Garamycin Side Effects

Generic name: gentamicin

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 21, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Garamycin Side Effects associated with gentamicin. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Garamycin.

Applies to gentamicin: injection solution.

Precautions

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you or your child are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you or your child should continue to receive it. Blood, urine, hearing, and nerve tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have itching; hives; hoarseness; shortness of breath; trouble breathing; trouble swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you receive this medicine.

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child have sudden decrease in hearing or loss of hearing, which may be accompanied by dizziness and ringing in the ears. Tell your doctor if you or your child have dizziness or lightheadedness; feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings; or sensation of spinning. These may be symptoms of a damage to your hearing or sense of balance.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have blood in the urine, change in frequency of urination or amount of urine, difficulty with breathing, drowsiness, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, swelling of feet or lower legs, or weakness. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem (e.g., Fanconi-like syndrome).

This medicine may cause nerve problems. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have numbness, skin tingling, muscle twitching, or convulsions.

Make sure your doctor knows that you are using this medicine before having a surgery or other procedures that require you to receive a numbing medicine (e.g., anesthetics, neuromuscular blocking agents). Using gentamicin (the active ingredient contained in Garamycin) injection together with numbing medicines may increase your risk of having difficulty in breathing, drowsiness, inability to breath without assistance, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Garamycin

Along with its needed effects, gentamicin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking gentamicin:

Other side effects of Garamycin

Some side effects of gentamicin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to gentamicin: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous solution.

General adverse events

The most frequently reported adverse effects associated with treatment are ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. These forms of toxicity occur more frequently in patients who experience prolonged exposure to serum trough concentrations of greater than 2 mcg/mL. Patients with renal insufficiency are at an increased risk of developing toxicity.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Myasthenia gravis aggravated/unmasked, neuromuscular blockade
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Convulsion, encephalopathy, lethargy, peripheral paresthesia, polyneuropathy, vestibulocochlear nerve damage with potential involvement of the organ of balance/hearing
• Frequency not reported: Central neurotoxicity, generalized burning, headache, lethargy, myasthenia gravis-like syndrome, numbness, peripheral neuropathy, pseudotumor cerebri, skin tingling, toxic neuropathy, vestibular damage^[Ref]

Vestibular damage occurred more commonly when peak levels of 10 mcg/mL or trough levels of 2 mcg/mL were exceeded.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea, stomatitis, vomiting
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pseudomembranous colitis
• Frequency not reported: Increased salivation^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): AST increased, ALT increased, blood bilirubin increased
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Alkaline phosphatase increased
• Frequency not reported: Transient hepatomegaly^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blood dyscrasias
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Thrombocytopenia
• Frequency not reported: Anemia, decreased reticulocyte counts, eosinophilia, granulocytopenia, increased reticulocyte counts, leukopenia, splenomegaly, transient agranulocytosis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Electrolyte disturbances, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia
• Frequency not reported: Decreased appetite, decreased serum calcium, decreased serum magnesium, decreased serum potassium, decreased serum sodium, hypovolemia, tetany, weight loss^[Ref]

Renal

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Elevated serum creatinine, elevated serum urea, kidney damage, oliguria, reduction of glomerular filtration rate
• Frequency not reported: Acute renal failure, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increased, increased nonprotein nitrogen (NPN), nephrotoxicity^[Ref]

Nephrotoxicity, demonstrated by the presence of casts, cells, protein in the urine, rising BUN, NPN, serum creatinine, and/or oliguria, was usually reversible with treatment withdrawal, and was more common in patients with preexisting renal dysfunction, those receiving concomitant treatment with other nephrotoxic agents, and trough serum concentrations above 2 mcg/mL.

Signs of kidney damage included cylindruria, hematuria, oliguria, proteinuria, and elevated serum creatinine and urea.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Cells in urine, cylindruria, hematuria, proteinuria, urinary casts^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Confusional state, depression/mental depression, hallucination
• Frequency not reported: Acute organic brain syndrome, confusion^[Ref]

Other

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Ototoxicity, tinnitus
• Frequency not reported: Diminishing high-tone acuity, extravasation, febrile response, fever, hearing loss, roaring in the ears^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pruritus, urticaria
• Frequency not reported: Alopecia, itching, purpura, rash^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Anaphylactic reaction
• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactoid reaction, hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Fat necrosis, injection site infection, injection site pain, local irritation, subcutaneous atrophy^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Hypertension, hypotension, phlebitis, venous thrombosis^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Laryngeal edema, postoperative respiratory distress, pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory depression^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Joint pain, muscle twitching, muscle weakness^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Visual disturbances^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Frequency not reported: Increased serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Garamycin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer