Gentamicin Pregnancy and Breast Feeding Warnings

Gentamicin is also known as: Cidomycin, Garamycin, Septopal

Overview

Gentamicin Solution has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. If you think you may be pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Gentamicin Solution while you are pregnant. Gentamicin Solution is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Gentamicin Solution.

Gentamicin Pregnancy Warnings

Gentamicin has not been formally assigned to pregnancy category by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity; however, nephrotoxicity occurred in fetal rats. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Aminoglycosides cross the placenta and there are reports of fetal eighth cranial nerve toxicity with permanent bilateral deafness after in utero exposure to streptomycin. If gentamicin is administered to a pregnant woman or a woman who becomes pregnant during therapy, she should be advised of the potential risk to the fetus. Gentamicin is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

Gentamicin Lactation Warnings

Gentamicin is excreted into breast milk in small amounts. At 1 and 7 hours following a dose of gentamicin, serum concentrations averaged 3.9 and 1.1 mcg/mL, respectively, while milk concentrations averaged 0.4 and 0.4 mcg/mL. The milk:plasma ratio averaged 0.11 and 0.44, respectively. Infants were fed one hour after administration of gentamicin. Gentamicin was detected in the serum of 5 of 10 infants with an average serum concentration of 0.4 mcg/mL. The five other infants had undetectable levels (below 0.27 mcg/mL). Gentamicin is considered compatible with breast-feeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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