meropenem
Brand names: Merrem
Meropenem is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat different kinds of infections.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$6.84/unit
Generic Available
Yes (9 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Meropenem treats complicated skin infections in adults and kids 3 months and older.
Common side effects
Headache, Nausea, Constipation
Key warnings
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to meropenem or similar antibiotics.
How It Works
Meropenem 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
Meropenem is given into your vein through an IV. The dose and how often you get it depends on the type of infection you have. For adults, common doses are either 500mg or 1 gram, given every 8 hours. The IV infusion usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if meropenem will harm your unborn baby. Meropenem can pass into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor right away if you miss a dose. They will tell you when to get your next dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 68° to 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 18,241 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 30,400 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
30,400
Death-Related Reports
9,111
Hospitalization Reports
16,201
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 4,221 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 3,119 |
| 3 | PYREXIA | 2,089 |
| 4 | PNEUMONIA | 1,433 |
| 5 | SEPSIS | 1,363 |
| 6 | SEPTIC SHOCK | 1,353 |
| 7 | MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME | 1,220 |
| 8 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,212 |
| 9 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 1,145 |
| 10 | RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 1,084 |
| 11 | THROMBOCYTOPENIA | 1,075 |
| 12 | FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA | 1,072 |
| 13 | DIARRHOEA | 1,067 |
| 14 | DRUG INTERACTION | 915 |
| 15 | NEUTROPENIA | 883 |
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
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to meropenem or similar antibiotics. This drug may cause serious allergic reactions, including trouble breathing. Meropenem can also cause seizures, especially if you have kidney problems or a history of seizures. Diarrhea can occur, and could be a sign of a serious infection in your colon.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Co-administration of Meropenem for Injection, USP with probenecid inhibits renal excretion of meropenem and is therefore not recommended. ( 5.4 , 7.2 ) 7.1 Probenecid Probenecid competes with meropenem for active tubular secretion, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of meropenem. Co-administration of probenecid with meropenem is not recommended.
Mechanism: Probenecid blocks the kidneys from clearing meropenem out of your system. This leads to higher levels of meropenem in your blood than intended.
What to do: This combination is not recommended and should be avoided. Your doctor will likely use a different medicine to prevent the drug levels from getting too high.
( 7.4 , 12.3 ) 7.1 Valproic Acid Case reports in the literature have shown that co-administration of carbapenems, including meropenem, to patients receiving valproic acid or divalproex sodium results in a reduction in valproic acid concentrations. 7.2 Probenecid Probenecid competes with meropenem for active tubular secretion, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of meropenem.
Mechanism: Meropenem can significantly lower the amount of seizure medication in your blood, which increases the risk of having a seizure.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your blood levels of seizure medicine or choose a different antibiotic to keep your seizures under control.
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: Meropenem can significantly lower the amount of valproate in your blood. This can make the valproate stop working and may lead to a breakthrough seizure.
What to do: Avoid using these two drugs together if possible. If they must be used, your doctor will need to monitor your blood levels and seizure activity very closely.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking meropenem?
Can meropenem interact with other medications?
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?
Can meropenem cause diarrhea?
How will I receive meropenem?
What if my symptoms don't improve?
Can I drink alcohol while taking meropenem?
Will meropenem affect my ability to drive or operate machinery?
How long will I need to take meropenem?
What if I have kidney problems?
What are the common side effects of meropenem?
Does meropenem interact with other medications?
What drug class is meropenem?
Is meropenem safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Carbapenem Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near meropenem — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with meropenem →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with meropenem →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with meropenem →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with meropenem →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with meropenem →
Medication Guides
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Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
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Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for meropenem
The FDA label for meropenem (sold under brand names such as Merrem) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Carbapenem Antibiotic class. Meropenem treats complicated skin infections in adults and kids 3 months and older. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Nausea, Constipation.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 18,241 voluntary reports. The database also lists 3 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 $6.84.
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: July 10, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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