Garamycin (Injection)

Gentamicin injection is used to treat serious bacterial infections in many different parts of the body.

Gentamicin belongs to a group of medicines called aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or stopping their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Gentamicin injection is typically used for serious bacterial infections when other medicines may not be effective. However, it can also cause serious side effects, including damage to your kidneys and the part of your body that controls hearing. These side effects may be more likely to happen in elderly patients and newborn infants. You and your doctor should discuss the benefits of this medicine as well as the risks.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

Your doctor will closely monitor your progress while you or your child are taking this medicine. This helps your doctor see if the medicine is working properly and decide if you or your child should keep using it. Blood, urine, hearing, and nerve tests may be needed to check for side effects.

If your or your child's symptoms do not get better within a few days, or if they worsen, contact your doctor.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant while using this medicine, inform your doctor immediately.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and needs urgent medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child experience itching; hives; hoarseness; shortness of breath; trouble breathing; trouble swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

Stop using this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experience a sudden decrease in hearing or hearing loss, which may come with dizziness and ringing in the ears. Inform your doctor if you or your child experience dizziness or lightheadedness; a feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings; or a sensation of spinning. These may indicate damage to your hearing or balance.

Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child notice blood in the urine, a change in how often you urinate or the amount of urine, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, swelling in the feet or lower legs, or weakness. These may be signs of a serious kidney issue (e.g., Fanconi-like syndrome).

This medicine may cause nerve problems. Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experience numbness, skin tingling, muscle twitching, or convulsions.

Make sure your doctor knows you are using this medicine before having surgery or procedures that require a numbing medicine (e.g., anesthetics, neuromuscular blocking agents). Using gentamicin injection with numbing medicines may increase your risk of breathing difficulties, drowsiness, inability to breathe without help, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Do not take other medicines unless you have discussed them with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, you need to consider the risks of taking it against the benefits it will provide. This decision will be made between you and your doctor. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, carefully read the label or package ingredients.

Pediatric

Studies have not shown any specific problems in children that would limit the use of gentamicin injection. However, this medicine should be used carefully in premature and newborn infants.

Geriatric

There is no information available about how age affects the effects of gentamicin injection in elderly patients. However, older adults are more likely to have kidney issues, which may require care and adjustments in the dose for those receiving gentamicin injection.

Breast Feeding

Research in women suggests that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should never be used together, while others can be used together even if there might be an interaction. In these cases, your doctor may need to adjust the dose or take other precautions. It is very important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below while you are receiving this medicine. The following interactions are based on their potential significance and are not all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Ataluren

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Agalsidase Alfa
• Alcuronium
• Aspirin
• Atracurium
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Cidofovir
• Cisatracurium
• Colistimethate Sodium
• Decamethonium
• Digoxin
• Doxacurium
• Emtricitabine
• Ethacrynic Acid
• Fazadinium
• Foscarnet
• Furosemide
• Gallamine
• Hexafluorenium
• Lysine
• Metocurine
• Mivacurium
• Pancuronium
• Pipecuronium
• Rapacuronium
• Rocuronium
• Succinylcholine
• Tacrolimus
• Tenofovir Alafenamide
• Tubocurarine
• Vancomycin
• Vecuronium

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may raise the risk of certain side effects, but using both medications may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Indomethacin
• Methoxyflurane
• Polygeline

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used around the time of eating food or certain types of food as interactions may happen. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also cause interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical issues may affect how you use this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma or
• A history of sulfite allergy—This medicine contains sodium metabisulfite, which may cause an allergic reaction in patients with these conditions.

• Hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood) or
• Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) or
• Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood)—These should be corrected before receiving this medicine. If not corrected, this medicine may increase the risk of more serious side effects.

• Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be stronger because the medicine is removed from the body more slowly.

• Severe kidney disease or
• Muscle problems or
• Myasthenia gravis (severe muscle weakness) or
• Nerve problems—Use with caution. This may worsen these conditions.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain
• agitation
• back pain
• black, tarry stools
• blood in the urine
• blurred or double vision
• burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• change in frequency of urination or amount of urine
• chest pain
• chills
• coma
• confusion
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• cough
• difficult or troubled breathing
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• eye pain
• fast heartbeat
• fever with or without chills
• hallucinations
• headache
• hearing loss
• hives
• hoarseness
• increased thirst
• irregular heartbeats
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• irritability
• itching
• joint pain
• loss of appetite
• mood or mental changes
• muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
• muscle pain or weakness
• muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching
• nausea or vomiting
• nervousness
• numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• right upper abdominal or stomach pain and fullness
• seizures
• sensation of spinning
• skin rash
• slow or fast heartbeat
• slow or irregular breathing
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• stiff neck
• sweating
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• swollen glands
• tightness in the chest
• trembling
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weight chest discomfort
• weight loss
• wheezing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Blurred or loss of vision
• decreased appetite
• depression
• disturbed color perception
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• halos around lights
• hives or welts
• increased salivation
• night blindness
• overbright appearance of lights
• pain at the injection site
• purple spots on the skin
• redness of the skin
• swelling or inflammation of the mouth
• tunnel vision
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Garamycin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Aminoglycoside

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given as a shot into a muscle or into a vein.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. Also, this medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, you must receive this medicine on a regular schedule.

To keep your kidneys working well and help prevent kidney problems, drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you or your child are receiving this medicine.