Active ingredient
- meropenem trihydrate
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 14894/0568 .
Meropenem 500 mg Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion
Package leaflet: Information for the patient
Meropenem 500 mg Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion
Meropenem 1 g Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion
(meropenem trihydrate)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Meropenem is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Meropenem
3. How to use Meropenem
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Meropenem
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Meropenem is and what it is used for
Meropenem belongs to a group of medicines called carbapenem antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria, which can cause serious infections.
Meropenem may be used in the management of neutropenic patients with fever that is suspected to be due to a bacterial infection. Meropenem may be used to treat bacterial infection of the blood which might be associated with a type of infection mentioned above.
2. What you need to know before you use Meropenem
Do not use Meropenem if
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Meropenem:
You may develop a positive test (Coombs test) which indicates the presence of antibodies that may destroy red blood cells. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or nurse before using Meropenem.
Other medicines and Meropenem
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription and herbal medicines.
This is because Meropenem can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Meropenem.
In particular, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking any of the following medicines:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. It is preferable to avoid the use of Meropenem during pregnancy.
Your doctor will decide whether you should use Meropenem.
It is important that you tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or if you intend to breast-feed before receiving Meropenem. Small amounts of this medicine pass into the breast milk. Therefore, your doctor will decide whether you should use Meropenem while breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
No studies on the effect on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, Meropenem has been associated with headache; tingling or pricking skin (paraesthesiae); and involuntary muscle movements, leading the person’s body to shake rapidly and uncontrollably (convulsions) that are usually accompanied with a loss of consciousness, and any of these could affect your ability to drive or operate machines.
Meropenem contains sodium.
Meropenem 500 mg: This medicine contains 45 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each 500 mg dose. This is equivalent to 2.25% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.
Meropenem 1 g: This medicine contains 90 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each 1 g dose. This is equivalent to 4.5% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.
If you have a condition which requires you to monitor your sodium intake please inform your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
3. How to use Meropenem
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Use in adults
Use in children and adolescents
How to use Meropenem
If you use more Meropenem than you should
If you accidentally use more than your prescribed dose, contact your doctor or nearest hospital straight away.
If you forget to use Meropenem
If you miss an injection, you should have it as soon as possible.
However, if it is almost time for your next injection, skip the missed injection. Do not have a double dose (two injections at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop using Meropenem
Do not stop having Meropenem until your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Severe allergic reactions
If you have a severe allergic reaction, stop having Meropenem and see a doctor straight away. You may need urgent medical treatment. The signs may include a sudden onset of:
Damage to red blood cells (not known)
The signs include:
If you notice any of the above, see a doctor straight away.
Other possible side effects:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Meropenem
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and label after Exp. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C
After reconstitution: The reconstituted solutions for intravenous injection or infusion should be used immediately. The time interval between the beginning of reconstitution and the end of intravenous injection or infusion should not exceed one hour.
Do not freeze the reconstituted solution.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Meropenem Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion contains
The active substance is meropenem trihydrate.
Each vial contains meropenem trihydrate equivalent to 500 mg anhydrous meropenem.
Each vial contains meropenem trihydrate equivalent to 1 g anhydrous meropenem.
The other ingredient is anhydrous sodium carbonate.
What Meropenem Powder for Solution for Injection or Infusion looks like and contents of the pack
Meropenem is a white to pale yellow crystalline powder for solution for injection or infusion in vial. Pack sizes of 1 or 10 vials.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Manufacturer:
Or
This leaflet was last revised in July 2019.
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