What is ertapenem?
Ertapenem is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Ertapenem is used to treat severe infections of the skin, lungs, stomach, pelvis, and urinary tract. It is also used to prevent infection in people having certain types of surgery.
Ertapenem may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about ertapenem?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to ertapenem or to any other antibiotic.
Before using ertapenem, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, a seizure disorder such as epilepsy, a history of head injury or brain tumor, or if you are allergic to numbing medicine such as lidocaine or Novocain..
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood may need to be tested often. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.
Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking ertapenem and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Use this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Ertapenem will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ertapenem?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to ertapenem or to any other antibiotic, especially:
meropenem (Merrem);
imipenem (Primaxin);
a cephalosporin such as cefdinir (Omnicef), cefprozil (Cefzil), cefuroxime (Ceftin), cephalexin (Keflex), and others; or
a penicillin such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin), ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), oxacillin (Bactocill), or penicillin (Bicillin C-R, PC Pen VK, Pen-V, Pfizerpen, and others).
To make sure you can safely take ertapenem, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
kidney disease;
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
a history of head injury or brain tumor; or
if you are allergic to a numbing medicine such as lidocaine or Novocain.
FDA pregnancy category B. Ertapenem is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Ertapenem can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to a child younger than 3 months old.