Gentamicin (Garamycin)
Treatment Duration and Dosing:
- 8 hour dosing: 5 to 2mg/kg loading dose, followed by 1 to 1.7mg/kg IV or IM
- 24 hour loading dose: 5-7 mg/kg IV
- Duration of therapy: 7-21 days, depending on infection
- Combination with beta-lactam antibiotics produces a synergistic effect
Mechanism:
- Aminoglycoside class
- Bactericidal
- Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by irreversibly binding to 30S ribosome
Indications:
- Urinary tract infection
- Meningitis
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Infections of the blood, abdomen, lungs, skin, bones, or joints
Contraindications:
- Allergy to other aminoglycoside antibiotics (amikacin, kanamycin, neomycin, paromomycin, streptomycin, or tobramycin)
- Allergy to sulfites
- Pregnancy
Serious Side Effects:
- Nephrotoxicity/Kidney problems
- Ototoxicity/Hearing problems
- Nerve problems like burning or tingling of the extremities, muscle twitching or weakness, or seizures.
- Rash
- Peeling or blistering of the skin
- Itching
- Hives
- Swelling of the eyes, face, throat, tongue, or lips
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Hoarseness
Other Side Effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Pain at the injection site
- Headache
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Unusual fatigue
References:
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682275.html#side-effects
http://www.drugs.com/mtm/gentamicin.html
UroPharm 