Imipenem

Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Imipenem

Imipenem: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Imipenem?

Imipenem is an antibiotic that belongs to the group of carbapenems. This medicine is used to treat most bacterial infections. Various infections of the heart, lungs, bladder, kidneys, blood, skin, bones, joints, stomach, or female reproductive organs are managed with Imipenem.

What are the uses of Imipenem?

Imipenem is used in the treatment of various bacterial infections. It works by killing the growth of bacteria in your body. This medicine belongs to the carbapenem group of medicines. It is usually given in combination with cilastatin that belongs to the class called dehydropeptidase inhibitors. Cilastatin helps imipenem stay active for a longer period in your body.

What are the side effects of Imipenem?

The common side effects of imipenem are –

Pain

Swelling

Redness

Bruising or hardening around the site of injection

Dizziness, drowsiness

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Itching

Rash

Serious side effects of imipenem include –

Severe stomach ache

Watery or bloody diarrhea

Seizure

Jaundice (yellowish discoloration of skin)

Upper abdominal pain with loss of appetite

Fever

Light-headedness, feeling as if you may pass out

If you experience any of the above symptoms, consult your physician immediately.

For information on Imipenem, get in touch with our experts at Yashoda Hospitals.

Frequently Asked Questions about Imipenem

The combination of imipenem and cilastatin helps increase the activity of imipenem in the body. This combination also increases the recovery of urinary complaints and reduces the nephrotoxic potential associated with imipenem when administered alone.

No, since adverse reactions have been reported when piperacillin and imipenem have been used together. There are many gastrointestinal disturbances and nausea when using both medicines together.

The only relation between imipenem and penicillin is that imipenem should be administered to only penicillin-allergic patients. The precautions for penicillin administration are to be followed while giving this medicine.

Imipenem protects your body against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Both gram negative and gram positive bacteria are tackled by this medicine. Gram negative bacteria include Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gram positive bacteria include streptococci.

Imipenem is a more active antibiotic as compared to meropenem. The gram-positive cocci are managed better with imipenem while meropenem acts against the gram-negative bacilli.

Yes, imipenem has been known to cause CNS toxicity including seizures in about 1.5-10% of the cases. Seizures are mainly in association to unsubstituted penicillin and fourth-generation cephalosporin, along with carbapenems, especially imipenem.

Meropenem is considered to be one of the stronger sets of antibiotics. This is because it works against most bacteria and treats all severe complications.

Meropenem is usually used to treat urinary tract infections. These include kidney infections and others that are caused by bacteria.

Ideally, imipenem cannot be prescribed to pregnant mothers. However, this drug can be used only if the benefits outweigh the risks of this drug to the fetus.

Mixing alcohol with Imipenem is not a good idea. Both these substances have an individual effect on your body. Drinking alcohol during your medicines can cause a series of complications.