What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Cilastatin/imipenem and ganciclovir
Cilastatin/imipenem's FDA label of July 5, 2024 names ganciclovir in its drug interactions section; the ganciclovir labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name cilastatin/imipenem.
Check it at the source: the cilastatin/imipenem FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 5, 2024, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC); the ganciclovir FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 9, 2026, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC).
What does the cilastatin/imipenem label say about ganciclovir?
Cilastatin/imipenem label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS Ganciclovir: Generalized seizures have been reported in patients who received ganciclovir.
Source: FDA drug label (PRIMAXIN IV), Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, effective July 5, 2024 (SPL set f41d8abd-7792-4918-1b93-bd83ea01955e), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the ganciclovir label say about cilastatin/imipenem?
Ganciclovir's label (effective January 9, 2026) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name cilastatin/imipenem in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Ganciclovir), Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, effective January 9, 2026 (SPL set 35addab5-09db-4f8a-9c69-6fbce33ecc37), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Cilastatin/imipenem | Ganciclovir | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | $91.24 per gram 0.15% ophthalmic gel |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once