Colistin

Description

Colistin is an effective medicine to treat infections of the stomach and the intestine caused by sensitive gram-negative bacteria. It is also used for bowel sterilization before surgeries are performed.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Colistin

  • Burning or tingling sensation of hands and feet
  • Visual disturbances
  • Stomach discomfort and cramps
  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • Weakness of arms, hands, legs or feet
  • Severe difficulty in breathing
  • Confusion
  • Blood in urine and stools
  • Skin irritation

Uses of Colistin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Bowel sterilization
  • Gastrointestinal infections
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The time taken for this medicine to show its effect is subject to variations and is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The time duration for which this medicine remains effective in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine should not be used during a pregnancy unless absolutely necessary. Consult your doctor and discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with use.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine should be used with caution by women who are breastfeeding. Consult your doctor and discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with use.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a known history of allergy to colistin or any other medicine belonging to polymyxin antibiotic group.

Myasthenia gravis

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from a rare condition where muscle tire very fast.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine should not be used during a pregnancy unless absolutely necessary. Consult your doctor and discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with use.

Breast-feeding

This medicine should be used with caution by women who are breastfeeding. Consult your doctor and discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with use.
General warnings

Neurotoxicity

Use of this medicine has been associated with brain damage, memory problems, anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders in some patients. Report any incidence of mental illness to the doctor before treatment with this medicine is initiated.

Kidney disease

Use of this medicine may cause an impairment of normal kidney function and hence should be used with caution in patients suffering from any kidney disease.

Respiratory paralysis

The use of this medicine has been associated with respiratory failure in patients suffering from myasthenia gravis. It should be used with extreme caution in such patients.

Diarrhea

This medicine may cause clostridium difficile associated diarrhea during or after treatment. You should discuss the risks with the doctor before starting to take this medicine.

Infections caused by proteus/neisseria strains

This medicine is not recommended for use to treat infections caused by proteus or neisseria strains of bacteria. It is advised to rule out such infections with the help of diagnostic tests before starting the treatment course.

Other medicines

Report the use of other medicines including herbs and supplements to the doctor. It is advised to report the use of colistin before receiving anesthesia medications.

Drowsiness

Use of this medicine may cause sedation and drowsiness. You should refrain from doing tasks that require a high level of mental alertness after taking this medicine.

Drug resistance

It is recommended to take this medicine for full prescribed duration even when the symptoms subside or resolve. Failing to do so will result in resistance and treatment of subsequent infections with this medicine would be difficult.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, then the missed dose can be skipped.

Overdose

Contact your doctor if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms may include mental confusion, difficulty in walking, dizziness, skin irritation etc.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Tacrolimus

Vancomycin

Ethinyl Estradiol

Live cholera vaccine

Streptomycin

Disease interactions

Brain toxicity

The injectable form of this medicine should not be used in patients with brain damage, memory problems, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment after assessing the condition.

Impaired kidney function

This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from a kidney disease. Symptoms of the disease may worsen after the use of colistin. You may need a dose adjustment and more frequent clinical monitoring while using this medicine.

Colitis

Use of this medicine may cause severe irritation of the stomach and the intestine. Report any instance of colitis in the past or the present to the doctor. Appropriate diagnostic tests and clinical monitoring are advised before starting the treatment course with this medicine.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Colistin as instructed by the doctor. It is recommended to take this medicine for the full prescribed duration. Contact your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
This medicine works by disrupting the cell membrane and eventually causing death of the microorganism.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Miscellaneous antibiotics

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 10 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/6301

Colistin - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 10 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB00803

Colistin | C52H98N16O13 - PubChem [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 10 May 2017]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5311054#section=Top

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Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2017

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.