Kanamycin

Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to kanamycin or any other type of aminoglycoside, including amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), neomycin (Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, (Neo-Tab), netilmicin (Netromycin), paromomycin (Humatin, Paromycin), streptomycin, or tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobi).

Before using kanamycin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease, asthma or sulfite allergy, or a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your kidney function will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your hearing may also need to be checked. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Use this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Kanamycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Stop using this medicine if you have a serious side effect such as hearing loss, ringing in your ears, spinning sensation, problems with balance, numbness or tingling, muscle twitching, seizure (convulsions), or urinating less than usual or not at all.

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

A history of hypersensitivity or toxic reaction to one aminoglycoside may also contraindicate the use of any other aminoglycoside, because of the known cross-sensitivity and cumulative effects of drugs in this category.

THIS DRUG IS NOT INDICATED IN LONG-TERM THERAPY (e.g., Tuberculosis) BECAUSE OF THE TOXIC HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH EXTENDED ADMINISTRATION.

Occasionally, some vials may darken during the shelf life of the product, but this does not indicate a loss of potency.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever container and solution permit.

Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling. [DSC] = Discontinued product

Injection, solution:

Generic: 1 g/3 mL (3 mL) [DSC]

Hypersensitivity to kanamycin, any component of the formulation, or other aminoglycosides; pregnancy

Note: Kanamycin injection is no longer available in the US.

Note: Dosing should be based on ideal body weight

Infections: IM, IV: 15 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8-12 hours

Some penicillin derivatives may accelerate the degradation of aminoglycosides in vitro, leading to a potential underestimation of aminoglycoside serum concentration.

Frequency not defined.

Cardiovascular: Edema

Central nervous system: Neurotoxicity, drowsiness, headache, pseudomotor cerebri

Dermatologic: Skin itching, redness, rash, photosensitivity, erythema

Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome (with prolonged and high-dose therapy of hepatic coma), anorexia, weight loss, salivation increased, enterocolitis

Hematologic: Granulocytopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia

Local: Burning, stinging

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Weakness, tremor, muscle cramps

Otic: Ototoxicity (auditory), ototoxicity (vestibular)

Renal: Nephrotoxicity

Respiratory: Dyspnea

Serum creatinine and BUN every 2-3 days; peak and trough concentrations; hearing

Some penicillin derivatives may accelerate the degradation of aminoglycosides in vitro. This may be clinically-significant for certain penicillin (ticarcillin, piperacillin, carbenicillin) and aminoglycoside (gentamicin, tobramycin) combination therapy in patients with significant renal impairment. Close monitoring of aminoglycoside levels is warranted.