Kanamycin

Description

Kanamycin is an antibiotic used in the treatment of severe infections caused by a variety of bacteria. It is also used in combination with other medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis. This medicine is not recommended for use in case of a common cold, flu, or other viral infections since it is active against infections caused by bacteria only.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Kanamycin

  • Hearing loss
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Skin rash
  • Diarrhea
  • Numbness
  • Muscle twitching

Uses of Kanamycin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Tuberculosis
  • Serious bacterial infections
  • Peritonitis
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The amount of time required for this medicine to show its action is not clinically established.
  • Duration of effect
    The amount of time for which this medicine remains active 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 tendency has been reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to kanamycin or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving this medicine.
General warnings

Myasthenia Gravis

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a history of myasthenia gravis due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Any unusual symptoms should be reported to the doctor on priority. Close monitoring of the clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.

Diarrhea

Antibiotic therapy will cause an imbalance in the normal microbial flora of the large intestine, which may promote the growth of a bacteria called Clostridium difficile and you may experience severe diarrhea as a result. Report any such incidence to the doctor on priority. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.

Drug resistance

Usage of this medicine without sufficient proof or suspicion of a bacterial infection should be avoided. Irrational dosing might fail in providing the benefits and even cause toxicity. It may also increase the risk of development of bacteria that are drug resistant.

Hearing Loss

This medicine may cause hearing loss and should be used with extreme caution in patients with auditory impairment. Close monitoring of hearing function is recommended during treatment with this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.

Dehydration

Consume an adequate amount of water to prevent kidney injury. Fluid status should be monitored closely, especially in patients with severe diarrhea and vomiting who are receiving Kanamycin. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.

Missed Dose

Since this medicine is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.

Overdose

Since this medicine is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
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

Omeprazole

Amikacin

Capreomycin

Disease interactions

Renal impairment

This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with kidney diseases due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of kidney function is recommended during treatment with this medicine. Any unusual symptoms should be reported to the doctor immediately. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.

Colitis

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with gastrointestinal diseases, especially colitis due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of the clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered in the clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous

Usage does not depend on food timings

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
It works by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria by interfering with the bacterial cell wall synthesis
Legal Status

Approved

Unknown

Approved

Unknown

Classification

Category

Aminoglycosides

Schedule

Schedule H

Kanamycin - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2018 [cited 11 September 2018]. Available from:

https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01172

Kanamycin [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 11 September 2018]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/kanamycin

[Internet]. Rad-ar.or.jp. 2019 [cited 27 February 2019]. Available from:

http://www.rad-ar.or.jp/siori/english/kekka.cgi?n=35663

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Information on this page was last updated on 27 Feb 2019

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.