Piperacillin/tazobactam 4 g/0.5 g powder for solution for infusion – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. What Piperacillin/Tazobactam is and what it is used for

Piperacillin belongs to the group of medicines known as “broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotics”. It can kill many kinds of bacteria. Tazobactam can prevent some resistant bacteria from surviving the effects of piperacillin. This means that when piperacillin and tazobactam are given together, more types of bacteria are killed.

Piperacillin/Tazobactam is used in adults and adolescents to treat bacterial infections, such as those affecting the lower respiratory tract (lungs), urinary tract (kidneys and bladder), abdomen, skin or blood. Piperacillin/Tazobactam may be used to treat bacterial infections in patients with low white blood cell counts (reduced resistance to infections). Piperacillin/Tazobactam is used in children aged 2-12 years to treat infections of the abdomen such as appendicitis, peritoniti (infection of the fluid and lining of the abdominal organs), and gallbladder (biliary) infections. Piperacillin/Tazobactam may be used to treat bacterial infections in patients with low white blood cell counts (reduced resistance to infections). In certain serious infections, your doctor may consider using Piperacillin/Tazobactam in combination with other antibiotics.

2. What you need to know before you use Piperacillin/ Tazobactam

Do not use Piperacillin/Tazobactam:

• If you are allergic to piperacillin or tazobactam or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you are allergic to antibiotics known as penicillins, cephalosporins or other beta-lactamase inhibitors, as you may be allergic to Piperacillin/Tazobactam. Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Piperacillin/Tazobactam:

• if you have allergies. If you have several allergies, make sure you tell your doctor or other healthcare professional before receiving this product.
• if you are suffering from diarrhoea before, or if you develop diarrhoea during or after your treatment. In this case, make sure you tell your doctor or other healthcare professional immediately. Do not take any medicine for the diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.
• if you have low levels of potassium in your blood. Your doctor may want to check your kidneys before you take this medicine and may perform regular blood tests during treatment.
• if you have kidney or liver problems, or are receiving haemodialysis. Your doctor may want to check your kidneys before you take this medicine, and may perform regular blood tests during treatment.
• if you are taking another antibiotic called vancomycin at the same time as Piperacillin/Tazobactam, this may increase the risk of kidney injury (see also Other medicines and Piperacillin/Tazobactam in this leaflet).
• if you are taking certain medicines (called anticoagulants) to avoid an excess of blood clotting (see also Other medicines and Piperacillin/Tazobactam in this leaflet) or any unexpected bleeding occurs during the treatment. In this case, you should inform your doctor or other healthcare professional immediately.
• if you develop convulsions during the treatment. In this case, you should inform your doctor or other healthcare professional.

• if you think you developed a new or worsening infection. In this case, you should inform your doctor or other healthcare professional.

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  There have been reports about a disease in which the immune system makes too many of otherwise normal white blood cells called histiocytes and lymphocytes, resulting in inflammation (haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis). This condition may be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early. If you experience multiple symptoms such as fever, swollen glands, feeling weak, feeling lightheaded, shortness of breath, bruising, or skin rash, contact your doctor immediately.

  Children

  Piperacillin/Tazobactam is not recommended for use in children below the age of 2 years due to insufficient data on safety and effectiveness.

  Other medicines and Piperacillin/Tazobactam

  Please tell your doctor or other healthcare professional if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Some medicines may interact with piperacillin and tazobactam. These include:

  • medicine for gout (probenecid). This can increase the time it takes for piperacillin and tazobactam to leave your body.
  • medicines to thin your blood or to treat blood clots (e.g. heparin, warfarin or aspirin).
  • medicines used to relax your muscles during surgery. Tell your doctor if you are going to have a general anaesthetic.
  • methotrexate (medicine used to treat cancer, arthritis or psoriasis). Piperacillin and tazobactam can increase the time it takes for methotrexate to leave your body.
  • medicines that reduce the level of potassium in your blood (e.g. tablets enhancing urination or some medicines for cancer).
  • medicines containing the other antibiotics tobramycin, gentamicin or vancomycin. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems. Taking Piperacillin/Tazobactam and vancomycin at the same time may increase the risk of kidney injury even if you have no kidney problems. Effect on laboratory tests

Tell the doctor or laboratory staff that you are taking Piperacillin/ Tazobactam if you have to provide a blood or urine sample. 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. Your doctor will decide if Piperacillin/Tazobactam is right for you. Piperacillin and tazobactam can pass to a baby in the womb or through breast milk. If you are breast-feeding, your doctor will decide if Piperacillin/Tazobactam is right for you. Driving and using machines

The use of Piperacillin/Tazobactam is not expected to affect the ability to drive or use machines.

Piperacillin/Tazobactam contains sodium

Piperacillin 2 g/Tazobactam 0.25 g powder for solution for infusion

This medicine contains 108 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each vial. This is equivalent to 5.4% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.

Piperacillin 4 g/Tazobactam 0.5 g powder for solution for infusion

This medicine contains 216 mg sodium (main component of cooking/table salt) in each vial. This is equivalent to 10.8% of the recommended maximum daily dietary intake of sodium for an adult.

This should be taken into consideration if you are on a controlled-sodium diet.

3. How to use Piperacillin/Tazobactam

Your doctor or other healthcare professional will give you this medicine through an infusion (a drip for 30 minutes) into one of your veins.

Dosage

The dose of medicine given to you depends on what you are being treated for, your age, and whether or not you have kidney problems.

Adults and adolescents above 12 years of age The usual dose is 4 g/0.5 g of Piperacillin/Tazobactam given every 6-8 hours, which is given into one of your veins (directly into the blood stream).

Children aged 2 to 12 years of age

The usual dose for children with abdominal infections is 100 mg/12.5 mg/kg of body weight of Piperacillin/ Tazobactam given every 8 hours into one of your veins (directly into the blood stream). The usual dose for children with low white blood cell counts is 80 mg/10 mg/kg of body weight of Piperacillin/Tazobactam given every 6 hours into one of your veins (directly into the blood stream). Your doctor will calculate the dose depending on your child’s weight but each individual dose will not exceed 4 g/0.5 g of Piperacillin/Tazobactam.

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE PATIENT Piperacillin 2 g/Tazobactam 0.25 g powder for solution for infusion Piperacillin 4 g/Tazobactam 0.5 g powder for solution for infusion

Piperacillin/Tazobactam

Content of vial

V

olume of solvent* to be added to vial

2 g/0.25 g (2 g piperacillin and 0.25 g tazobactam)

1

0 mL

4 g/0.5 g (4 g piperacillin and 0.5 g tazobactam)

2

0 mL

The following information is intended for healthcare pro

Note: Use for bacteraemia due to extended-beta-lactamase ( non-susceptible), is not recommended in adult patients. How to store Piperacillin/Tazobactam

Unopened vials: Do not store above 25 °C.

Diluted reconstituted solution, for infusion The diluted reconstituted solution when using one of the co 6.6), demonstrated chemical and physical in-use stability for stable within 12 hours under room temperature. From a microbiological point of view, the reconstituted and immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to us longer than 48 hours at 2-8 °C.

Instructions for use

Piperacillin/Tazobactam will be given by intravenous infusi visually for particulate matter and discolouration prior to ad clear and free from particles.

Intravenous use

Reconstitute each vial with the volume of solvent shown in reconstitution. Swirl until dissolved. When swirled constant (for details on handling, please see below).

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I) producing E. coli and K pneumoniae (ceftriaxone ible solvents at the suggested dilution volume (see section to 48 hours when stored in a refrigerator at 2-8 °C and ted solutions should be used immediately. If not used the responsibility of the user and would normally not be drip for 30 minutes). The solution should be inspected stration. The solution should only be used if the solution is able below, using one of the compatible solvents for constitution generally occurs within 5 to 10 minutes

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* Compatible solvents for reconstitution:

• 0.9% (9 mg/mL) sodium chloride solution for injection
• Sterile Water for Injection⁽¹⁾

• Dextrose 5%

  ⁽¹⁾ Maximum recommended volume of sterile water for injection per dose is 50 mL.

  The reconstituted solutions should be withdrawn from the vial by syringe. When reconstituted as directed, the vial contents withdrawn by syringe will provide the labelled amount of piperacillin and tazobactam. The reconstituted solution may be further diluted to the desired volume (e.g. 50 mL to 150 mL) with one of the following compatible solvents:

Version 15

You will be given Piperacillin/Tazobactam until the sign of infection has gone completely (5 to 14 days).

Patients with kidney problems

Your doctor may need to reduce the dose of Piperacillin/ Tazobactam or how often you are given it. Your doctor may also want to test your blood to make sure that your treatment is at the right dose, especially if you have to take this medicine for a long time.

If you receive more Piperacillin/Tazobactam than you should As you will receive Piperacillin/Tazobactam from a doctor or other healthcare professional, you are unlikely to be given the wrong dose. However, if you experience side effects, such as convulsions, or think you have been given too much, tell your doctor immediately.

If you miss a dose of Piperacillin/Tazobactam If you think you have not been given a dose of Piperacillin/ Tazobactam, tell your doctor or other healthcare professional immediately.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or nurse.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

See a doctor immediately if you experience any of these potentially serious side effects of Piperacillin/Tazobactam: The serious side effects (with frequency in brackets) of Piperacillin/Tazobactam are:

• serious skin rashes [Stevens-Johnson syndrome, dermatitis bullous (Not known), dermatitis exfoliative (Not known), toxic epidermal necrolysis (Rare)] appearing initially as reddish target-like spots or circular patches often with central blisters on the trunk. Additional signs include ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, extremities, genitals and conjunctivitis (red and swollen eyes). The rash may progress to widespread blistering or peeling of the skin and potentially may be life-threatening.
• severe potentially fatal allergic condition (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) that can involve the skin and most importantly other organs under the skin such as the kidney and the liver.
• a skin condition (acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis) accompanied by fever, which consists of numerous tiny fluid filled blisters contained within large areas of swollen and reddened skin.
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body (Not known)
• shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing (Not known)
• severe rash or hives (Uncommon), itching or rash on the skin (Common)
• yellowing of the eyes or skin (Not known)
• damage to blood cells [the signs include: being breathless when you do not expect it, red or brown urine (Not known), nosebleeds (Rare) and small spot bruising (Not known)], severe decrease in white blood cells (Rare).
• severe or persistent diarrhoea accompanied by a fever or weakness (Rare).

If any of the following side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or other healthcare professional.

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

n

• detachment of the top layer of the skin all over the body (toxic epidermal necrolysis)

Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data) side effects

• severe decrease of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets (pancytopenia), decrease in white blood cells (neutropenia), decrease of red blood cells due to premature breakdown or degradation, small spot bruising, bleeding time prolonged, increase of platelets, increase of a specific type of white blood cells (eosinophilia)
• allergic reaction and severe allergic reaction
• inflammation of the liver, yellow staining of the skin or whites of the eyes
• serious body wide allergic reaction with skin and mucous lining rashes, blistering and various skin eruptions (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome), severe allergic condition involving skin and other organs such as the kidney and the liver (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms), numerous tiny fluid filled blisters contained within large areas of swollen and reddened skin accompanied by fever (acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis), skin reactions with blistering (dermatitis bullous)
• poor kidney functions and kidney problems
• a form of lung disease where eosinophils (a form of white blood cell) appear in the lung in increased numbers
• acute disorientation and confusion (delirium)

Piperacillin therapy has been associated with an increased incidence of fever and rash in cystic fibrosis patients.

Beta-lactam antibiotics, including piperacillin tazobactam, may lead to signs of altered brain function (encephalopathy) and convulsions.

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 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 Piperacillin/Tazobactam

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 after ‘EXP.’ The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Unopened vials: Do not store above 25 °C.

For single use only. Discard any unused solution.

Diluted reconstituted solution, for infusion The diluted reconstituted solution when using one of the compatible solvents at the suggested dilution volume (see section 6.6), demonstrated chemical and physical in-use stability for up to 48 hours when stored in a refrigerator at 2-8 °C and stable within 12 hours under room temperature.

From a microbiological point of view, the reconstituted and diluted solutions should be used immediately. If not used immediately, in-use storage times and conditions prior to use are the responsibility of the user and would normally not be longer than 48 hours at 2-8 °C.

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 Piperacillin/Tazobactam contains

• The active substances are piperacillin and tazobactam. Each vial contains 2 g piperacillin (as sodium salt) and 0.25 g tazobactam (as sodium salt).
• The active substances are piperacillin and tazobactam. Each vial contains 4 g piperacillin (as sodium salt) and 0.5 g tazobactam (as sodium salt).

What Piperacillin/Tazobactam looks like and contents of the pack

Piperacillin/Tazobactam 2 g/0.25 g is a white to off-white powder supplied in a vial.

Pack size: 1 vial & 10 vials.

Piperacillin/Tazobactam 4 g/0.5 g is a white to off-white powder supplied in a vial.

Pack size: 1 vial & 10 vials.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder:

AFT Pharma UK Limited

Olympia House,

Unit 13 2nd Floor, Armitage Road,

London, NW11 8RQ

England

Manufacturer:

Quercus Labo bv

Wijmenstraat 21P

9030 Mariakerke,

Belgium

This leaflet was last revised in June 2026

* The dose of aminoglycoside should be based on patient weight, status of infection (serious or life-threatening) and renal function (creatinine clearance).

Compatibility of Piperacillin/Tazobactam with other aminoglycosides has not been established. Only the concentration and diluents for amikacin and gentamicin with the dose of Piperacillin/Tazobactam listed in the above table have been established as compatible for co-administration via Y-site infusion. Simultaneous co-administration via Y-site in any manner other than listed above may result in inactivation of the aminoglycoside by Piperacillin/Tazobactam. Tear Her