Zosyn vs. Invanz

Zosyn (piperacillin and tazobactam for injection) is and Invanz (ertapenem for injection) are antibiotics used to treat many different infections caused by bacteria, such as urinary tract infections, skin infections, and respiratory tract infections.

Invanz is also used to prevent infection in people having certain types of surgery.

Both Zosyn and Invanz contain a beta-lactamase inhibitor. Zosyn also contains a penicillin antibiotic.

Side effects of Zosyn and Invanz that are similar include injection site reactions (swelling, redness, pain, soreness, and irritation), nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or upset, diarrhea, constipation, headache, and vaginal discharge or itching.

Side effects of Zosyn that are different from Invanz include dizziness, agitation, trouble sleeping (insomnia), runny nose, anxiety, and skin rash or itching.

Both Zosyn and Invanz may interact with probenecid.

Zosyn may also interact with antibiotics, blood thinners, or any other medication used to prevent blood clots.

Invanz may also interact with seizure medications.

Common side effects of Zosyn include:

• swelling,
• redness,
• pain,
• soreness or
• irritation;
• dizziness,
• agitation,
• trouble sleeping (insomnia),
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain or upset,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• headache,
• runny nose,
• anxiety,
• skin rash or
• itching, or
• vaginal discharge or itching.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Zosyn including muscle cramps or spasms, swelling of the arms/legs/hands/feet, easy bruising or bleeding, chest pain, confusion, new signs of infection (such as fever, persistent sore throat), severe abdominal or stomach pain, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, persistent nausea or vomiting, seizures, extreme tiredness, dark or cloudy urine, change in the amount of urine, yellowing eyes or skin, or serious skin reactions (rash, peeling, sores, or blisters).

Common side effects of Invanz include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• headache, or
• injection site reactions (pain, redness, soreness, or mild swelling).

Serious side effects of Invanz include:

• anaphylactic reactions,
• seizures, and
• Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and behavioral changes.

Zosyn (piperacillin and tazobactam for injection) is a combination of two antibiotics used to treat many different infections caused by bacteria, such as urinary tract infections, bone and joint infections, severe vaginal infections, stomach infections, skin infections, and pneumonia. Zosyn is available in generic form.

Invanz (ertapenem for injection) is a type of antibiotic used to treat severe infections of the skin, lungs, stomach, pelvis, and urinary tract. Invanz is also used to prevent infection in people having certain types of surgery.

Zosyn may interact with probenecid, antibiotics, blood thinners, or any other medication used to prevent blood clots. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Invanz may interact with divalproex, valproic acid, or probenecid. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Invanz has not been adequately studied in pregnant women; however, the Invanz is known to be excreted in breast milk.

The usual total daily dose of Zosyn for adults is 3.375 g every six hours totaling 13.5 g (12.0 g piperacillin/1.5 g tazobactam).

Each vial of Invanz contains 1.046 grams ertapenem sodium, equivalent to 1 gram ertapenem; the vials are single use and the drug is administered IV or IM after reconstitution with 10 ml of appropriate diluent. The dose of Invanz in patients 13 years of age and older is 1 gram (g) given once a day; in younger patients (3 months to 12 years of age) the dose is 15 mg/kg twice daily (not to exceed 1 g/day). Invanz may be administered by intravenous infusion for up to 14 days or by intramuscular injection for up to 7 days. Invanz should be infused over a period of 30 minutes when administered IV.