What does Gentamicin do?

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Gentamicin is a prescription drug, not self-administered, this is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which has a bactericidal effect by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Gentamicin is commonly used to treat parasites, anti-infectives, antifungals, and antivirals.

1. What does Gentamicin do?

Gentamicin is often indicated in combination with other antibiotics (mainly Beta Lactam group) for the treatment of systemic infections caused by gram-negative bacteria and staphylococcus:
Infections of the urinary tract: biliary: acute cholangitis , cholecystitis; Genitourinary tract infections: prostatitis, kidney and urinary tract infections, acute pyelonephritis; Sepsis ; Respiratory tract infections: pneumonia ; Skin infections: burns, ulcers; Endocarditis, meningitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, peritonitis Listeria, Brucella infection. Gentamicin is also used to prevent infection during surgery and to treat some eye problems. Currently on the market, Gentamicin is produced in the following forms:
Solution for injection: 10 mg/ml (2 ml) and 40 mg/ml (1 - 2 ml); Infusion drug: 0.8 mg/ml (80mg/100ml); 1 mg/ml (80mg/ 80ml); 3 mg/ml (240mg/80ml), (360mg/120ml); Eye and ear drops: 0.3% (10 ml).

2. Recommended Gentamicin Dosage

Depending on the form of preparation, the type of infection as well as the age and condition of the patient, the route of taking Gentamicin will need to be adjusted on a case-by-case basis. For example:
Gentamicin injection: mainly used intramuscularly or slowly intravenously (minimum 3 minutes), intravenous infusion according to the regimen many times a day (2-3 times/day) or according to the regimen once. /day. Do not inject subcutaneously to avoid the risk of skin necrosis. The duration of treatment is usually limited to 7-10 days; Other oral Gentamicin: Oral medicine to treat intestinal infections; Inhaled by nebulizer for the treatment of cystic fibrosis of the pancreas; Topical drugs are available in the form of 0.1% solution but increase the risk of drug resistance, rarely used; Ear drops, eye drops: Use a liquid solution with a concentration of 0.3% to treat blepharitis, bacterial conjunctivitis, otitis externa... To know the exact dose response to each case. Specifically, patients should visit directly and be consulted and prescribed by a doctor.

3. Note when using the drug Gentamicin

3.1. Side effects Similar to many other antibiotics, Gentamicin also has some potential side effects such as:
Common side effects: Irreversible ototoxicity due to cumulative dose, affecting hearing function and vestibular system (dizziness); Uncommon side effects: Reversible nephrotoxicity, acute renal failure (mild or severe leading to tubular necrosis or interstitial nephritis); inhibition of neuromuscular transmission (causes respiratory failure, muscle paralysis); injection under the eye causes ischemia in the retina, subconjunctival injection can cause conjunctival congestion and edema; Rare side effects: Anaphylactic reactions occur; liver dysfunction (increased liver enzymes and bilirubin in the blood). This is not a complete list of the possible side effects of Gentamicin. If you have any questions while taking the drug, you should stop using it and consult your doctor or pharmacist.
3.2. Precautions All Aminoglycoside antibiotics have serious effects on the hearing organs and kidneys. Complications are likely to occur in elderly patients, patients with kidney failure, people with hearing disorders, and low blood pressure.
In addition, Aminoglycoside drugs can penetrate the placenta and cause nephrotoxicity to the fetus. The drug is also excreted into breast milk in small amounts, so it should be used with caution in lactating women.
To avoid serious side effects, it is necessary to adjust the dose, regularly monitor kidney function, hearing, vestibular, evaluate the concentration of Gentamicin in the blood in the following subjects: people who use high doses and long-term, children, the elderly, patients with renal failure. If possible, long-term use of this drug should be avoided.

3.3. Contraindications Contraindications of Gentamicin include:
People who are allergic to Gentamicin, other aminoglycoside antibiotics or to any of its ingredients; Patients with myasthenia gravis or symptoms of muscle weakness; People with Parkinson's syndrome; Gentamicin ear drops should not be used in patients who have had or are suspected of having a perforated eardrum.

4. Gentamicin drug interactions

Some drugs that can interact with Gentamicin can include:
Concurrent use of Gentamicin with drugs that are toxic to the kidneys (other Aminoglycosides, vancomycin, some drugs of the Cephalosporin group), or drugs that are relatively toxic to organs hearing aids such as Furosemide and Ethacrylic Acid may increase the risk of toxicity; Co-administration of Gentamicin with neuromuscular blocking agents may also increase the risk; Co-administration of Aminoglycosides with Indomethacin may increase plasma concentrations; Antiemetics such as dimenhydrinate may mask the initial symptoms of vestibular toxicity; Aminoglycoside drugs may reduce the renal elimination of Zalcitabine; Co-administration of Aminoglycosides with Bisphosphonates can cause severe hypocalcemia in some patients; The drug Gentamicin inhibits the activity of Alpha-galactosidase, so it should not be used concomitantly with Agalsidase alpha and Agalsidase beta; tuberculosis vaccine BCG , gallium nitrate , typhoid vaccine ; The therapeutic effect of Gentamicin can be reduced by penicillins. Besides the benefits, the use and treatment with the antibiotic Gentamicin also carries certain risks. Therefore, patients need to discuss with their doctor, weigh the pros and cons of the drug before officially using it.

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