Gentamicin Pharmacology

Gentamicin

About Gentamicin
Aminoglycoside antibiotic.
Mechanism of Action of Gentamicin
Gentamicin exerts its bactericidal action against gram negative organisms & some of gram positive organisms by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. The process involves 1. Penetration of bacterial cell membrane & binding directly to the bacterial ribosome, 2. Misleading of m-RNA codon by bacterial ribosome, 3. Formation of peptide chains with wrong amino acid sequence which gets incorporated into bacterial cell membrane and alters its permeability, 4. Bacterial cell lysis. Some bacterial strains resistant to other amino glycosides are sensitive to Gentamicin.
Pharmacokinets of Gentamicin
Absorption: Poorly absorbed orally
Distribution: Distributed extracellularly. CSF penetration & intraocular penetration poor.
Metabolism: Not metabolized
Excretion: Excreted mainly through urine.

Onset of Action for Gentamicin
1 hour
Duration of Action for Gentamicin
8 hours
Half Life of Gentamicin
2 hours
Side Effects of Gentamicin
1. Vestibular damage & Ototoxicity
2. Allergic manifestations
3. Nephrotoxicity
4. Dizziness
5. Nausea
6. Vomiting
7. Seizures
Contra-indications of Gentamicin
1. Hypersensitive to the drug or other amino glycosides
2. Along with chloramphenicol or tetracycline
3. Renal impairment
4. Labyrinthine disorders

Special Precautions while taking Gentamicin
1. Renal impairment
2. Neuromuscular disorders
Pregnancy Related Information
Contraindicated
Old Age Related Information
Use with caution
Breast Feeding Related Information
Contraindicated
Children Related Information
Use with caution
Infants : Use with caution
Indications for Gentamicin
1. Infections caused by staphylococci, pseudomonas, proteous, klebsiella, enterobacter & serratia.
2. Meningitis.
3. Endocarditis
4. Urinary Tract Infections.
5. Otitis & Ocular infections.
6. Infections of burns & Skin ulcers
Interactions for Gentamicin
Amphotericin B, Cisplatin, Cephalosporin, Vancomycin, Methoxyflurane, Frusemide, Bumetanide: Increased nephrotoxicity.
Anaesthetics, Neuromuscular blocking agents (Tubocurarine): Risk of neuromuscular blockade and respiratory paralysis.
Penicillin, Cephalosporins, Carbenicillin, Ticarcillin: Exert antibiotic synergism, especially useful in Pseudomonas infections.
Loop diuretics: Concurrent use of these agents may increase the risk of respiratory paralysis and renal dysfunction.
Lab Tests: Aminoglycoside serum levels: Guard against in vitro inactivation of aminoglycosides by b-lactum antibiotics in patients on combination therapy.
Typical Dosage for Gentamicin
Dosage:
Adults: 2 to 5mg/kg/day; Thrice daily for a week or more
Children: 2 to 2.5mg/kg; Thrice daily.
Schedule of Gentamicin
H
Storage Requirements for Gentamicin
Store below 30 degree Celsius and protect from light.
Effects of Missed Dosage of Gentamicin
Take the missed dose as soon as noticed and if it is the time to next dose then skip the missed dose.Continue the regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Effects of Overdose of Gentamicin
An overdose results in ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neuromuscular disorders & hypersensitivity manifestations.Treatment includes removal of drug by dialysis or by treatment with anticholinesterase like neostigmine and by administration of Ca , Prednisolone etc.

Home Delivery for Gentamicin in Your City

Medicine India is just a publishing medium for medicine related information and does not provide services or sales of medicines including gentamicin.

However, we do publish a comprehensive directory of Pharmacies, Chemists and Druggists in cities all over India. You can use this directory to find the medicine stores in your city (or area) that provide home delivery services for gentamicin and other medicines and health products. Home delivery services for gentamicin may be free or they may cost you depending on the pharmacy and the minimum order requirements. It would be best to get this clarified while placing the order.

Please be aware that you should take gentamicin only if a doctor has recommended or prescribed it. Some or all pharmacies who provide a home delivery service for medicines might insist on a prescription for gentamicin before they complete the sale. You can get this information while placing the order for gentamicin with the pharmacy.

Gentamicin is a generic medicine name and there are several brands available for it. Some of the brands for gentamicin might be better known than gentamicin itself. If the pharmacy that's willing to deliver medicines to your home doesn't have gentamicin in stock, you can ask for one of the branded alternatives for gentamicin.