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RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION

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About the medicine

How to use RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION

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This page provides general information and does not replace a doctor’s consultation. Always consult a doctor before taking any medication. Seek urgent medical care if symptoms are severe.

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Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Recarbrio 500mg/500mg/250mg powder for solution for infusion

imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

  • Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or nurse.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the pack

  1. What is Recarbrio and what is it used for
  2. What you need to know before you use Recarbrio
  3. How to use Recarbrio
  4. Possible side effects
  5. Storage of Recarbrio
  6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Recarbrio and what is it used for

Recarbrio is an antibiotic. It contains the active substances imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam.

Recarbrio is used in adults to treat:

  • certain bacterial infections of the lungs (pneumonia)
  • blood infections associated with the aforementioned lung infections
  • infections caused by bacteria that other antibiotics are unable to destroy

Recarbrio is used in patients from 18 years of age.

Doctor consultation

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2. What you need to know before you use Recarbrio

Do not use Recarbrio

  • if you are allergic to imipenem, cilastatin, relebactam, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
  • if you are allergic to carbapenem-type antibiotics
  • if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to penicillin-type or cephalosporin-type antibiotics.

You should not receive Recarbrio if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, consult your doctor or nurse before receiving Recarbrio.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or nurse before starting Recarbrio if:

  • you are allergic to any medicine - especially antibiotics
  • you have ever had seizures (fits or convulsions)
  • you have ever had confusion or muscle contractions with a medicine
  • you are taking a medicine that contains valproic acid
  • you have had diarrhea while receiving antibiotics in the past
  • you have kidney problems - your doctor may reduce the dose

Tell your doctor immediately if you have an allergic reaction, seizures (fits or convulsions), diarrhea, or develop kidney problems while receiving Recarbrio (see section 3).

Children and adolescents

Recarbrio should not be used in children or adolescents under 18 years of age. This is because it is not known if the medicine is safe to use in these patients.

Other medicines and Recarbrio

Tell your doctor or nurse if you are using, have recently used, or might use any other medicines.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, especially if you are taking:

  • medicines that contain ganciclovir, used to treat some viral infections
  • medicines that contain valproic acid or valproate semisodium, normally used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, or migraine
  • medicines to control blood clotting, such as warfarin

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Recarbrio may make you feel dizzy, agitated, or cause seizures or fits. This could affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Recarbrio contains sodium

This medicine contains approximately 37.5 mg of sodium (a major component of cooking/table salt) in each vial. This is about 2% of the maximum recommended daily intake of sodium for an adult, and you should take this into account if you are on a low-sodium diet.

3. How to use Recarbrio

The recommended dose is one vial (which contains 500 mg of imipenem, 500 mg of cilastatin, and 250 mg of relebactam) every 6 hours. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may reduce the dose.

It is given by drip directly into a vein ("intravenous infusion"). The infusion will last 30 minutes.

The usual treatment cycle lasts from 5 to 14 days, depending on the type of infection you have and how you respond to treatment.

If you use more Recarbrio than you should

Recarbrio will be administered by a doctor or nurse, so it is unlikely that you will be given an incorrect dose. If you think you have been given too much Recarbrio, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.

If you forget to use Recarbrio

Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you think you have missed a dose of Recarbrio.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or nurse.

Medicine questions

Started taking the medicine and have questions?

Discuss your symptoms and treatment with a doctor online.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Serious side effects

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following serious side effects - the medicine should be stopped:

  • allergic reactions - the signs may include hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • severe skin reactions (e.g. intense rash, skin peeling, or blistering)

Other side effects

Common: (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

  • nausea, discomfort (vomiting), diarrhea
  • blood test results that may show changes in the liver
  • blood test results that may show an increase in the number of some types of blood cells called "eosinophils"
  • blood test results that may show an increase in some white blood cells
  • rash
  • inflammation and pain caused by a blood clot in the vein

Uncommon: (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

  • hives
  • itching of the skin
  • seizures (fits) and nervous system problems such as tremor
  • confusion
  • seeing, hearing, or feeling something that is not there (hallucinations)
  • dizziness, drowsiness
  • low blood pressure
  • blood test results that may show changes in the kidneys
  • blood test results that may show a decrease in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood cells called platelets
  • blood test results that may show an increase in the number of some blood cells called platelets
  • abnormal function of the kidneys, liver, and blood detected in blood tests
  • pain or redness or swelling at the injection site
  • fever
  • blood test results (called Coombs test) that show antibodies that can cause anemia by destroying red blood cells

Rare: (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

  • fungal infection (candidiasis)
  • changes in taste
  • brain disease, tingling sensation (tingling and numbness), localized tremor
  • hearing loss
  • discoloration of teeth and/or tongue
  • inflammation of the colon with severe diarrhea (colitis)
  • decrease in white blood cells, which can make it difficult for your body to fight infections
  • inflammation of the liver
  • liver failure
  • kidney failure
  • changes in the amount of urine, changes in the color of urine
  • swelling of the skin
  • painful rash with flu-like symptoms
  • redness and peeling of the skin

Very rare: (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

  • inflammation of the stomach or intestine (gastroenteritis)
  • anemia due to the destruction of red blood cells, leading to symptoms such as fatigue and pale skin
  • headache
  • worsening of a rare disease associated with muscle weakness (worsening of myasthenia gravis)
  • spinning sensation (vertigo)
  • ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • irregular heartbeat, strong or rapid heartbeat
  • discomfort in the chest, difficulty breathing, abnormally rapid and shallow breathing, pain in the upper back
  • sore throat
  • flushing, change in skin color, bluish discoloration of the face and lips, changes in skin texture, excessive sweating
  • increased saliva production
  • inflammation of the intestine with bloody diarrhea (hemorrhagic colitis)
  • stomach pain
  • heartburn
  • red and swollen tongue, excessive growth of normal tongue bumps giving a hairy appearance
  • severe loss of liver function due to inflammation (fulminant hepatitis)
  • pain in various joints
  • itching of the vulva in women
  • weakness, lack of energy

Frequency not known: (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

  • agitation
  • abnormal movements
  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
  • blood test that shows an increase in a substance called lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which can be a sign of tissue damage.

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse, even if it is possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the national reporting system listed in Appendix V. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Recarbrio

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton. The expiry date is the last day of the month stated.

Store this medicine in the outer carton to protect it from light.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. This will help protect the environment.

6. Container Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Recarbrio

  • The active ingredients are imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam. Each vial contains 500 mg of imipenem, 500 mg of cilastatin, and 250 mg of relebactam.
  • The other components are sodium hydrogen carbonate.

Appearance of the Product and Container Contents

Recarbrio is a white to light yellow powder that is supplied for solution for infusion in glass vials. The pack size is 25 vials.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Manufacturer

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V.

Waarderweg 39

2031 BN Haarlem

Netherlands

FAREVA Mirabel

Route de Marsat, Riom

63963, Clermont – Ferrand Cedex 9

France

You can request more information about this medicinal product by contacting the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:

België/Belgique/Belgien

MSD Belgium

Tél/Tel: +32(0)27766211

[email protected]

Lietuva

UAB Merck Sharp & Dohme

Tel: + 370 5 278 02 47

[email protected]

Text in Bulgarian language with contact information of Merck Sharp and Dohme Bulgaria including phone and email

Luxembourg/Luxemburg

MSD Belgium

Tél/Tel: +32(0)27766211

[email protected]

Ceská republika

Merck Sharp & Dohme s.r.o.

Tel: +420 233 010 111

[email protected]

Magyarország

MSD Pharma Hungary Kft.

Tel: +36 1 888 5300

[email protected]

Danmark

MSD Danmark ApS

Tlf.: + 45 4482 4000

[email protected]

Malta

Merck Sharp & Dohme Cyprus Limited

Tel: 8007 4433 (+356 99917558)

[email protected]

Deutschland

MSD Sharp & Dohme GmbH

Tel: 0800 673 673 673 (+49 (0) 89 4561 0)

[email protected]

Nederland

Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V.

Tel: 0800 9999000

(+31 23 5153153)

[email protected]

Eesti

Merck Sharp & Dohme OÜ

Tel.: +372 6144 200

[email protected]

Norge

MSD (Norge) AS

Tlf: +47 32 20 73 00

[email protected]

Ελλάδα

MSD Α.Φ.Ε.Ε.

Τηλ: +30 210 98 97 300

[email protected]

Österreich

Merck Sharp & Dohme Ges.m.b.H.

Tel: +43 (0) 1 26 044

[email protected]

España

Merck Sharp & Dohme de España, S.A.

Tel: +34 91 321 06 00

[email protected]

Polska

MSD Polska Sp. z o.o.

Tel: +48 22 549 51 00

[email protected]

France

MSD France

Tél: + 33 (0) 1 80 46 40 40

Portugal

Merck Sharp & Dohme, Lda

Tel: +351 21 4465700

[email protected]

Hrvatska

Merck Sharp & Dohme d.o.o.

Tel: + 385 1 6611 333

[email protected]

România

Merck Sharp & Dohme Romania S.R.L.

Tel: +40 21 529 29 00

[email protected]

Ireland

Merck Sharp & Dohme Ireland (Human Health) Limited

Tel: +353 (0)1 2998700

[email protected]

Slovenija

Merck Sharp & Dohme, inovativna zdravila d.o.o.

Tel: +386 1 5204 201

[email protected]

Ísland

Vistor hf.

Sími: + 354 535 7000

Slovenská republika

Merck Sharp & Dohme, s. r. o.

Tel: +421 2 58282010

[email protected]

Italia

MSD Italia S.r.l.

Tel: 800 23 99 89 (+39 06 361911)

[email protected]

Suomi/Finland

MSD Finland Oy

Puh/Tel: +358 (0)9 804 650

[email protected]

Κύπρος

Merck Sharp & Dohme Cyprus Limited

Τηλ: 800 00 673 (+357 22866700)

[email protected]

Sverige

Merck Sharp & Dohme (Sweden) AB

Tel: +46 77 5700488

[email protected]

Latvija

SIA Merck Sharp & Dohme Latvija

Tel: + 371 67364224

[email protected]

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

Merck Sharp & Dohme Ireland (Human Health) Limited

Tel: +353 (0)1 2998700

[email protected]

Date of Last Revision of this Leaflet:{MM/YYYY}.

Detailed information on this medicinal product is available on the European Medicines Agency website: http://www.ema.europa.eu/.

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals only:

Recarbrio is supplied as a dry powder in a single-dose vial that must be reconstituted and further diluted using aseptic techniques before intravenous infusion, as described below:

  • To prepare the infusion solution, the contents of the vial should be transferred to 100 ml of a suitable infusion solution: sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%). In exceptional circumstances where sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) cannot be used for clinical reasons, glucose 5% may be used instead.
  • Withdraw 20 ml (2 x 10 ml) of diluent from the appropriate infusion bag and reconstitute the vial with 10 ml of the diluent. The reconstituted suspension should not be administered by direct intravenous infusion.
  • After reconstitution, shake the vial well and transfer the resulting suspension to the remaining 80 ml of the infusion bag.
  • Add the additional 10 ml of infusion diluent to the vial and shake well to ensure complete transfer of the vial contents; repeat the transfer of the resulting suspension to the infusion solution before administration. Shake the resulting mixture until it is clear.
  • The reconstituted solutions of Recarbrio range from colorless to yellow. Variations in color within this range do not affect the potency of the product.
  • In patients with renal impairment, a reduced dose of Recarbrio will be administered according to the patient's CrCl, as determined by the following table. Prepare 100 ml of infusion solution as described above. Select the volume (ml) of the final infusion solution necessary for the appropriate dose of Recarbrio as shown in the table below.

Parenteral medicinal products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and color change prior to administration, whenever the solution and container permit. Discard if color change or particulate matter is observed.

Preparation of Recarbrio Doses

Creatinine

Clearance

(ml/min)

Recarbrio Dose

(imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam)

(mg)

Volume (ml) to be

withdrawn and discarded

from the preparation

Volume (ml) of final

infusion solution required

for the dose

Greater than or equal to 90

500/500/250

N/A

100

Less than 90 to greater than or equal to 60

400/400/200

20

80

Less than 60 to greater than or equal to 30

300/300/150

40

60

Less than 30 to greater than or equal to 15 or ERT on hemodialysis

200/200/100

60

40

The disposal of unused medicinal products and all materials that have come into contact with them should be carried out in accordance with local regulations.

Compatible Medicinal Products

The physical compatibility of Recarbrio with selected injectable medicinal products has been evaluated in two commonly used infusion solutions. The following medicinal products are compatible with the corresponding compatible diluent (i.e., dextrose 5% for injection or sodium chloride 0.9% for injection). Recarbrio should not be administered concomitantly with other medicinal products through the same intravenous line (or cannula), as compatibility data are not available. Refer to the Summary of Product Characteristics of the co-administered medicinal product(s) to confirm compatibility of concomitant administration. This medicinal product should not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned below.

List of compatible injectable medicinal products for use with dextrose 5% or sodium chloride 0.9% for injection as diluents

  • dexmedetomidine
  • dopamine
  • epinephrine
  • fentanyl
  • heparin
  • midazolam
  • norepinephrine
  • phenylephrine

Intravenous Bags and Infusion Equipment Materials Compatibility

Recarbrio is compatible with the following intravenous bags and infusion equipment materials. No other infusion bag or equipment material should be used.

Infusion Bag Materials

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyolefin (polypropylene and polyethylene)

Intravenous Infusion Equipment Materials (with their tubes)

PVC + Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and PVC coated with polyethylene (PE)

Incompatible Medicinal Products

Recarbrio for solution for infusion is physically incompatible with propofol in dextrose 5% (also known as glucose) or sodium chloride 0.9%.

After Reconstitution and Dilution

The diluted solutions should be used immediately. The time interval between the start of reconstitution and the end of intravenous infusion should not exceed two hours.

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Dr. Tarek Agami is a general practitioner registered in both Portugal and Israel, with broad experience in family and preventive medicine. He offers online consultations for adults and children, providing personalised support for primary care needs, chronic disease management, and everyday health concerns.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a prescription required for RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION?
RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION requires a prescription in Spain. You can check with a doctor online whether this medicine may be appropriate for your situation.
What is the active substance in RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION?
The active ingredient in RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION is imipenem, cilastatin and relebactam. This information helps identify medicines with the same composition but different brand names.
Who manufactures RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION?
RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION is manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V.. Pharmacy brands and packaging may differ depending on the distributor.
Which doctors can assess the use of RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION online?
Doctors such as Family doctors, Psychiatrists, Dermatologists, Cardiologists, Endocrinologists, Gastroenterologists, Pulmonologists, Nephrologists, Rheumatologists, Hematologists, Infectious disease physicians, Allergists, Geriatricians, Paediatricians, Oncologists may assess whether RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION is appropriate, depending on your situation and local regulations. You can book an online consultation to discuss your symptoms and possible next steps.
What are the alternatives to RECARBRIO 500 mg/500 mg/250 mg POWDER FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION?
Other medicines with the same active substance (imipenem, cilastatin and relebactam) include ARCHIFAR 1G POWDER FOR INJECTABLE SOLUTION AND FOR INFUSION, ARCHIFAR 500 mg POWDER FOR INJECTABLE SOLUTION AND FOR INFUSION, ERTAPENEM AUROVITAS 1 g POWDER FOR CONCENTRATE FOR INFUSION SOLUTION. These may have different brand names or formulations but contain the same therapeutic ingredient. Always consult a doctor before switching or starting a new medicine.
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