have an allergy to any other antibiotic, especially penicillin antibiotics (Pfizerpen, Pen VK, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Zosyn, Unasyn, Timentin, Nallpen, Bicillin LA), before starting this medication.  Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing
  • fainting
  • rash
• seizures. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had a seizure before starting this medication.  Report any signs or symptoms of seizure activity, which can include the following:
  • shaking 
  • twitching
  • falling or fainting
  • seeing bright lights or spots 
  • hearing sounds that are not there
• superinfection. Prolonged use can lead to the growth of dangerous organisms that are resistant or unresponsive to this medication. Take meropenem for the duration prescribed by your doctor.
• thrombocytopenia. This is a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal number of blood cell fragments called platelets.  It is more likely to occur if you have kidney problems while taking meropenem.  Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have the following signs and symptoms of thrombocytopenia:
  • mild to serious bleeding
  • purple, brown, and red bruises (purpura)
  • small red or purple dots on your skin (petechiae)
  • prolonged bleeding, even from minor cuts
  • bleeding or oozing from the mouth or nose, especially nosebleeds or bleeding from brushing your teeth
  • abnormal vaginal bleeding (especially heavy menstrual flow)
  • blood in the urine or stool or bleeding from the rectum. Blood in the stool can appear as red blood or as a dark, tarry color. Taking iron supplements also can cause dark, tarry stools.
  • headaches and other neurological symptoms. These problems are very rare, but you should discuss them with your doctor.
• diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics, and it usually ends when the antibacterial is stopped. Even after starting treatment with antibiotics, some patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) as late as 2 or more months after having taken their last dose of the antibacterial. If diarrhea is severe or lasts more than 2 or 3 days, contact your doctor, as this may be a sign of an infection of the bowels.
• Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) associated diarrhea. Some antibiotics can kill the “good” bacteria in the colon leading to a growth of C. difficile bacteria. This “bad” bacterium can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems, and these problems may even occur 2 months after the last dose. Extra caution for this side effect is advised in the elderly population. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any or all of the following symptoms:
  • watery diarrhea (at least three bowel movements per day for two or more days)
  • loss of appetite
  • abdominal pain or tenderness
  • nausea
  • fever

Meropenem can cause headache and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Do not take meropenem if you are allergic to meropenem or any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of meropenem, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking meropenem, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Meropenem has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from meropenem, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take meropenem exactly as prescribed.

Meropenem comes in injectable form to be given directly into the vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your kidney function
• your neurological (brain and nervous system) function

If this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• The dry powdered form can be stored at room temperature at 15-25°C (59-77°F).
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.