Meropenem (Systemic)

Brand Names : Merrem I.V.

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For meropenem, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to meropenem, imipenem, penicillins, or cephalosporins. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However, meropenem has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether meropenem passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children 3 months of age and older and, in effective doses, has not been reported to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. There is no specific information comparing use of meropenem in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking meropenem, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

• Probenecid (e.g., Benemid) - Probenecid causes meropenem to build up in the blood, which may increase the chance of side effects

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of meropenem. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Central nervous system (CNS) disorders (for example, brain disease or history of seizures) or
• Meningitis caused by bacteria - Patients with nervous system disorders, including seizures, may be more likely to have seizures

• Kidney disease - Possible increased risk of side effects, including seizures