Ertapenem
Description
Ertapenem is an antibiotic used to treat a variety of infections caused by bacteria such as infections in the stomach, pelvis, urinary tract, skin, and lungs. It should be used with caution in patients with central nervous system disorders.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Ertapenem
- Bleeding
- Inflammation
- Burning
- Skin Rash
- Swelling
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Soreness
- Ulceration
Uses of Ertapenem
What is it prescribed for?
- Skin and Structure Infection
- Community acquired pneumonia
- Complicated urinary tract infections
- Acute pelvic infections
- Complicated Intraabdominal Infection
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe peak effect of this medicine can be observed within 2-3 hours of administration of the dose.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine. Monitoring of the infants for any undesired effects like diarrhea or thrush is necessary if this medicine is used in breastfeeding women.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to ertapenem or any other medicine belonging to the beta-lactam antibiotics class. Lidocaine HCl is used as a diluent in formulations of Ertapenem. Hence, this medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to lidocaine or any other local anesthetics of the amide type.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine. Monitoring of the infants for any undesired effects like diarrhea or thrush is necessary if this medicine is used in breastfeeding women.
General warnings
Drug resistance
Usage of Ertapenem without sufficient proof or suspicion of a bacterial infection should be avoided. Irrational dosing might fail in providing the benefits and even cause toxicity. It may also increase the risk of development of bacteria that are drug resistant.
Renal impairment
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of renal impairment due to the increased risk of severe side effects. Appropriate dose adjustments should be considered based on the clinical condition.
Diarrhea
Avoid using if you experience severe diarrhea after receiving Ertapenem. This is because antibiotic therapy will cause an imbalance in the microbial flora of the large intestine, decreasing the gut friendly bacteria and promoting the growth of a bacteria called Clostridium Difficile, resulting in diarrhea.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting, the likelihood of missing a dose is very low.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Tramadol
Ethinyl Estradiol
Valproic Acid
Live cholera vaccine
Fluphenazine
Disease interactions
CNS disorders
Ertapenem should be used with extreme caution in patients with a history of central nervous system (CNS) disorders due to the increased risk of serious side effects. These side effects may include seizures, encephalopathy, depression, hallucination, confusion, and agitation. Close monitoring of such patients for any undesirable signs or symptoms is recommended. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition.
Colitis
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients having a history of gastrointestinal diseases, particularly colitis, due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Any symptoms such as severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and blood in stools should be reported to the doctor immediately. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition.
Renal Dysfunction
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a history of kidney diseases due to the increased risk of severe side effects. Close monitoring of kidney function is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments may be necessary based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting. Carefully follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable side effects. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Ertapenem works by interfering with the bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Carbapenems
Schedule
Schedule H
DailyMed - ertapenem sodium injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 24 August 2017]. Available from:
Ertapenem - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 24 August 2017]. Available from:
Ertapenem Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 24 August 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 24 August 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 24 August 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 8 Feb 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.