Type of medicine: antibiotic
Generic and brand names: polymyxin B, injection
This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat certain serious infections. This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your provider if you have recently had surgery or had a serious injury.
Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
This medicine is given by injection under close medical supervision, most often while you are in the hospital. Your healthcare provider will give the injections. Injections may be given into a muscle or into the spine. You may also be given the medicine by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein).
Your healthcare provider will order some lab tests before and during treatment with this medicine. These tests are necessary to determine how the medicine affects you.
This medicine may make you feel dizzy or drowsy, or cause blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery while you are being treated with this medicine.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.
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): Trouble breathing, trouble urinating, decreased urination, diarrhea, stiff neck, headache, muscle weakness, trouble walking or loss of balance, severe dizziness or drowsiness, blurred vision, tingling or numbness in your mouth, hands, or feet, unusual nervousness or irritability.
Other: Dizziness, drowsiness, fever, rash, flushing, pain where the shot was given, ringing in the ears.
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.
