User:Mr. Ibrahem/Imipenem/cilastatin

Imipenem/cilastatin, sold under the brand name Primaxin among others, is an antibiotic useful for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. It is made from a combination of imipenem and cilastatin. Specifically it is used for pneumonia, sepsis, endocarditis, joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, and urinary tract infections. It is given by injection into a vein or muscle.

Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and pain at the site of injection. Other side effects may include Clostridium difficile diarrhea and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. It is unclear if use during pregnancy is safe for the baby. Imipenem is in the carbapenem family of medications and works by interfering with the bacteria's cell wall. Cilastatin blocks the activity of dehydropeptidase I which prevents the breakdown of imipenem.

Imipenem/cilastatin was first sold in 1987. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines as an alternative to meropenem. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about US$12.68 to $60 per day. In the United States it costs more than $200 for a course of treatment.