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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ertapenem (Invanz, Invanz ADD-Vantage)?

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.

How should I use ertapenem (Invanz, Invanz ADD-Vantage)?

Ertapenem is injected into a muscle or into a vein through an IV. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles, syringes, IV tubing, and other items used to inject the medicine.

Ertapenem is a powder medicine that must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before using it. If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medication. Shake the mixture well just before you measure a dose.

When injected into a vein, ertapenem must be given slowly and can take at least 30 minutes to complete.

Ertapenem is usually given as a daily injection for 3 to 14 days. Follow your doctor's instructions.

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.

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.

Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

Store ertapenem powder at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

You may store the mixture for up to 6 hours at room temperature, or up to 24 hours in a refrigerator. Use the mixed medicine within 4 hours after removing it from a refrigerator. Do not freeze.

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