Patient leaflet - Meropenem 1000 mg powder for solution for injection or infusion
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 is used to treat the following in adults and children aged 3 months and older: · Infection affecting the lungs (pneumonia) · Lung and bronchial infections in patients
suffering from cystic fibrosis
Complicated urinary tract infections · Complicated infections in the abdomen · Infections that you can catch during or after
the delivery
Complicated skin and soft tissues infections · Acute bacterial infection of the brain
(meningitis).
- 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
Ø The dose depends on the type of infection
that you have, where the infection is in the body and how serious the infection is. Your doctor will decide on the dose that you need.
Ø The dose for adults is usually between 500
mg (milligrams) and 2 g (gram). You will usually receive a dose every 8 hours. However you may receive a dose less often if your kidneys do not work very well.
Use in children and adolescents
Ø The dose for children over 3 months old
and up to 11 years of age is decided using the age and weight of the child. The usual dose is between 10 mg and 40 mg of Meropenem for each kilogram (kg) that the child weighs. A dose is usually given every 8 hours. Children who weigh over 50 kg will be given an adult dose.
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
Ø you are allergic to meropenem or any of the
other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Ø you are allergic (hypersensitive) to other
antibiotics such as penicillins,
cephalosporins, or carbapenems as you may also be allergic to Meropenem
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Meropenem:
How to use Meropenem
Ø Meropenem will be given to you as an
injection or infusion into a large vein. Ø Your doctor or nurse will normally give
Meropenem to you.
Ø However, some patients, parents and
carers are trained to give Meropenem at home. Instructions for doing this are provided in this leaflet (in the section called 'Instructions for giving Meropenem to yourself or someone else at home'). Always use Meropenem exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor if you are not sure.
Ø Your injection should not be mixed with or
added to solutions that contain other medicines.
Ø The injection may take about 5 minutes or
between 15 and 30 minutes. Your doctor will tell you how to give Meropenem. Ø You should normally have your injections at
the same times each day.
Ø if you have health problems, such as liver
or kidney problems.
Ø if you have had severe diarrhoea after
taking other antibiotics.
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.
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.
You may develop signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions (see section 4). If this happens talk to your doctor or nurse immediately so that they can treat the symptoms.
If you notice unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness and/or dark coloured urine tell your doctor immediately. This may be a sign of muscle breakdown (called
rhabdomyolysis) which may lead to kidney problems.
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
Liver problems
If you notice yellowing of the skin and eyes, itchy skin, dark-coloured urine or light-coloured stool tell your doctor. This may be a sign of liver problems which your doctor needs to check.
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: Ø Probenecid (used to treat gout). Ø Valproic acid/sodium valproate/valpromide
(used to treat epilepsy). Meropenem should not be used because it may decrease the effect of sodium valproate.
Ø Oral anti-coagulant agent (used to treat or
prevent blood clots).
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.
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: Ø Severe rash, itching or hives on the skin. Ø Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other
parts of the body.
Ø Shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble
breathing.
Ø Serious skin reactions which include
Serious hypersensitivity reactions
involving fever, skin rash, and changes in the blood tests that check how the liver is working (increased levels of liver enzymes) and an increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophilia) and enlarged lymph nodes. These may be signs of a multi-organ sensitivity disorder known as DRESS syndrome.
Severe red scaly rash, skin bumps
that contain pus, blisters or peeling of skin, which may be associated with a high fever and joint pains. o Severe skin rashes that can appear as
reddish circular patches often with central blisters on the trunk, skin peeling, ulcers of mouth, throat, nose, genitals and eyes and can be preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) or a more severe form (toxic epidermal necrolysis).
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.
Damage to red blood cells (not known)
The signs include:
Ø Being breathless when you do not expect it. Ø Red or brown urine.
If you notice any of the above, see a doctor straight away.
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). Any of these side effects could affect your ability to drive or operate machines.
Meropenem may cause involuntary muscle movements, leading the person's body to shake rapidly and uncontrollably (convulsions) that are usually accompanied with a loss of
consciousness.
Do not drive or use machines if you experience this side effect.
Muscle breakdown
Ø Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or
weakness, and/or dark coloured urine. If you notice these signs or symptoms, see a doctor straight away.
Other possible side effects:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Ø Abdominal (stomach) pain.
Ø Feeling sick (nausea).
Ø Being sick (vomiting).
Ø Diarrhoea.
Ø Headache.
Ø Skin rash, itchy skin.
Ø Pain and inflammation.
Ø Increased numbers of platelets in your
blood (shown in a blood test).
Ø Changes in blood tests, including tests that
show how well your liver is working.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Ø Changes in your blood. These include
reduced numbers of platelets (which may make you bruise more easily), increased numbers of some white blood cells, decreased numbers of other white cells and increased amounts of a substance called 'bilirubin'. Your doctor may do blood tests from time to time.
Ø Changes in blood tests, including tests that
show how well your kidneys are working. Ø A tingling feeling (pins and needles). Ø Infections of the mouth or the vagina that
are caused by a fungus (thrush). Ø Inflammation of the bowel with diarrhoea. Ø Sore veins where Meropenem is injected. Ø Other changes in your blood. The
symptoms include frequent infections, high temperature and sore throat. Your doctor may do blood tests from time to time. Ø Reduced levels of potassium in your blood
(which can cause weakness, muscle cramps, tingling and heart rhythm disturbances).
Ø Liver problems. Yellowing of the skin and
eyes, itchy skin, dark-coloured urine or light-coloured stool. If you notice these signs or symptoms, see a doctor straight away.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Ø Fits (convulsions).
Ø Acute disorientation and confusion
(delirium).
Sudden chest pain, which may be a sign of a potentially serious allergic reaction called Kounis syndrome has been noted with other medicines of the same type. If this happens talk to a doctor or nurse immediately.
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:
SUN PHARMA UK LIMITED
6-9 The Square,
Stockley Park,
Uxbridge, UB11 1FW
United Kingdom
Manufacturer:
Terapia SA
124 Fabricii Street
400632 Cluj Napoca
Romania
Or
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Europe B.V. Polarisavenue 87
2132 JH Hoofddorp
The Netherlands
This leaflet was last revised in June 2025.
Advice/medical education
Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They have no effect against infections caused by viruses.
Sometimes an infection caused by bacteria does not respond to a course of an antibiotic. One of the commonest reasons for this to occur is because the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the antibiotic that is being taken. This means that they can survive and even multiply despite the antibiotic.
Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics for many reasons. Using antibiotics carefully can help to reduce the chance of bacteria becoming resistant to them.
When your doctor prescribes a course of an antibiotic it is intended to treat only your current illness. Paying attention to the following advice will help prevent the emergence of resistant bacteria that could stop the antibiotic working.
- 1. It is very important that you take the antibiotic at the right dose, at the right times and for the right number of days. Read the instructions on the label and if you do not understand anything ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain.
- 2. You should not take an antibiotic unless it has been prescribed specifically for you and you should use it only to treat the infection for which it was prescribed.
- 3. You should not take antibiotics that have been prescribed for other people even if they had an infection that was similar to yours.
- 4. You should not give antibiotics that were prescribed for you to other people. 5. If you have any antibiotic left over when you have taken the course as directed by your doctor you should take the remainder to a pharmacy for appropriate disposal.
The following information is intended for medical or healthcare professionals only:
Instructions for giving Meropenem to yourself or someone else at home
Some patients, parents and carers are trained to give Meropenem at home.
Warning – You should only give this medicine to yourself or someone else at home after a doctor or nurse has trained you.
How to prepare this medicine
Ø The medicine must be mixed with another liquid (the diluent). Your doctor will tell you how much of the diluent to use. Ø Use the medicine straight after preparing it.
Do not freeze it.
- 1.
Wash your hands and dry them very well.
Prepare a clean working area.
- 2. Remove the Meropenem bottle (vial) from the packaging. Check the vial and the expiry date. Check that the vial is intact and has not been damaged.
- 3. Remove the coloured cap and clean the grey rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe. Allow the rubber stopper to dry.
- 4. Connect a new sterile needle to a new sterile syringe, without touching the ends. 5. Draw up the recommended amount of sterile 'Water for Injections' into the syringe. The amount of liquid that you need is shown in the table below:
| Dose of Meropenem | Amount of 'Water for Injections' needed for dilution |
| 500 mg (milligrams) | 10 ml (milliliters) |
| 1 g (gram) | 20 ml |
| 1.5 g | 30 ml |
| 2 g | 40 ml |
Please note: If your prescribed dose of Meropenem is more than 1g, you will need to use more than 1 vial of Meropenem. You can then draw the liquid in the vials into the one syringe.
- 6. Put the needle of the syringe through the centre of the grey rubber stopper and inject the recommended amount of Water for Injections into the vial or vials of Meropenem. 7. Remove the needle from the vial and shake the vial well for about 5 seconds, or until all the powder has dissolved. Clean the grey rubber stopper once more with a new alcohol wipe and allow the rubber stopper to dry. 8. With the plunger of the syringe pushed fully into the syringe, put the needle back through the grey rubber stopper. You must then hold both the syringe and the vial and turn the vial upside down.
- 9. Keeping the end of the needle in the liquid, pull back the plunger and draw all the liquid in the vial into the syringe.
- 10. Remove the needle and syringe from the vial and throw the empty vial away in a safe place.
- 11. Hold the syringe upright, with the needle pointing upwards. Tap the syringe so that any bubbles in the liquid rise to the top of the syringe.
- 12. Remove any air in the syringe by gently pushing the plunger until all the air has gone. 13. If you are using Meropenem at home, dispose of any needles and infusion lines that you have used in an appropriate way. If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, dispose of any unused Meropenem in an appropriate way.
Giving the injection
You can either give this medicine through a short cannula or venflon, or through a port or central line.
Giving Meropenem through a short cannula or venflon
- 1. Remove the needle from the syringe and throw the needle away carefully in your sharps bin.
- 2. Wipe the end of the short cannula or venflon with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry. Open the cap on your cannula and connect the syringe.
- 3. Slowly push the plunger of the syringe to give the antibiotic steadily over about 5 minutes.
- 4. Once you have finished giving the antibiotic and the syringe is empty, remove the syringe and use a flush as recommended by your doctor or nurse.
- 5. Close the cap of your cannula and carefully throw the syringe away in your sharps bin.
Giving Meropenem through a port or central line
- 1. Remove the cap on the port or line, clean the end of the line with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry.
- 2. Connect the syringe and slowly push the plunger on the syringe to give the antibiotic steadily over about 5 minutes.
- 3. Once you have finished giving the antibiotic, remove the syringe and use a flush as recommended by your doctor or nurse.
- 4. Place a new clean cap on your central line and carefully throw the syringe away in your sharps bin.
Giving Meropenem as intravenous infusion
Meropenem can be given by intravenous infusion over approximately 15 to 30 minutes. For intravenous infusion, meropenem vials may be directly constituted with sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9 %) solution for infusion or glucose 50 mg/ml (5 %) solution for infusion, to a final concentration of 1 to 20 mg/ml.