Type of medicine: aminoglycoside antibiotic
Generic and brand names: gentamicin, injection; Gentamicin Sulfate Injection
This medicine is given by injection (shot) to treat certain serious infections. It is not used to treat colds, the flu, or mild infections.
Before receiving this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Females of childbearing age: this medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.
This medicine is given by your healthcare provider. It is given as a shot into a muscle or by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein).
Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly while you are being treated with this medicine. Treatment may continue for several days in order to eliminate the infection completely.
If you are not staying in the hospital, keep all appointments for injections and blood tests.
Your healthcare provider may adjust your medicine dose based upon your blood tests.
You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.
This medicine may affect your hearing, kidneys, nerves, and balance. If you notice any numbness, skin tingling, muscle twitching, seizures, change in urinating, hearing loss, ringing or roaring in your ears, severe dizziness, or trouble keeping your balance, contact your healthcare provider right away. Your healthcare provider may do urine or hearing tests.
This medicine may cause or worsen diarrhea. If you develop severe diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than 2 or 3 days while taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not treat yourself. Some diarrhea medicine will make your diarrhea worse.
You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
While you are being treated with this medicine, do not take any other medicines unless they are approved by the healthcare provider who prescribed this one.
You may feel pain or burning at the site of injection. Contact your healthcare provider if either becomes severe.
This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.
Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.
Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in a few days or if it gets worse.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe or bloody diarrhea; hearing loss; ringing or roaring in your ears; sense of fullness in your ears; trouble or decreased urinating; muscle twitching, pain or weakness; fever; severe dizziness or trouble keeping your balance; severe nausea or vomiting; increased thirst; numbness or skin tingling; confusion; seizures.
Other: Nausea, vomiting, headache, skin irritation where the injection was given.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods, may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
