Prescription medication · Carbapenem / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor

meropenem/vaborbactam

Also sold as Vabomere. Vabomere treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults.

Data updated 2026-05-15

13,049
FDA reports
2
InteractionsFew interactions
Rx
Availability

What the data shows

meropenem/vaborbactam (Vabomere) is a prescription Carbapenem / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor, with 13,049 FDA adverse-event reports on file, 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.

meropenem/vaborbactam (Vabomere) is a prescription Carbapenem / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor. Vabomere treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults.

Vabomere is a drug that combines two medicines to fight certain infections. It contains meropenem, an antibacterial, and vaborbactam, which helps meropenem work better.

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What it does

Vabomere treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults.

Common side effects

Headache, Irritation, swelling, or pain at the IV site, Diarrhea

Key warnings

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or to similar drugs.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from meropenem/vaborbactam's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Meropenem kills bacteria by stopping them from building cell walls. Vaborbactam blocks enzymes that bacteria use to break down meropenem. This helps meropenem work more effectively against the infection.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 13,049 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for meropenem/vaborbactam, by number of reports

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.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Serious Warnings

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or to similar drugs. Vabomere may cause seizures, especially if you have kidney problems or a history of seizures. It can also cause severe muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis. Diarrhea can occur, and it may be a sign of a serious infection in your colon.

Known Drug Interactions

moderate probenecid

7.2 Probenecid Probenecid competes with meropenem for active tubular secretion, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of meropenem. Co-administration of probenecid with VABOMERE is not recommended [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Mechanism: Probenecid blocks the kidneys from removing meropenem, which makes the level of the antibiotic in your blood go up.

( 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.

This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

What should I tell my doctor before taking Vabomere?
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medicines, especially penicillins or other beta-lactam antibiotics. Also, tell them if you have kidney problems, seizures, or any other medical conditions.
Can Vabomere interact with other medications?
Yes, Vabomere can interact with certain medications, including valproic acid (used for seizures) and hormonal birth control. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take.
What if I experience side effects while taking Vabomere?
Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you experience any side effects, especially signs of an allergic reaction (rash, itching, swelling, trouble breathing), seizures, muscle pain or weakness, or severe diarrhea.
Will Vabomere definitely cure my infection?
Vabomere is effective against specific bacteria. Your doctor will monitor your progress to make sure the infection is responding to the treatment.
How will I know if Vabomere is working?
You should start to feel better within a few days of starting Vabomere. Your doctor will also monitor your condition and may order tests to check if the infection is clearing.
Can I take Vabomere orally?
No, Vabomere is only given through an IV into your vein.
What happens if my kidney function is not normal?
Your doctor will adjust the dose of Vabomere based on how well your kidneys are working. They will check your kidney function regularly.
Can I drive or operate machinery while taking Vabomere?
Vabomere may cause side effects like seizures, which could impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. Talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to do these activities.
What kind of birth control should I use while taking Vabomere?
Vabomere can make hormonal birth control less effective. Use a non-hormonal method of birth control, like condoms, while you are taking this medicine.
How long will I need to stay in the hospital to receive Vabomere?
The length of your hospital stay will depend on your overall condition and how well you are responding to treatment. Talk to your doctor about your specific situation.
What are the common side effects of meropenem/vaborbactam?
The registry lists Headache, Irritation, swelling, or pain at the IV site, Diarrhea among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for meropenem/vaborbactam. The compiled record contains 13,049 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does meropenem/vaborbactam interact with other medications?
The registry has 2 documented interaction rows for meropenem/vaborbactam. Notable source-record pairings include probenecid, meropenem. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is meropenem/vaborbactam?
meropenem/vaborbactam belongs to the Carbapenem / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Vabomere treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for meropenem/vaborbactam?
The FDA label for meropenem/vaborbactam contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

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What the FDA Data Shows for meropenem/vaborbactam

The FDA label for meropenem/vaborbactam (sold under brand names such as Vabomere) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Carbapenem / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor class. Vabomere treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Irritation, swelling, or pain at the IV site, Diarrhea.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 13,049 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.

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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: March 25, 2025

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page