Meropenem Injection 500 mg (Meropenem Hydrate)

Adult administration

As meropenem hydrate, administer 0.5 to 1 g daily divided into 2 to 3 doses, infused over a period of more than 30 minutes. For suspected infections in patients with pathogenic pneumonia, peritonitis, or neutropenia, administer 1 g intravenously every 8 hours. For cystic fibrosis and meningitis, administer 2 g every 8 hours. After 3 days from the start of administration, determine whether continued administration is necessary and decide whether to stop or switch to another more appropriate drug.

Child administration

For children over 3 months for bacterial meningitis, administer 40 mg per kg of body weight every 8 hours, infused over a period of at least 30 minutes, depending on the pathogen's susceptibility and the patient's condition, and type of infection.

This drug should not be used in patients who have previously experienced serious allergic reactions or shock due to this medication. In addition, caution is needed for patients taking sodium valproate, as this drug may lower the blood concentration of valproate, increasing the risk of seizure recurrence. Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to this drug or its components, or those who have shown severe allergic reactions to other carbapenems or beta-lactam antibiotics should also avoid administration. Patients with allergic tendencies or those prone to bronchial asthma, rashes, etc., should be administered with caution, and patients with impaired renal function may require dosage adjustments as the drug may remain in the body longer. Patients with epilepsy or central nervous system diseases may also experience seizures or consciousness disturbances, so caution is necessary. Patients with severely impaired liver function, elderly individuals, infants, and those with poor nutritional status or difficulty in oral intake should also be administered carefully. This drug may cause serious side effects such as shock, anaphylaxis, severe skin reactions, hematological abnormalities, hepatitis, kidney damage, pseudomembranous colitis, central nervous system abnormalities, pneumonia, and severe skin conditions occasionally; therefore, patient conditions should be closely monitored during administration. When used for an extended period, susceptibility tests should be conducted to prevent the emergence of resistant bacteria, and unnecessary prolonged use should be avoided. Liver function abnormalities may develop, so regular liver function tests are required if used for more than one week. This drug may interact with other medications, particularly probenecid, valproate, antiepileptic drugs, hormonal contraceptives, warfarin, etc., so caution is required, and blood concentration or INR tests should be performed frequently if necessary. For women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, the administration of this drug should be decided carefully, and it is advisable for breastfeeding women to avoid nursing while on treatment. For infants under 3 months, its safety and efficacy have not been established, so its use is not recommended. Elderly patients may have a higher risk of side effects due to reduced physiological functions, so careful observation and adjustments of dosage and intervals are necessary. This drug is used only as an intravenous injection; once dissolved, it should be administered as soon as possible and stored considering temperature and time. Finally, this drug may cause cross-reactivity with beta-lactam antibiotics, so it must be confirmed whether there has been a hypersensitivity reaction to beta-lactam drugs previously.

Serious side effects

Shock, anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, severe skin reactions (toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, DRESS syndrome, AGEP), severe rash, blisters, skin peeling, pain in mucous membranes of mouth/eyes, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, respiratory problems accompanied by cough and fever, jaundice, generalized lethargy, seizures, confusion, severe headache, convulsions, visual disturbances, paralysis, acute renal failure, severe edema, hypertension

Mild side effects

• Oral abnormalities
• wheezing
• dizziness
• changes in stool
• tinnitus
• sweating
• warmth
• erythema
• itching
• fever

This drug should be stored in a sealed container to prevent contact with air and is best kept at room temperature, between 1 degree and 30 degrees Celsius. This storage method helps maintain the drug's efficacy for a longer time.

Appearance

A colorless and transparent vial filled with white to pale yellow crystalline powder

Package unit

10 vials