Gentamicin Injection

Gentamicin may cause serious kidney problems. Kidney problems may occur more often in older people or in people that are dehydrated. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: making less urine; swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Gentamicin may cause serious hearing problems. Hearing problems may occur more often in older people. Hearing loss may be permanent in some cases. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had dizziness, vertigo, hearing loss, or ringing in the ears. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: hearing loss, roaring or ringing in the ears, or dizziness.

Gentamicin may cause nerve problems. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had burning or tingling in the hands, arms, feet, or legs; muscle twitching or weakness; or seizures.

The risk that you will develop serious kidney, hearing, or other problems is greater if you are taking certain prescription or nonprescription medications. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what medications you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may not want you to receive gentamicin injection.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while using gentamicin injection, call your doctor immediately. Gentamicin may harm the fetus.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests, including hearing tests, before and during treatment to check your body's response to gentamicin.

Gentamicin injection is used to treat certain serious infections that are caused by bacteria. Gentamicin injection is in a class of medications called aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria.

Antibiotics such as gentamicin injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Gentamicin injection comes as a liquid to be injected intravenously (into a vein) over 30 minutes to 2 hours or intramuscularly (into a muscle). It is given every 6 to 24 hours. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection you have.

You may receive gentamicin injection in a hospital or you may administer the medication at home. If you will be receiving gentamicin injection at home, your healthcare provider will show you how to use the medication. Be sure that you understand these directions, and ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with gentamicin injection. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, call your doctor.

Use gentamicin injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop using gentamicin injection too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before using gentamicin injection,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements, you are taking or plan to take while using gentamicin injection. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you are or have ever had cystic fibrosis (an inherited condition that affects the lungs and digestive system), problems with your muscles such as myasthenia gravis or Parkinson's disease.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using gentamicin injection.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Gentamicin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• decreased appetite
• pain at the injection site
• fever; headache
• joint pain
• unusual tiredness

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• rash, itching, hives; swelling of the eyes, face, throat, tongue, or lips; difficulty breathing or swallowing; hoarseness
• peeling or blistering of the skin

Gentamicin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Your healthcare provider will tell you how to store your medication. Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand how to store your medication properly.

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach https://www.upandaway.org

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know for more information.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to gentamicin injection.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the gentamicin injection, call your doctor.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

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