Carbapenems are a group of antibiotics used to treat gram-positive or gram-negative bacterial infections, such as infections of the respiratory tract and lungs, skin, or urinary tract. This drug is a type of beta-lacta antibioticm.
Carbapenems kill bacteria by inhibiting the formation of bacterial cell walls. Carbapenems can also sometimes be combined with other antibiotics to treat bacterial infections that are resistant to some antibiotics (multi-drug resistance).
Carbapenem is available in injectable form and can only be given by a doctor or medical officer under the supervision of a doctor. Drugs that are included in the carbapenem antibiotics are biapenem, doripenem, ertapenem, imipenem-cilastatin, and meropenem.
Precautions Before Using Carbapenem
There are several things you should pay attention to before using a carbapenem, including:
- Tell your doctor about any allergies you have. Carbapenems should not be given to patients who are allergic to this drug or to other beta-lactams, such as penicillins.
- Tell your doctor if you have or are currently suffering from kidney disease, stroke, meningitis, head injury, brain tumor, colitis, or seizures.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking anti-seizure medications, such as valproic acid or sodium valproate.
- Consult your doctor if you plan to vaccinate while on treatment with carbapenems.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any medications, supplements, or herbal products.
- Report to your doctor if you have an allergic drug reaction, serious side effect, or overdose after using carbapenem.
Carbapenem Side Effects and Dangers
There are several side effects that can occur after using carbapenems, including:
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Swelling, redness, or pain, at the injection site
Tell your doctor if the side effects listed above do not improve or if they get worse. See your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to a drug or experience more serious side effects, such as:
- Unusual fatigue
- Severe cramping and abdominal pain
- Ears ringing
- Severe diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- Seizures
- Easy bruising
- Jaundice
In addition, long-term use of this drug can increase the risk of fungal infections, which can be characterized by the appearance of candidiasis in the mouth or oral thrush oral thrush.
Types and Trademarks of Carbapenem
The following are the types of drugs that are included in the carbapenem antibiotic group, equipped with trademarks and dosages that are adjusted to the intended use and the age of the patient:
Doripenem
Trademarks: Bizan, Daryaven, Dorbaz, Doripex, Doripenem, Doripenem Monohydrate, DRM, Novedor, Ribacter, Tironem
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the doripenem drug page.
Imipenem-cilastatin
Trademarks: Fiocilas, Imipex, Imiclast, Pelascap, Pelastin, Pencilas, Tienam, Timipen
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the imipenem-cilastatin drug page.
Meropenem
Trademarks: Granem, Meropenem Trihydrate, Meropex, Ronem
To find out the dosage and more information about this drug, please visit the Meropenem drug page.
Ertapenem
ertapenem trademark: Invanz
Purpose: Treat pneumonia, skin infections, urinary tract infections, or intra-abdominal infections
- Mature: 1 gram, once daily by injection into a muscle (intramuscularly/IM) for 7 days, or by infusion through a vein (intravenous/IV), for 30 minutes.
- Children aged 3 months to 13 years: 0.015 gram/kgBB. The maximum dose is 1 gram per day.
Biapenem
Biapenem trademark:-
Purpose: Treating pneumonia, lung abscess, inflammation of the bladder (cystitis), respiratory and lung infections
- Mature: 1.2 grams, once daily in 2 divided doses by intravenous infusion (intravenous/IV), for 30–60 minutes.
