What Factors Affect a Sufficient Meropenem Dose?

One type of antibiotic medication used to treat a variety of bacterial infections is known as meropenem. Often, this drug is used to eliminate germs that have not responded to other treatments, and it is a broad spectrum compound, effective against several species of organisms. Generally, calculating a sufficient meropenem dose depends on multiple factors, including the type of infection and the age and weight of the individual taking the drug. There is a need to carefully determine a dose of this substance that will be large enough to effectively treat the disease, yet not so high that it will create an elevated risk of dangerous side effects, including seizures and severe diarrhea.

Meningitis is one of the more common infections that this drug is used to treat. Adults will often take an intravenous (IV) meropenem dose of one to two grams (g) three times a day, for one to three weeks. Children may sometimes receive this medication as a meningitis therapy as well, and dose is commonly determined by weight. Youth over three months but weighing less than 110 pounds (50 kg) may use a meropenem dose of 40 milligrams meropenem for every 2.2 pounds (1 kg), of body weight, every eight hours. Those children that weigh more than 110 pounds (50 kg) may receive doses of 2 g every eight hours.

Internal infections known as intraabdominal infections may also be treated through the use of this medication. Generally, adults can take a 1 g meropenem dose for one to two weeks, with an eight-hour gap between doses. When treating children older than three months, and weighing below 110 pounds (50 kg), doses of 20 mg per 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of body weight can be administered every 8 hours, but the total dose usually does not go above 1.5 g per day. Minors that weigh greater than 110 pounds (50 kg) can often receive an adult dose of 1 g, given every eight hours, for the same period of time.

Medical conditions may also influence a common meropenem dose. Individuals with kidney damage, for example, may not eliminate this drug from their body as quickly as those with healthy kidneys. Consequently, those with kidney issues may receive half of a dose that an individual their age and weight would usually receive; this dose would be provided just twice a day, as opposed to three times a day.