Recarbrio

Recarbrio is a combination of three medications (imipenem, relebactam, and cilastatin) that work together to treat infections caused by certain bacteria. Imipenem is an antibiotic that kills bacteria by preventing them from making their protective outer covering. But, some bacteria can make proteins called beta-lactamases that can break down imipenem and cause it to not work well. Relebactam protects imipenem from being broken down by beta-lactamases, which helps imipenem work better at fighting infections. Cilastatin doesn't fight bacteria, but is used to keep levels of imipenem in your body high by preventing your kidneys from getting rid of it.

Recarbrio is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria. But, it's specifically used for people in the hospital who have or might have a severe infection from resistant bacteria. These bacteria are difficult to fight off, even with the use of many antibiotics. Depending on the type and how severe your infection is, your provider might give Recarbrio to you by itself or together with another antibiotic.

Recarbrio is injected into your veins. It's typically given to people in the hospital by a healthcare provider. But, depending on the infection, some people might be able to take Recarbrio at home under instructions from their provider.

The typical dose of Recarbrio for adults is 1.25 grams intravenously (through the vein, or IV) every 6 hours for a certain number of days. There aren't any dosing recommendations for children younger than 18 years old because Recarbrio hasn't been studied in them yet. Your dose might be lower or less frequent if you have kidney problems.

Some common side effects include low red blood cell count (anemia), high liver enzymes, changes in electrolyte levels, and diarrhea. Less common side effects include fever, constipation, and rash. Your provider will monitor your blood work to make sure you aren't having side effects from Recarbrio.