CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Gentamicin Injection. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Gentamicin Injection against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
This medicine is likely to be used while you are at the clinic or in hospital. If possible, please read this leaflet carefully before this medicine is given to you. In some cases this leaflet may be given to you after the medicine has been used.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again.
What Gentamicin Injection is used for
Gentamicin Injection belongs to a group of medicines known as aminoglycoside antibiotics. Aminoglycoside
antibiotics work by preventing bacteria from growing and by killing them.
Gentamicin Injection is used to treat serious bacterial infections in many different parts of the body such as chest infections, urinary tract infections and infected wounds or burns.
Gentamicin Injection may be prescribed for other reasons that are not mentioned above. Your doctor will be able to tell you about the specific condition for which you have been prescribed it.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you are given Gentamicin Injection
When you must not be given it
Do not use Gentamicin Injection if:
you have an allergy to gentamicin or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
you have an allergy to other aminoglycoside antibiotics such as tobramycin, streptomycin, amikacin, netilmicin or neomycin
If you are not sure whether any of these apply to you, check with your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if:
1. you have any allergies to:
any other medicine
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
2. you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
Gentamicin may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. If it is necessary for you to be given Gentamicin Injection, your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of using it during pregnancy.
3. you are breast-feeding or plan to breast feed
your doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of being given Gentamicin Injection whilst you are breastfeeding.
4. you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
kidney disease or any kidney problems
hearing problems
myasthenia gravis (a muscle disease)
Parkinsons disease (a disease affecting movement)
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and gentamicin may interfere with each other. These include:
antibiotics
water tablets (diuretics) such as frusemide
anticancer drugs such as cisplatin
vitamin K
any drug that may cause kidney or hearing problems
amphotericin, an anti-fungal medicine
anaesthetics such as halothane
muscle relaxants such as suxamethonium
These medicines may affect the way gentamicin works or be affected by gentamicin. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take a different medicine. Your doctor will advise you about continuing to take other medicines while you are receiving Gentamicin Injection.
How Gentamicin Injection is given
How it is given
Gentamicin Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse. Gentamicin Injection is given by injection into the muscle or as a slow injection (infusion) into a vein.
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose and how long you will receive Gentamicin Injection. This will depend on your age, weight, type of infection and how well your kidneys are working. However, the usual adult dose of Gentamicin Injection is 60-80mg per day for 7-10 days.
If you are given too much (overdose)
This rarely happens as Gentamicin Injection is administered under the care of a highly trained doctor.
However, if you are given too much gentamicin, you may experience some of the effects listed under "Side Effects" below.
Your doctor has information on how to recognise and treat an overdose. Ask your doctor if you have any concerns.
If you experience severe side effects, tell your doctor immediately, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Side effects
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being treated with gentamicin.
Like other medicines, gentamicin can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor or temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions that you may have.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers
nausea, vomiting
headache
unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin
weight loss
loss of appetite
weakness or tiredness
increased salivation
pain at the site of injection
joint pain
hair loss
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following:
severe headache
dizziness
hearing problems, ringing in the ears
problems with balance
increase or decrease in urination
skin tingling, numbness, muscle twitching
fits (convulsion)
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following:
swelling of the lips, face, mouth, throat or limbs
breathing difficulty, or shortness of breath
rash, itching, hives
These are symptoms of an allergic reaction to gentamicin.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. Some side effects may only be seen by your doctor.
Storage
Gentamicin Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or ward. It is kept below 25°C in a dark place to protect it from light.
Product Description
What it looks like
Gentamicin Injection is a clear solution in a plastic ampoule.
Ingredients
Gentamicin Injection contains gentamicin (as Gentamicin Sulfate BP) 80mg/2mL and disodium edetate in Water for Injections. It does not contain preservatives.
