Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Gentamicin (Steri-Med Pharma)
What is Gentamicin used for?
GENTAMICIN is used to prevent or treat certain infections in your eye.
Antibacterial drugs like GENTAMICIN treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections.
How does Gentamicin work?
GENTAMICIN reduces infections by killing bacteria.
What are the ingredients in Gentamicin?
Medicinal ingredients: Gentamicin sulfate
Non-medicinal ingredients:
Gentamicin Ophthalmic Ointment: Methyl Paraben 0.05% and Propyl Paraben 0.01% as preservatives, plus Petrolatum and Mineral Oil.
Gentamicin comes in the following dosage forms:
- Ointment, 0.3%.
Do not use Gentamicin if:
- Allergic to Gentamicin or any other ingredients in this product.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Gentamicin. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
Are pregnant or breast-feeding
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
How to take Gentamicin:
- Although you may feel better early in treatment, Gentamicin should be used exactly as directed.
- Misuse or overuse of Gentamicin could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by Gentamicin (resistance). This means that Gentamicin may not work for you in the future.
- Do not share your medicine
- Avoid touching the tip of the applicator with your finger or eye to avoid contamination. Put the cap back on after use.
To apply:
- Pull down your lower eye lid.
- Apply ointment inside your eyelid (conjunctival sac).
- Blink to spread the medication.
For children with infected tear ducts (dacrocystitis):
Applying a hot compress and massaging the area over the tear duct may help with your child’s treatment.
Usual dose:
Ointment:
Apply a small quantity of the ointment to the affected eye(s) 3 or 4 times daily
Overdose:
If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Gentamicin, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Missed Dose:
If you forget to take GENTAMICIN, take your dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose of GENTAMICIN, skip your missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Do not apply double the amount to make up for your missed dose.
What are possible side effects from using GENTAMICIN?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking GENTAMICIN. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Allergic reaction: difficulty swallowing or breathing, wheezing; drop in blood pressure; feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up; hives or rash; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. | X | ||
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
- Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/index-eng.php) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
- Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
Storage:
Store at 15°C - 30 °C. Protect from freezing. Discard 28 days after opening.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about Gentamicin:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full Prescribing Information that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html), or by calling 1-855-543-9917.