Details

Gentamicin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. Gentamicin is used to treat severe or serious bacterial infections. To make sure gentamicin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease asthma or sulphite allergy myasthenia gravis a nerve-muscle disorder a nervous system disorder such as Parkinson's disease an electrolyte imbalance (low levels of calcium, potassium, or magnesium in your blood) or if you are dehydrated. Do not use gentamicin if you are pregnant.

Typical Uses

Gentamicin is used to treat bacterial infections (such as blepharitis, conjunctivitis) of the eye and the skin around the eyes (such as eyelids). It is also used to prevent infection after eye injury or surgery. It belongs to a class of drugs known as aminoglycoside antibiotics. Gentamicin works by killing the bacteria. Gentamicin ophthalmic treats only bacterial eye infections. It will not work for other types of eye infections. Unnecessary use or misuse of any antibiotic can lead to its decreased effectiveness.

Side Effects

Common side effects of gentamicin include hearing loss, or a roaring sound in your ears severe or ongoing dizziness weak or shallow breathing numbness or tingly feeling twitching, muscle tightness or contraction seizure (convulsions) severe stomach pain, diarrhoea that is watery or bloody fever, blisters or ulcers in your mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing kidney problems-little or no urinating painful or difficult urination swelling in your feet or ankles feeling tired or short of breath signs of an electrolyte imbalance-confusion, weakness, bone pain, increased urination or increased pressure inside the skull-severe headaches, ringing in your ears, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, pain behind your eyes.

Drug Interactions

• Gentamicin+adefovir- Talk to your doctor before using adefovir together with gentamicin. Adefovir may cause kidney problems, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as gentamicin may increase that risk. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.
• Gentamicin+bumetanide- Ask your doctor before using gentamicin together with bumetanide this can increase the effects of gentamicin. This can cause damage to the kidneys or hearing loss. This may be more likely to occur in older adults or those with high dosages of drug, pre-existing kidney problems, and dehydration.
• Gentamicin+cisatracurium- Ask your doctor before using gentamicin together with cisatracurium. This combination can increase the blood levels or add to the adverse effects of cisatracurium. Talk with your doctor before using these medications together.
• Gentamicin+doxacurium- Ask your doctor before using gentamicin together with doxacurium. This combination can increase the blood levels or add to the adverse effects of doxacurium. Talk with your doctor before using these medications together.
• Gentamicin+metocurine- Ask your doctor before using gentamicin together with metocurine. This combination can increase the blood levels or add to the adverse effects of metocurine. Talk with your doctor before using these medications together.

Mechanism of action

Gentamicin belongs to group of medicines called aminoglycosides. It works by interrupting bacterial protein synthesis and inhibits the bacterial growth.

Pregnancy Category : C