Drug reference

Imipenem

Carbapenem · Antibacterial

Also known as imipenem with cilastatin

CarbapenemAntibacterialATC null

CDSCO approvedSchedule H1

EXCRETION

—

not curated

INTERACTIONS

5 major

SEVERE in our sources

PREGNANCY

FDA category + note

Top interactionssee all 6 →

BupropionSevereDatabaseDDInter
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TramadolSevereDatabaseDDInter

Mechanism

Imipenem is a beta-lactam antibacterial with a broad-spectrum of activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and anaerobes. It is administered in combination with cilastatin, a specific enzyme inhibitor, which blocks imipenem's partial inactivation by enzymatic activity in the kidney.

Indications

severe hospital-acquired infectionspolymicrobial infectionssepticaemiahospital-acquired pneumoniaintra-abdominal infectionsskin and soft-tissue infectionscomplicated urinary-tract infectionsinfections with Pseudomonas aeruginosaNosocomial infections: pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infectionsUrinary tract infectionsLower respiratory infectionsIntra-abdominal and gynecological infectionsSkin, soft-tissue, bone, and joint infectionsEmpirical treatment of serious infections in hospitalized patients at risk for resistant pathogensmultidrug-resistant tuberculosismycobacterium abscessus (in combination)

Dosing

Adult: penicillin cost several dollars per 100,000 units; today, the same dose. equals 1667 units; 1.0 mg of pure penicillin G potassium represents. 1595 units. The dosage and the antibacterial potency of the semisynthetic penicillins are expressed in terms of weight.
Renal adjustment: Reduce dose only in moderate-severe failure

Pharmacokinetics

Half-life

1 hr

Bioavailability

—

Protein binding

<20%

Metabolism

Partially inactivated in the kidney by enzymatic activity; co-administered with cilastatin to block renal metabolism.

Excretion

69 ± 15%

Contraindications

Infections caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Infections caused by Enterococcus faecium

Side effects

Common

Side-effects similar to those of other beta-lactam antibioticsDiarrhoeaVomitingSkin rashesHypersensitivity reactionsGastrointestinal side effects (e.g., diarrhea)

Serious