Doribax

Generic Name: doripenem (dor i PEN em)

Brand Names: Doribax

What is doripenem?

Doripenem is an antibiotic that fights serious infections caused by bacteria.

Doripenem is used to treat severe infections of the stomach, bladder, or kidneys.

Doripenem may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about doripenem?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to doripenem or imipenem (Primaxin), or a history of allergy to penicillin antibiotics such as Amoxil, Augmentin, Omnipen, Principen, Dycill, Dynapen, Bactocill, Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pfizerpen, Veetids, and others.

Before using doripenem, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease or a seizure disorder.

Before using doripenem, tell your doctor if you are using valproic acid (Depakene) or probenecid (Benemid).

You may be shown how to use your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to mix the medicine, give the injection and properly dispose of needles, IV tubing, and other items used in giving the medicine.

Call your doctor at once if you have serious side effects such as diarrhea that is watery or bloody, trouble breathing, easy bruising or bleeding, seizure (convulsions), or fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving doripenem?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to doripenem or imipenem (Primaxin), or a history of allergy to penicillin antibiotics such as Amoxil, Augmentin, Omnipen, Principen, Dycill, Dynapen, Bactocill, Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pfizerpen, Veetids, and others.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use doripenem:

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  kidney disease; or

  
  


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  epilepsy or other seizure disorder.

  
  

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether doripenem passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is doripenem given?

Doripenem is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take at least 1 hour to complete.

Doripenem is usually given for 5 days to 2 weeks, depending on the condition being treated. You may be switched to an oral (pill form) antibiotic after the first few days of receiving doripenem by injection.

Use this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Doripenem will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

You may be shown how to use your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to mix the medicine, give the injection and properly dispose of needles, IV tubing, and other items used in giving the medicine.

Doripenem is a powder that must be mixed with a liquid (diluent). Do not mix the medicine or draw your dose into a syringe until you are ready to inject the medicine. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about mixing the doripenem injection.

After mixing doripenem with the diluent, keep it in a refrigerator. Keep from freezing, and use the mixture within 24 hours.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of doripenem.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a doripenem overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while receiving doripenem?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Doripenem side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

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  diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

  
  


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  trouble breathing;

  
  


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  pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;

  
  


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  seizure (convulsions); or

  
  


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  fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  pain, swelling, or redness where the medicine was injected;

  
  


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  mild nausea;

  
  


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  headache;

  
  


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  mild skin rash or itching;

  
  


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  white patches or sores inside your mouth; or

  
  


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  vaginal itching or discharge.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect doripenem?

Before using doripenem, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medications:

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  valproic acid (Depakene); or

  
  


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  probenecid (Benemid).

  
  

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with doripenem. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Doribax resources

• Doribax Side Effects (in more detail)
• Doribax Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Doribax Drug Interactions
• Doribax Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Doribax - Add your own review/rating

• Doribax Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Doribax Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Doribax Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Doribax Consumer Overview


• Doribax MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Doripenem Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Doribax with other medications

• Intraabdominal Infection
• Kidney Infections
• Urinary Tract Infection

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about doripenem.

See also: Doribax side effects (in more detail)