cefepime
Cefepime (also known by its brand name, Maxipime) is an antibiotic that treats a wide range of bacterial infections, including pneumonia, skin infections, stomach infections, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). It belongs to the cephalosporin drug class (fourth generation). Cefepime (Maxipime) is typically given as an injection through the veins (intravenous or IV). It can also be given as an injection into the muscle for certain UTIs. Your provider will decide on the dose depending on the type and severity of the infection and your kidney health. Some side effects include reactions at the injection site, like pain and inflammation.
What is Cefepime (Maxipime)?
What is Cefepime (Maxipime) used for?
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Skin infections (e.g., cellulitis)
- Stomach infections - add-on therapy to metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Treatment of possible infections in people with febrile neutropenia
How Cefepime (Maxipime) works
Cefepime (Maxipime) is a cephalosporin antibiotic. It kills bacteria by preventing them from making a covering around themselves for protection.
Drug facts
Side effects of Cefepime (Maxipime)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Side effects aren't common. See Other Side Effects.
Less Common Side Effects
- Inflammation at or near the injection site
- Pain at injection site
- Rash
- Itching
- Hives
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Fever
Cefepime (Maxipime) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: hives, rash, blisters, skin reddening, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Nervous system side effects: hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't real), seizures, sudden and brief involuntary movements or twitching, not able to speak, confusion
- C. difficile-related diarrhea: foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements (up to 15 times per day), fever, stomach pain or cramps
The following Cefepime (Maxipime) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Abdominal or stomach cramps
back, leg, or stomach pains
bleeding gums, nosebleeds
confusion
convulsions
dark urine
difficulty with breathing
fever, chills
general body swelling
headache
irregular heartbeats
loss of appetite
mood or mental changes
muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
nausea or vomiting
numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
yellowing of the eyes or skin
Incidence not known
Agitation
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
bloody or cloudy urine
bloody, black, or tarry stools
blurred vision
change in consciousness
cough or hoarseness
difficult or painful urination
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
muscle twitching or jerking
paralysis
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
rhythmic movement of the muscles
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
seizures
severe sleepiness
stiff neck
sudden decrease in the amount of urine
swollen or painful glands
unpleasant breath odor
unusual bleeding or bruising
vomiting of blood
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Cefepime (Maxipime)
Pros
- Covers many types of bacteria
- Can treat some infections caused by certain resistant bacteria
- Gets into the body quickly to start treating infections
- Can use in children as young as 2 months of age
Cons
- Must be given as an injection into the veins (or into the muscle for certain UTIs)
- Might need to be given as often as every 8 hours
- Can cause nervous system side effects
- Might not be the best choice if you've had an allergic reaction to penicillins or other cephalosporin antibiotics
Pharmacist tips for Cefepime (Maxipime)
- Make sure your provider know about all the medications you take (especially water pills or diuretics) before starting cefepime (Maxipime). You might need to have your kidney function monitored more closely. Taking cefepime (Maxipime) and diuretics at the same time might harm your kidney.
- Cefepime (Maxipime) can cause diarrhea. In general, it should go away when you stop taking the antibiotic. But get medical help as soon as possible if you start having watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, fatigue, or stomach cramps anytime during treatment or after stopping cefepime (Maxipime). These can be signs of infectious diarrhea that can be serious and needs to be treated right away.
- Seek medical help right away if you or your loved ones notice any changes in your behavior, such as confusion, hallucinations (seeing things that are not real), and trouble speaking. These could be signs of nervous system side effects from cefepime (Maxipime).
- Contact your provider if you develop other symptoms of an illness or if your symptoms become worse. Cefepime (Maxipime) can only treat infections caused by bacteria, so it won't help if you have an infection caused by a virus or fungus.
Tips for using cefepime (Maxipime) at home (if instructed by your provider):
- If you need treatment with cefepime (Maxipime) for a long time, it's possible that your provider might let you take the medication at home. If so, make sure to follow your provider's instructions carefully so you use cefepime (Maxipime) properly and safely. Your provider might instruct you to use vials of the medication that need to be mixed and prepared or premixed bags that are ready to use.
- If you're using cefepime (Maxipime) at home for long-term treatment, make sure to set a reminder of when your doses are due. It's important to get all of your doses of cefepime (Maxipime) and finish your treatment course, even if you feel better. Otherwise, your infection might get worse or become harder to treat.
- Mark your scheduled provider visits and blood work appointments on your calendar. This will help your provider make sure that cefepime (Maxipime) is treating your infection and that it's as safe as possible for you.
Common questions about Cefepime (Maxipime)
Cefepime (Maxipime) is known as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, meaning it covers and fights against several different types of bacteria. These bacteria include Gram-positive bacteria, like Streptococcus pneumoniae. Other bacteria that cefepime (Maxipime) can fight against are certain Gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, E. coli (Escherichia coli), and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Yes, cefepime (Maxipime) covers (fights against) the bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This is the most common type of Pseudomonas species that causes infections in people. This bacteria is known to cause potentially severe and life-threatening infections if it isn't properly treated. Thus, cefepime (Maxipime) is often used when it's confirmed or suspected that an infection is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
No, cefepime (Maxipime) alone doesn't typically cover or treat infections caused by anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that can grow without oxygen). This is why stomach infections require treatment with cefepime (Maxipime) together with metronidazole (Flagyl), another antibiotic that can cover anaerobic bacteria well.
Yes. Cefepime (Maxipime) is a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic.
Possibly. Cefepime (Maxipime) is a cephalosporin antibiotic, which is structurally related to penicillin. The chances of having an allergic reaction to cefepime (Maxipime) if you're allergic to penicillin is generally low. Your provider will decide to use cefepime (Maxipime) to treat your infection based on how severe your reaction to penicillin was in the past. For example, it's probable that your provider will treat you with cefepime (Maxipime) if you had a mild reaction (like rash or itchiness); they'll closely watch for allergic reactions while you receive treatment. But your provider might decide to use a different kind of antibiotic if you had a severe reaction (like facial swelling, closing of the throat, or anaphylaxis).
No, cefepime (Maxipime) is only available as an injection. Currently, there isn't an available antibiotic you can take by mouth that's on the market and considered equivalent to cefepime (Maxipime).
It takes about 10 hours for most of cefepime (Maxipime) to leave the body after a dose for people with healthy kidneys. This time frame is based on an estimate of the medication's half-life, which is a measure of how long it takes the body to clear the medication from its system. The kidneys help the body get rid of the medication. So when the kidneys aren't working as well as they should like in people with kidney problems, it can take longer for the body to remove the medication (can take up to about 3 days).
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Risks and warnings for Cefepime (Maxipime)
Cefepime (Maxipime) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Allergy to penicillins or other cephalosporin antibiotics
Allergic reactions to cefepime (Maxipime) are possible. These can include life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, shock, and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Let your provider know if you have an allergy to antibiotics. If you notice hives, rash, red skin, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after treatment with cefepime (Maxipime), get medical attention right away.
Nervous system side effects
- Risk factors: Not adjusting the cefepime (Maxipime) dose in people with kidney problems
Although rare, some people treated with cefepime (Maxipime) reported serious nervous system side effects, such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't real), seizures, sudden and brief involuntary movements or twitching, trouble speaking, and confusion. While these side effects can happen to anyone, people with kidney problems are at higher risk, especially if their cefepime (Maxipime) dose isn't appropriately adjusted. Call 911 or call the nurse if you or your loved ones notice any of these side effects. They usually go away after stopping the medication.
Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
Antibiotics, including cefepime (Maxipime), raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). This infection can cause diarrhea that can sometimes be life-threatening. Antibiotics change the amount of normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This can cause C. diff to overgrow in your gut and lead to an infection. This type of infectious diarrhea is different than diarrhea as a possible side effect of cefepime (Maxipime). C. diff-related diarrhea can cause rapid heart rate, foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day), or bloody stools and is an emergency. If you experience any of these symptoms, get medical attention right away so you can be tested for C. diff infection and receive treatment.
Development of drug-resistant bacteria
Your provider will monitor your treatment with cefepime (Maxipime) to make sure you're taking the antibiotic for the appropriate infection and amount of time. Using cefepime (Maxipime) for any shorter or longer periods of time or taking the antibiotic for other illnesses can raise your risk for developing infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. This raises your risk for severe and life-threatening infections that might be difficult to treat.
Cefepime (Maxipime) dosage
Typical dosage for Cefepime (Maxipime)
The dose and length of treatment depends on what type of infection you have, how serious it is, and whether you have kidney problems. Your provider will determine the right dose and length of treatment for you.
Cefepime (Maxipime) is typically given as an injection into the veins (intravenous or IV) by a provider in a healthcare setting (e.g., hospital, office, nursing home). It can also be given as an injection into the muscle for mild-to-moderate UTIs.
- Age 16 years and older who weigh at least 40 kg (88 lbs): The typical dose ranges from 0.5 to 2 grams every 8 to 12 hours for 7 to 10 days.
- Age 2 months to under 16 years who weigh less than 40 kg (88 lbs): The typical dose is 50 mg/kg of body weight every 8 to 12 hours for 7 to 10 days.
Interactions between Cefepime (Maxipime) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Cefepime (Maxipime) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Cefepime (Maxipime) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to penicillins or cephalosporin antibiotics
What are alternatives to Cefepime (Maxipime)?
Cefepime (Maxipime) images
