Price

The price of betalactamase inhibitors is difficult to determine. Betalactamase inhibitors are usually offered in combination with antibiotics. The price of the combination depends on the dosage and the amount of tablets contained in a package.

Liquid solutions of the combination of active substances, for example for intravenous therapy (therapy with the antibiotic and the betalactamase inhibitor directly via the vein) are also offered. For the person being treated with the active ingredient, the price in the pharmacy is usually a co-payment of €5. A therapy with antibiotics may only be carried out if there is a medical indication. As soon as there is one, the cost of the medication is covered by the health insurance company.

Betalactamase inhibitors and alcohol – is that compatible?

In general, therapy with antibiotics does not go well with alcohol. This is also the case with treatment with antibiotics in combination with betalactamase inhibitors. The reason for the particularly poor tolerability is that both the active substances and the alcohol have to be metabolised and broken down in the liver.

As a result, when beta-lactamase inhibitors are taken and alcohol is consumed at the same time, there is competition between the substances in the liver. This leads to a slower breakdown of both the alcohol and the betalactamase inhibitor. Both substances thus remain in the body for longer.

Alternatives to betalactamase inhibitors

Alternatives to betalactamase inhibitors are usually other antibiotics. Often it is not possible to switch between different betalactamase inhibitors because bacteria that are resistant to one betalactamase inhibitor usually cannot be treated by the others either. However, antibiotics whose structure does not contain beta-lactam rings are often suitable for the treatment of these infections. For example, antibiotics from the group of fluoroquinolones can be used. However, antibiotics such as carbapenems, despite their beta-lactam ring, often do not contain a beta-lactamase inhibitor.

Is it possible to take it during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

As with many drugs, taking betalactamase inhibitors during pregnancy and lactation is not always safe. For the combination Unacid (ampicillin and sulbactam), for example, there is no evidence to date that taking it during pregnancy is harmful to the child, but there are no large studies available to confirm this tendency. There is also insufficient data on unacid for lactation.

The same applies to the use of clavulanic acid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The effects of clavulanic acid on the unborn or breastfed child in particular have not yet been adequately researched. On the other hand, it is known that tazobactam in combination with piperacillin can be passed on to the child both via the placenta (placenta) during pregnancy and via breast milk when breastfeeding. It is also not known how large the quantities are and whether these harm the child. In general, treatment with beta-lactam inhibitors during pregnancy should be carefully considered and advice should be sought from a doctor or pharmacist.