Prescription medication · Carbapenem Antibiotic
ertapenem
Also sold as Invanz. Ertapenem treats moderate to severe infections caused by certain bacteria.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 3,848
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $37.91
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
ertapenem (Invanz) is a prescription Carbapenem Antibiotic, among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (3,848 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
ertapenem (Invanz) is a prescription Carbapenem Antibiotic. Ertapenem treats moderate to severe infections caused by certain bacteria.
Ertapenem is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$37.91/unit
Generic Available
Yes (5 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Ertapenem treats moderate to severe infections caused by certain bacteria.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Headache
Key warnings
Ertapenem can cause serious allergic reactions.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from ertapenem's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Ertapenem belongs to a class of drugs called carbapenem antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
Ertapenem is given through a vein (IV) or as a shot into a muscle (IM). For adults and kids 13 and older, the usual dose is 1 gram once a day. For kids 3 months to 12 years old, the dose is 15 mg/kg twice a day (up to 1 gram/day). The IV infusion takes about 30 minutes.
This is a plain-language summary of ertapenem's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There is not enough information about ertapenem use during pregnancy to know if it is safe. Ertapenem does pass into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using ertapenem if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of ertapenem's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of ertapenem's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store the powder form of ertapenem at room temperature, below 77°F (25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,848 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for ertapenem, by number of reports
- Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration
768 reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
358 reports
- Nausea 293
Nausea
293 reports
- Pain 284
Pain
284 reports
- Weight Decreased 248
Weight Decreased
248 reports
- Malaise 231
Malaise
231 reports
- Anaemia 223
Anaemia
223 reports
- Therapeutic Product Effect Incomplete 221
Therapeutic Product Effect Incomplete
221 reports
- Chronic Sinusitis 213
Chronic Sinusitis
213 reports
- Paraesthesia Oral 212
Paraesthesia Oral
212 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for ertapenem each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where ertapenem sits
ertapenem has more FDA adverse-event reports than 22% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is ertapenem; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 3,848 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
3,848
Reports Mentioning Death
339
8.8% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,953
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | MACULAR DEGENERATION | 768 |
| 4 | PYREXIA | 358 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 293 |
| 6 | PAIN | 284 |
| 7 | WEIGHT DECREASED | 248 |
| 8 | MALAISE | 231 |
| 9 | ANAEMIA | 223 |
| 10 | THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE | 221 |
| 11 | CHRONIC SINUSITIS | 213 |
| 12 | PARAESTHESIA ORAL | 212 |
| 13 | INFUSION RELATED REACTION | 208 |
| 14 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 203 |
| 15 | DYSPEPSIA | 193 |
| 16 | PROCEDURAL PAIN | 192 |
| 17 | HEADACHE | 186 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Ertapenem can cause serious allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins or cephalosporins. Seizures have happened during treatment with ertapenem, especially in people with brain problems or kidney issues. Ertapenem can also cause severe diarrhea due to Clostridioides difficile.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Co-administration with probenecid inhibits the renal excretion of ertapenem and is therefore not recommended. ( 5.2 , 7.2 ) 7.1 Probenecid Probenecid interferes with the active tubular secretion of ertapenem, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of ertapenem [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Co-administration of probenecid with ertapenem is not recommended.
Mechanism: Probenecid stops the kidneys from getting rid of ertapenem, which causes the levels of the antibiotic in the blood to stay higher for longer.
What to do: Taking these two drugs together is not recommended.
Carbapenem Antibiotics A clinically significant reduction in serum valproic acid concentration has been reported in patients receiving carbapenem antibiotics (for example, ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem this is not a complete list) and may result in loss of seizure control.
Mechanism: Ertapenem causes a large drop in valproate levels in the blood. This reduction can cause the medication to fail, increasing the risk of having a seizure.
What to do: Your doctor may recommend a different antibiotic or will need to monitor your seizure control and blood levels very carefully. Avoid this combination if other treatment options are available.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I mix ertapenem with other medications?
Can I use solutions containing dextrose to mix ertapenem?
How long does the IV infusion take?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can ertapenem interact with other medications I'm taking?
What should I do if I develop diarrhea while taking ertapenem?
Can ertapenem cause seizures?
What if I am allergic to lidocaine?
How will I receive ertapenem?
What should I tell my doctor before starting ertapenem?
What are the common side effects of ertapenem?
Does ertapenem interact with other medications?
What drug class is ertapenem?
Is ertapenem safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Carbapenem Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near ertapenem - same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
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amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
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amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with ertapenem →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with ertapenem →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with ertapenem →
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What the FDA Data Shows for ertapenem
The FDA label for ertapenem (sold under brand names such as Invanz) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Carbapenem Antibiotic class. Ertapenem treats moderate to severe infections caused by certain bacteria. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Headache.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,848 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $37.91.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 9, 2026
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages