Meropenem dosage and administration
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sheng Shi, M.D. [2]
Dosage and Administration
Adults
The recommended dose of Meropenem is 500 mg given every 8 hours for skin and skin structure infections and 1 g given every 8 hours for intra-abdominal infections. Meropenem should be administered by intravenous infusion over approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Doses of 1 g may also be administered as an intravenous bolus injection (5 to 20 mL) over approximately 3-5 minutes.
Use in Adults With Renal Impairment
Dosage should be reduced in patients with creatinine clearance less than 51 mL/min. (see dosing table below).
Recommended Meropenem Dosage Schedule for Adults With Impaired Renal Function
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When only serum creatinine is available, the following formula (Cockcroft and Gault equation)[1] may be used to estimate creatinine clearance.
Males: Creatinine Clearance (mL/min)= Weight (kg) x (140 - age) / 72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL)
Females: 0.85 x above value
There is inadequate information regarding the use of Meropenemin patients on hemodialysis.
There is no experience with peritoneal dialysis.
Use in Adults With Hepatic Insufficiency
No dosage adjustment is necessary in patients with impaired hepatic function.
Use in Elderly Patients: No dosage adjustment is required for elderly patients with creatinine clearance values above 50 mL/min.
Use in Pediatric Patients
For pediatric patients from 3 months of age and older, the Meropenemdose is 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg every 8 hours (maximum dose is 2 g every 8 hours), depending on the type of infection (complicated skin and skin structure, intra-abdominal or meningitis). (See dosing table below.) Pediatric patients weighing over 50 kg should be administered Meropenemat a dose of 500 mg every 8 hours for complicated skin and skin structure infections, 1 g every 8 hours for intra-abdominal infections and 2 g every 8 hours for meningitis. Meropenemshould be given as intravenous infusion over approximately 15 to 30 minutes or as an intravenous bolus injection (5 to 20 mL) over approximately 3-5 minutes. Recommended MeropenemDosage Schedule for Pediatrics With Normal Renal Function
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There is no experience in pediatric patients with renal impairment.
Preparation of Solution
For Intravenous Bolus Administration
Constitute injection vials (500 mg and 1g) with sterile Water for Injection. (See table below.) Shake to dissolve and let stand until clear.
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For Infusion
Infusion vials (500 mg and 1g) may be directly constituted with a compatible infusion fluid (See COMPATIBILITY AND STABILITY.) Alternatively, an injection vial may be constituted, then the resulting solution added to an I.V. container and further diluted with an appropriate infusion fluid. (See COMPATIBILITY AND STABILITY.)
WARNING: Do not use flexible container in series connections.[2]
References
- ↑ Cockcroft DW, Gault MH (1976) Prediction of creatinine clearance from serum creatinine. Nephron 16 (1):31-41. PMID: 1244564
- ↑ "http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/050706s022lbl.pdf" (PDF). External link in
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Adapted from the FDA Package Insert.