Imipenem is combined with cilastatin to
Imipenems rapidly inactivated by renal dehydropeptidase I, so it is combined with cilastatin, an inhibitor of this enzyme. Cilastatin, a reversible inhibitor of dehydropeptidase, increases the half life of imipenem and also inhibits the formation of nephrotoxic metabolite. Meropenem, doripenem and eapenemare not metabolized by renal dehydropeptidase
Cilastatin prevents degradation of imipenem in kidney
Cilastatin inreases intestinal absorption of imipenem
Cilastatin inhibits beta lactamase activity
Both have synergistic activity against Pseudomonas
Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors