Aminoglycosides : Before Using

Aminoglycosides - Systemic

Aminoglycosides *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Side Effects

Before Using This Medication

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For aminoglycosides, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy 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 care

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 drug during pregnancy. However, this drug may be needed in serious diseases or other situations that threaten the mother's life. Be sure you have discussed this with your family doctor.

Breast-feeding problem

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.

Use for 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.

Elderly care

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 diseaseds.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family 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, using on the skin or mucous membranes and by injection at the same time; or more than one aminoglycoside at a time
Anti-infectives by mouth or by injection - drug for infection
Capreomycin - Capastat
Carmustine - BiCNU
Chloroquine - Aralen
Cisplatin - Platinol
Combination pain drug containing acetaminophen and aspirin - Excedrin or other salicylates - with large amounts taken regularly
Cyclosporine - Sandimmune
Deferoxamine - Desferal - with long-term use
Gold salts - drug for arthritis
Hydroxychloroquine - Plaquenil
Inflammation or pain drug, except narcotics,
Lithium - Lithane
Methotrexate - Mexate
Penicillamine - Cuprimine
Plicamycin - Mithracin
Quinine - Quinamm
Streptozocin - Zanosar
Tiopronin - Thiola Use of any of these medication with aminoglycosides may increase the risk of hearing, balance, or kidney side effects.

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of the aminoglycosides. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Kidney disease Patients with kidney disease may have increased aminoglycoside blood levels and increased risk of side effects

Loss of hearing andbalance - eighth-cranial-nerve disease High aminoglycoside blood levels may cause hearing loss or balance disturbances

Myasthenia gravis
Parkinson's disease Aminoglycosides may cause muscular problems, resulting in further muscle weakness