Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection shortage
Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection is currently listed in shortage by the FDA. The FDA lists 1 affected product. This page was last refreshed from FDA data on Sep 24, 2026.
Merck Sharp & Dohme is stopping its imipenem and cilastatin injection, with the change expected to be permanent around Q4 2026. Other makers — WG Critical Care and Fresenius Kabi — have not reported a shortage and still list this medicine as available.
Don’t stop or change your therapy on your own — talk with your prescriber about the plan that fits you, and ask your pharmacist what’s actually available (see options).
Do you take this drug? See the ‘What to do’ recommendation from Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD →What’s in shortage — at a glance
These figures count only the manufacturers that reported this shortage to the FDA — not every company that makes Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection. Other makers that haven’t reported a problem are shown in the green card below.
Shortage timeline
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Jan 8, 2026Currently in shortage1 of 1 product affected.
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Jan 8, 2026First reported to the FDA1 product first listed.
Built from FDA posting and update dates. The end date FDA publishes is the posting/update date, not a true resolution date, so durations are approximate.
What exactly is on backorder — by manufacturer
Manufacturer: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. 📞 800-672-6372 1 NDC click to expand
| Status | NDC / product | Strength | Availability | Related information | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Be Discontinued | Primaxin, Injection, 500mg (NDC 0006-3516-59) | — | — | To be discontinued approximately 11/30/2026 | — |
These rows are manufacturer reports to the FDA for Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection — they do not necessarily cover every manufacturer that makes this drug. A company appears here only if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so other makers may still have stock. That’s the basis for the Where else can I get Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection? options further down this page.
Why is Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection in shortage?
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. has reported to the FDA that they plan to permanently stop making their brand of this medication, Primaxin (imipenem and cilastatin) 500 mg injection (the specific package reported is NDC 0006-3516-59). Based on what they shared, this is expected to happen around the fourth quarter of 2026 — so roughly the end of 2026. Merck did not share a specific public reason for why they are making this decision.
It's worth knowing that this report only covers Merck's product. It does not necessarily mean this medication is going away from every manufacturer — other companies may make their own versions and are listed separately.
Based on the manufacturer-reported reason(s) and notes on file with the FDA for Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection, summarized in plain English by HelloPharmacist. A drug can be short for more than one reason, and the FDA updates these as manufacturers report changes.
What should I do if I take Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection?
Imipenem and cilastatin injection is currently on the FDA drug-shortage list, and I want to walk you through what that means for you.
This shortage record covers the 500mg strength, which is the one form listed here. Right now that strength has no available source from the manufacturer who filed this report. The record shows this product is being discontinued, planned for approximately the fourth quarter of 2026.
Because a discontinuation is reported, this supply problem may be a lasting one for this particular maker (Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.). The good part is that this report reflects only that one manufacturer — other companies still make the same imipenem and cilastatin injection. A conversation with your prescriber is the right next step to plan ahead.
Here is what I suggest, in order:
- Do not stop, skip, or change how you use this medicine on your own.
- Ask your pharmacy to check whether the same medicine is available from another maker — records show imipenem and cilastatin injection from WG Critical Care and Fresenius Kabi, though these may not be in local stock.
- Because your strength is being discontinued, ask your prescriber or pharmacist about the best option for you.
- Manufacturer contact numbers are listed on this page for reference; pharmacies usually handle those calls.
This is general, national information and may not match your local pharmacy's actual stock.
- Don’t stop or change the medication on your own — talk to your prescriber first.
- If this is part of an ongoing or essential regimen (for example HIV treatment or prevention, seizure, heart, transplant, diabetes or mental-health medicines), do not skip or ration doses — contact your pharmacist or prescriber right away to arrange continued supply before you run out.
- Ask your pharmacy to check other manufacturers, strengths, package sizes, and nearby stores.
- Ask your prescriber whether a different strength, formulation, or the brand/generic version is appropriate.
Uses, dosing, side effects, prices, and the complete FDA label — written in plain English and pharmacist-reviewed.
Where else can I get Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection?
FDA shortages are manufacturer-reported — a company only shows up on the shortage list if it told the FDA it has a supply problem, so not every maker of Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection is necessarily short. Below we pull together the other still-marketed options that are not reported in shortage: the same medicine from manufacturers that haven’t reported a problem, and alternative dosage forms. These may still be out of stock at your pharmacy, and only your prescriber or pharmacist can decide what’s right for you.
Same medicine, other manufacturers (not reported short)
Same active ingredient, dosage form & route as the shortage (matched on the FDB HICL ingredient code), from makers that have not filed a shortage with the FDA:
| Product | Strength | Form / route | Manufacturer | NDC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imipenem And Cilastatin | IMIPENEM ANHYDROUS 500 mg/1; CILASTATIN SODIUM 500 mg/1 | Injection, Powder, For Solution · Intravenous | WG Critical Care, LLC | 44567-0705-10 |
| Imipenem And Cilastatin | IMIPENEM 500 mg/20mL; CILASTATIN SODIUM 500 mg/20mL | Injection, Powder, For Solution · Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | 63323-0322-25 |
| Imipenem And Cilastatin | IMIPENEM 250 mg/20mL; CILASTATIN SODIUM 250 mg/20mL | Injection, Powder, For Solution · Intravenous | Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC | 63323-0349-25 |
Therapeutic equivalents & pricing 3 productsclick to expand
Orange Book–rated equivalents of the affected strengths, with the latest NADAC price (a federal retail-acquisition benchmark, not your copay) and an evidence-based availability label. Cheapest first.
| Product | Manufacturer | Package | NADAC $/unit | AB rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primaxin Iv 500 mg/100mL; 500 mg/100mL | Merck | 25 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Imipenem and Cilastatin 500 mg/1; 500 mg | WG | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed |
| Imipenem and Cilastatin 500 mg/20mL; 500 mg/20mL | Fresenius | 25 vials | — | — | FDA listed |
Equivalents share the same ingredient, strength, dosage form and route; an AB rating means the FDA considers them substitutable. NADAC is a national retail-pharmacy acquisition benchmark from CMS — not what you pay. Availability is inferred from recent pricing, not a stock check.
Other drugs in the same treatment class
These are different medicines — not other versions of Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection — that fall in the same broad treatment class (carbapenem/penem antibiotics) . They are not automatic substitutes: they can differ in how they work, dosing, effectiveness, side effects and what they’re approved to treat. Do not switch on your own. This list is for information only — ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether any of them is appropriate for you.
Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
Other anti-infective shortages
Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection shortage FAQs
Is Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection in shortage?
Which products are affected?
When will Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection be available again?
Can I still get Imipenem And Cilastatin somewhere?
What should I do if I take Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection?
Still have a question about the Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection shortage?
Ask a pharmacist about this shortage →View Imipenem And Cilastatin Injection on the FDA drug-shortage database →
Where does this data come from?
/drug/shortages) — drug, manufacturer & contact, NDC/product, status, availability, reason, therapeutic category and posting/update dates. Current / To Be Discontinued = active; Resolved is kept for history. The Supply-Risk rating is assessed per active ingredient and adds the FDA NDC Directory (still-marketed manufacturers by ingredient & form); same-medicine and equivalent products use First Databank classification + CMS NADAC pricing; Medicaid use + most-affected states come from CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data. Reference only — confirm current status with the manufacturer or FDA before acting on it.