imipenem and cilastatin Health Article

Generic name(s):

imipenem and cilastatin

Brand name(s):

imipenem-cilastatin, Primaxin IM, Primaxin IV

What is the most important information I should know about imipenem and cilastatin?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to imipenem and cilastatin, or to lidocaine or other local anesthetics (numbing medicine). You should not use imipenem and cilastatin if you have heart block.

Before using imipenem and cilastatin, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), or a seizure disorder.

Also tell your doctor if you are either allergic to or are currently taking a penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotic such as Amoxil, Augmentin, Bactocill, Beepen-VK, Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Dycill, Dynapen, Keflex, Ledercillin VK, Omnipen, Pen-V, Pfizerpen, Principen, Veetids, and others.

Before using imipenem and cilastatin, tell your doctor if you are also taking ganciclovir (Cytovene) or probenecid (Benemid).

Primaxin IM (for the muscle) and Primaxin IV (for the vein) are different forms of this medicine and should be used only for their specific type of injection. Do not inject Primaxin IM into a vein and do not inject Primaxin IV into a muscle.

Call your doctor at once if you have serious side effects such as pounding heartbeats, confusion, hallucinations, seizure (convulsions), feeling light-headed, fainting, flu symptoms, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Less serious side effects may include pain, swelling, or redness where the medicine was injected, mild stomach discomfort, sore throat, vaginal itching or discharge, mild skin rash, dizziness or tired feeling, numbness or tingling, or ringing in your ears.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

What is imipenem and cilastatin?

Imipenem is an antibiotic that fights serious infections caused by bacteria.

Cilastatin helps imipenem work more effectively by preventing the breakdown of the antibiotic in the kidneys.

Imipenem and cilastatin is used to treat severe infections of the lower respiratory tract, skin, stomach, female reproductive organs, and other body systems.

Imipenem and cilastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before use imipenem and cilastatin?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to imipenem and cilastatin, or to lidocaine or other local anesthetics (numbing medicine). You should not use imipenem and cilastatin if you have heart block.

Before using imipenem and cilastatin, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• a history of allergy to penicillin antibiotics such as Amoxil, Augmentin, Omnipen, Principen, Dycill, Dynapen, Bactocill, Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pfizerpen, Veetids, and others; or

• a history of allergy to cephalosporin antibiotics such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use imipenem and cilastatin, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether imipenem and cilastatin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.