From the Guidelines
Pivelam, also known as Pivmecillinam, is used for the treatment of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
Key Points
- Pivmecillinam is an extended gram-negative spectrum penicillin used only for treatment of UTI 1.
- It is distinguished from other β-lactams because of its specificity for the urinary tract, minimal resistance or propensity for collateral damage, and reasonable treatment efficacy 1.
- The recommended dose is 400 mg twice daily for 3-7 days, with a 5-day or 7-day regimen probably being superior to a 3-day regimen 1.
- Pivmecillinam is one of the agents of choice in many Nordic countries due to low resistance rates and low propagation of resistance 1.
- It may have inferior efficacy compared with other available therapies, but it is an appropriate choice for therapy in regions where it is available 1.
Efficacy and Resistance
- Pivmecillinam has been shown to have early clinical cure rates of 62-64% and bacteriologic cure rates of 84-94% in clinical trials 1.
- In vitro resistance to pivmecillinam was not associated with a high rate of failure, with 88% of pivmecillinam-treated patients who had a pivmecillinam-resistant uropathogen achieving bacterial cure 1.
- The rate of resistance among E. coli to pivmecillinam remains low despite its frequent use in some European countries 1.
From the Research
Pivelam (Generic Name Unknown)
There is no information available on Pivelam, as the provided studies do not mention this term.
Related Information on Piracetam
However, the studies do provide information on Piracetam, a nootropic drug, which may be of interest:
- Piracetam has been shown to improve learning, memory, brain metabolism, and capacity 2, 3
- It has antithrombotic, neuroprotective, and rheological properties 2
- Piracetam is used in the treatment of cognitive disorders, dementia, vertigo, cortical myoclonus, and other conditions 3, 4, 5
- The drug has a high therapeutic index and is well tolerated 3, 5
Generic vs Brand Anticonvulsants
Additionally, one study discusses the bioavailability of generic versus brand anticonvulsants:
- Generic anticonvulsants may have slightly different bioavailability compared to brand-name drugs, which can lead to fluctuations in steady-state plasma concentrations 6
- Switching from brand-name to generic or from one generic to another should be avoided in clinical practice to maintain optimal seizure control 6