Medications
Cefepime injection (Maxipime and others)
A broad-spectrum IV cephalosporin antibiotic given in hospitals and through home infusion for serious infections, including pneumonia, urinary infections with complications, and infections when white blood cells are low.
How Medicare covers it
Part B (injection/infusion given by a clinician — see the Part B basis in this package; the usual path for this drug). The Part D aggregation in this package is carried exactly as computed — the formulary file carries the injection concepts. Part A during a covered inpatient stay.
| Coverage details | |
|---|---|
| Part B status | CMS Part B Spending by Drug HCPCS file (RY26, data through 2024) carries J0692, J0701, and J0703 (cefepime in dextrose / iso-osmotic formulations, 500 mg): the clinician-administered path is Part B; the formulary-file concepts are also the Part D aggregation in this package. |
| Medicare Advantage | Most Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage (MAPD plans) use the same formulary-and-tier system; the plan's own drug list decides coverage and copay — check the plan's formulary. |
| Medicare Supplement (Medigap) | Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans sold today do not include prescription drug coverage; drug coverage comes from Part D or an MAPD plan. |
What it treats
Cefepime treats infections caused by bacteria that are sensitive to it. The label lists: pneumonia; treatment given to patients with fever and low white blood cells (febrile neutropenia) when an infection is suspected; uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis (a kidney infection); uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections; and, in adults, complicated infections inside the abdomen, used together with metronidazole. The label says it should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria, to help prevent drug-resistant bacteria.
What it is for, in depth
Cefepime is a strong hospital-type antibiotic for serious bacterial infections. It is prescribed for pneumonia, for urinary tract infections including kidney infections, for skin and skin structure infections, and for complicated infections inside the abdomen in adults, where it is used together with metronidazole. It is also used as first treatment for patients who have fever along with a very low white blood cell count (febrile neutropenia), a group at high risk for fast-moving infection. In other words, it is typically prescribed for people who are sick enough to need an IV antibiotic in a clinic or hospital, or through clinician-given infusion, rather than a pill at home. The label supplies it only as a sterile dry powder in single-dose vials equal to 1 gram and 2 grams of cefepime, mixed into a solution for IV use, with IM use limited to certain urinary tract infections. Doses are lowered when the kidneys do not clear the drug well, which is an important part of safe use in older patients.
How it works
The label describes cefepime for injection as a semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibacterial drug made for injection. The label extract gives little other detail about how it works beyond naming it as a cephalosporin antibacterial.
How it is taken
Cefepime is not taken by mouth. It is given as an injection into a vein (IV) or, in one limited case, into a muscle (IM) in a clinic or hospital, not as a pill you take at home. The label says the intramuscular route is only for mild to moderate uncomplicated or complicated urinary tract infections caused by E. coli. For adults whose kidneys work well (creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min), the label lists, for example: 1 to 2 grams IV every 8 to 12 hours for 10 days for moderate to severe pneumonia (2 grams IV every 8 hours for Pseudomonas aeruginosa); 2 grams IV every 8 hours for 7 days, or until low white blood cells resolve, for febrile neutropenia; 0.5 to 1 gram IV or IM every 12 hours for 7 to 10 days for mild to moderate urinary tract infections; 2 grams IV every 12 hours for severe urinary tract infections, skin infections, and for complicated abdominal infections with metronidazole. The dose is lowered for people whose kidneys do not work as well. It comes as a powder in single-dose vials of 1 gram and 2 grams that is mixed into a solution before it is given.
Common side effects
The label extract does not list a separate list of common side effects with rates. Its adverse reactions section points only to the serious reactions discussed in the warnings: allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, neurotoxicity (harm to the brain and nerves), and Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea. Saying more about common side effects would go beyond what this label extract contains.
Serious warnings
The label warns about allergic reactions: cross-allergy among beta-lactam antibiotics may happen in up to 10% of patients with a history of penicillin allergy, and if an allergic reaction occurs, the drug should be stopped. It warns about neurotoxicity, which may occur especially in patients with kidney problems who are given doses that were not lowered for their kidneys — if neurotoxicity linked to cefepime occurs, the drug should be stopped. It also warns about Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea: patients who develop diarrhea should be evaluated for it.
Who should be careful
Cefepime must not be used by people who have had an immediate allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction to cefepime, to the cephalosporin class of antibiotics, to penicillins, or to other beta-lactam antibiotics. People with kidney problems need a lower dose. Older adults need special care: the label says serious nervous-system reactions have occurred in older patients with kidney insufficiency who were given doses that were not lowered for their kidneys.
Major interactions
The label lists two kinds of interactions, both tied to kidney harm. Using cefepime with aminoglycoside antibiotics raises the chance of kidney harm (nephrotoxicity) and ear harm (ototoxicity), and kidney function should be monitored. Kidney harm has also been reported when other cephalosporins were given with strong water pills (diuretics) such as furosemide, and kidney function should be monitored in that case too.
Cost and saving notes
The pinned label is a generic cefepime injection label (Sagent Pharmaceuticals), so this drug is available as a generic rather than only as a brand. Under Medicare Part D, if your plan places a drug on a higher tier, you or your doctor can ask the plan for a tier exception to try to get a lower cost share, when the plan allows it. People who qualify for Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, pay lower Part D costs. No prices are listed here because what you pay depends on your plan.
Why it is in its tier
Cefepime injection (Maxipime and others) sits on Tier 4 in 76.56% of the plans that list it (4207 of 5495 listing plans). Tier 4 is the non-preferred tier — higher copays or coinsurance. The data-visible drivers: It is a generic product, and the CMS dashboard puts its average Part D spending at about $550 per beneficiary for 2024 — a relatively low-cost drug, which matches where plans place it. It is listed by 100.0% of Part D plans. The tier shown is the most common one; individual plans vary.
Sources
- CEFEPIME (CEFEPIME HYDROCHLORIDE) INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION [SAGENT PHARMACEUTICALS] — DailyMed
- MedlinePlus — National Library of Medicine
- MedlinePlus — Cefepime Injection
What official patient guides say
Cefepime comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid, or as a premixed product, and it is injected into a vein over about 30 minutes, or it can be given into a muscle. It is usually given every 8 or 12 hours, for as long as your doctor decides. You may get it in a hospital or give it at home — if you use it at home, your healthcare provider will show you how. Use the missed dose as soon as you remember it, but if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and do not use a double dose. Store the medicine only as your healthcare provider directs, keep it out of the sight and reach of children, and take unneeded medicine to a take-back program instead of flushing it.
Source: MedlinePlus — Cefepime Injection
Part D formulary coverage
| Formulary summary | |
|---|---|
| Most common tier | 4 |
| Plans listing this drug | 5495 |
| Total Part D plans | 5495 |
| Share of plans listing it | 100 |
| Formularies listing it | 286 |
| Tier | Plans |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 131 plans |
| Tier 2 | 727 plans |
| Tier 3 | 407 plans |
| Tier 4 | 4207 plans |
| Tier 6 | 23 plans |
Source: CMS Prescription Drug Plan Formulary, Pharmacy Network, and Pricing Information Files — Monthly file 2026-10-15 (plan year 2027), file 2027_20261008.zip (data.cms.gov dataset ed1496ea-23e7-41f1-9292-172fa842ccfb): basic drugs formulary file + plan information file, both dated 20261031 inside the zip; downloaded and aggregated 2026-10-30. Medication RxCUI sets resolved through the NLM RxNav (RxNorm) API.
What you pay
| With Medicare Part D | |
|---|---|
| Most common tier | Tier 4 |
| Typical copay | $95 — half of plans charge between $40 and $100 |
| Typical coinsurance | 27.0% of the price |
| Based on | 4139 plans that cover this drug · 2027 plan year |
A tier is not a price; what you pay depends on your plan, pharmacy, and benefit stage; Extra Help or Medicaid can lower it further.
Sources: CMS Plan Benefit Package + formulary data; CMS NADAC · Checked 2026-11-07
Similar medications
Other medications in the same FDA pharmacologic class (Cephalosporin Antibacterial):
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Part D spending averages (2024)
| Brand name | Generic name | Total claims 2024 | Total spending 2024 | Total beneficiaries 2024 | Rank by beneficiaries 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cefepime HCl* | Cefepime HCl | 101605 | 1.84511e+07 | 33517 | 680 |
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug (Drug Spending Dashboard), release RY26 P04 V10, data through 2024 (DSD_PTD_RY26_P04_V10_DY24_BGM.csv), downloaded 2026-10-30
Companies covering this drug
5,495 plans from 509 companies list this drug on a formulary for 2027. Search by company or plan name, or filter by tier. Cost sharing is the plan's published amount for this drug's tier in the initial coverage stage (1-month retail supply), where the plan publishes it; a blank means the plan does not publish it.
| Company | Plan | Tier | Copay | Coinsurance |
|---|
A tier is not a price; what you pay depends on your plan, pharmacy, and benefit stage; Extra Help or Medicaid can lower it further.
Coverage and costs change. Drug lists (formularies), tiers, and copays can change during the year and differ by plan. Always check with your insurance company or plan directly to confirm what is covered and what you will pay.
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