Tobramycin, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: aminoglycoside antibiotic

Generic and brand names: tobramycin, injection;

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shot) to treat certain serious infections. It is not used to treat colds, the flu, or mild infections.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before receiving this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• kidney disease
• hearing problems
• myasthenia gravis
• Parkinson's disease
• problems with balance

Females of childbearing age: this medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by injection only. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly while you are being treated with this medicine. Treatment may continue for several days in order to eliminate the infection completely. Do not miss shots.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may affect your hearing and balance. If you notice any hearing loss, ringing or roaring in your ears, severe dizziness, or trouble keeping your balance, contact your healthcare provider right away.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

While you are being treated with this medicine, do not take any other medicines unless they are approved by the healthcare provider who prescribed this one.

You may feel pain or burning at the site of injection. Contact your healthcare provider if either becomes severe.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve in a few days or if it gets worse.

What are the possible side effects?

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): Severe or bloody diarrhea; hearing loss; ringing in your ears; trouble urinating; muscle pain or weakness; fever; severe dizziness or trouble keeping your balance; increased thirst.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, confusion, trouble sleeping, headache, skin irritation where the injection was given.

What products might interact with this medicine?

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:

• amphotericin (Fungizone)
• other antibiotics such as ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam (Unasyn), colistimethate (Coly-Mycin M), penicillin, ticarcillin, cefazolin (Ancef, Kefzol), cefotetan (Cefotan), cefoxitin (Mefoxin), vancomycin (Vancocin), ticarcillin (Ticar), ticarcillin/clavulanate potassium (Timentin), piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam sodium (Zosyn), and carbenicillin (Geocillin)
• certain diuretics (water pills) such as furosemide (Lasix), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), bumetanide (Bumex), and mannitol (Osmitrol).
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), tacrolimus (Prograf), and sirolimus (Rapamune)
• medicines used to treat cancer such as cisplatin (Platinol).
• medicines used to treat osteoporosis such as alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), and risedronate (Actonel)

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.

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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.

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