meropenem/vaborbactam
Brand names: Vabomere
Vabomere is a drug that combines two medicines to fight certain infections. It contains meropenem, an antibacterial, and vaborbactam, which helps meropenem work better.
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.
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.
How to Take It
Vabomere is given into your vein through an IV. You'll receive 4 grams of Vabomere (2 grams of meropenem and 2 grams of vaborbactam) every 8 hours. Each dose is infused slowly over 3 hours. Treatment usually lasts up to 14 days.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Vabomere may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Vabomere passes into breast milk, so discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or nurse right away to reschedule it. It is important to get every dose of Vabomere on time.
Storage
Store Vabomere vials at room temperature, between 68°F to 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 18,241 FDA adverse event reports.
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
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.
What to do: You should not take these two medications together.
( 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.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking Vabomere?
Can Vabomere interact with other medications?
What if I experience side effects while taking Vabomere?
Will Vabomere definitely cure my infection?
How will I know if Vabomere is working?
Can I take Vabomere orally?
What happens if my kidney function is not normal?
Can I drive or operate machinery while taking Vabomere?
What kind of birth control should I use while taking Vabomere?
How long will I need to stay in the hospital to receive Vabomere?
What are the common side effects of meropenem/vaborbactam?
Does meropenem/vaborbactam interact with other medications?
What drug class is meropenem/vaborbactam?
Is meropenem/vaborbactam safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Carbapenem / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near meropenem/vaborbactam — same-class peers and common alternatives.
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amoxicillin/clavulanate
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azithromycin
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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 18,241 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 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).
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: March 25, 2025
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