Neomycin (Oral)

Oral neomycin is used to reduce the symptoms of hepatic coma, which is a complication of liver disease. It may also be used with another medicine before any surgery involving the bowels to help prevent infection during the surgery.

Neomycin is available only with your doctor's prescription.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the benefits it may provide. This is a decision you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever experienced any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, tell your healthcare provider 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

Premature infants and neonates are more likely to experience damage to hearing, sense of balance, and kidneys, as they are more sensitive than adults to the effects of neomycin.

Geriatric

Elderly patients may experience serious side effects, such as damage to hearing, sense of balance, and kidneys, as they are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of neomycin.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction could occur. In these situations, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When taking this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare provider to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected based on their potential significance and may not include all possible interactions.

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 adjust the dose or frequency of use for one or both medicines.

• Alcuronium
• Aspirin
• Atracurium
• Cidofovir
• Cisatracurium
• Colistimethate Sodium
• Decamethonium
• Doxacurium
• Emtricitabine
• Ethacrynic Acid
• Fazadinium
• Foscarnet
• Furosemide
• Gallamine
• Hexafluorenium
• Methotrexate
• Metocurine
• Mivacurium
• Pancuronium
• Pipecuronium
• Rapacuronium
• Rocuronium
• Sorafenib
• Tacrolimus
• Tenofovir Alafenamide
• Tubocurarine
• Vecuronium

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may still 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 medicines.

• Bumetanide
• Digoxin
• Semaglutide

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be taken at or around the time of eating food or specific types of food, as interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical conditions may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blockage of the bowel

• Eighth-cranial-nerve disease (loss of hearing and/or balance)—Oral neomycin may increase the risk of hearing loss and/or balance issues

• Kidney disease—Patients with kidney disease may have a higher chance of side effects

• Myasthenia gravis or
• Parkinson's disease—Patients with myasthenia gravis or Parkinson's disease may be at greater risk of developing muscular weakness

• Ulcers of the bowel—Patients with bowel ulcers may have an increased chance of side effects since more neomycin may be absorbed by the body

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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

• Any loss of hearing
• clumsiness
• diarrhea
• difficulty in breathing
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
• increased amount of gas
• increased thirst
• light-colored, frothy, fatty-appearing stools
• ringing or buzzing or a feeling of fullness in the ears
• skin rash
• unsteadiness
• weakness

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:

More common

• Irritation or soreness of the mouth or rectal area
• nausea or vomiting

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.

• Neo-Fradin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet
• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Aminoglycoside

This medicine may be taken on a full or empty stomach.

For patients taking the oral liquid form of neomycin:

• Use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

Keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment. Do not miss any doses.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (solution, tablets): For patients in a coma from liver disease: Adults and teenagers—1 to 3 grams every six hours for five or six days. Children—Dose is based on body size (not weight) and must be determined by your doctor. That dose is given every six hours for five or six days. For cleaning the bowel before surgery: Adults and teenagers—1 gram every hour for four hours, then 1 gram every four hours for the rest of a twenty-four hour period; or 1 gram nineteen hours before surgery, 1 gram eighteen hours before surgery, and 1 gram nine hours before surgery. Children—Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 14.7 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (6.7 mg per pound) of body weight every four hours for three days.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

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