Review of adverse experiences and tolerability in the first 2,516 patients treated with imipenem/cilastatin.

The clinical and laboratory data relating to the adverse experiences and tolerability of imipenem/cilastatin in the first 2,516 patients treated with the antibiotic are reviewed, with special reference to the last 793. Clinical adverse experiences were predominantly related to the gastrointestinal system (nausea and vomiting), local injection site, and allergy (rash). A low frequency of drug-related seizures was also reported. The most frequent adverse laboratory experiences were transient elevations of liver function test values. In general, the safety profile was similar to that of other beta-lactam antibiotics.