Aminoglycosides (Systemic)
Before Receiving This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For aminoglycosides, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to any of the aminoglycosides. Also tell your health care
professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, sulfites,
or other preservatives.
Pregnancy - Studies on most of the aminoglycosides have not been
done in pregnant women. Some reports have shown that aminoglycosides, especially
streptomycin and tobramycin, may cause damage to the infant's hearing, sense
of balance, and kidneys if the mother was receiving the medicine during pregnancy.
However, this medicine may be needed in serious diseases or other situations
that threaten the mother's life. Be sure you have discussed this with your
doctor.
Breast-feeding - Aminoglycosides pass into breast milk in small
amounts. However, they are not absorbed very much when taken by mouth. To
date, aminoglycosides have not been reported to cause problems in nursing
babies.
Children - Children are especially sensitive to the effects
of aminoglycosides. Damage to hearing, sense of balance, and kidneys is more
likely to occur in premature infants and neonates.
Older adults - Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects
of aminoglycosides. Serious side effects, such as damage to hearing, sense
of balance, and kidneys may occur in elderly patients.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving
aminoglycosides it is especially important that your health care professional
knows if you are taking any of the following:
-
Aminoglycosides, used on the skin or mucous membranes and by injection
at the same time; or more than one aminoglycoside at a time or
-
Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection (medicine for infection)
or
-
Capreomycin (e.g., Capastat) or
-
Carmustine (e.g., BiCNU) or
-
Chloroquine (e.g., Aralen) or
-
Cisplatin (e.g., Platinol) or
-
Combination pain medicine containing acetaminophen and aspirin (e.g.,
Excedrin) or other salicylates (with large amounts taken regularly) or
-
Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
-
Deferoxamine (e.g., Desferal) (with long-term use) or
-
Gold salts (medicine for arthritis) or
-
Hydroxychloroquine (e.g., Plaquenil) or
-
Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics, or
-
Lithium (e.g., Lithane) or
-
Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
-
Penicillamine (e.g., Cuprimine) or
-
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
-
Quinine (e.g., Quinamm) or
-
Streptozocin (e.g., Zanosar) or
-
Tiopronin (e.g., Thiola) - Use of any of these medicines with
aminoglycosides may increase the chance of hearing, balance, or kidney side
effects.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of the aminoglycosides. Make sure you tell your
doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Kidney disease - Patients with kidney disease may have increased
aminoglycoside blood levels and increased chance of side effects
-
Loss of hearing and/or balance (eighth-cranial-nerve disease) - High
aminoglycoside blood levels may cause hearing loss or balance disturbances
-
Myasthenia gravis or
-
Parkinson's disease - Aminoglycosides may cause muscular problems,
resulting in further muscle weakness
|