Clinical Pharmacology Details


Meropenem


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Indications & Dose:

Aerobic and anaerobic


Gram-positive and Gramnegative infections


Hospital-acquired septicaemia 



Adult: 0.5–1 g every 8 hours


Exacerbations of chronic lower respiratory-tract infection in cystic fibrosis 



Adult: 2 g every 8 hours


Meningitis 



Adult: 2 g every 8 hours


Endocarditis (in combination with another antibacterial) 



Adult: 2 g every 8 hours 


Children


Under 3 months, not recommen-ded; over 3 months 10-20mg/kg by bolus inj over 5 minutes or by IV infusion over 15-30 minutes every 8 hrs. Meningitis, 40mg/kg every 8 hrs. Cystic fibrosis, 4-18 years 25-40mg every 8 hrs.


 

Contraindications:

Side Effects:

Common or very common Abdominal pain . diarrhoea . disturbances in liver function tests . headache . nausea . pruritus . rash . thrombocythaemia . vomiting


Uncommon Eosinophilia . leucopenia . paraesthesia . thrombocytopenia 


Rare Convulsions


Frequency not known Antibiotic-associated colitis . haemolytic anaemia . Stevens-Johnson syndrome . toxic epidermal necrolysis 


ALLERGY Use with caution in patients with sensitivity to betalactam antibacterials.


 PREGNANCY Use only if potential benefit outweighs risk—no information available.


 BREAST FEEDING Unlikely to be absorbed (however, manufacturer advises avoid).


 HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT Monitor liver function in hepatic impairment.


 RENAL IMPAIRMENT Use normal dose every 12 hours if eGFR 26–50 mL/minute/1.73m2. Use half normal dose every 12 hours if eGFR 10–25 mL/minute/1.73m2. Use half normal dose every 24 hours if eGFR less than 10 mL/minute/1.73m2. 

Cautions:

Precautions:

Hepatic impairment, history of colitis. Pregnancy, lactation

Interaction:

Drugs


Other nephrotoxic drugs, probenecid. 

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

Patient And Carer Advice: