Tobramycin
About Tobramycin
Tobramycin is used to treat bacterial infections of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), stomach or intestines, bladder or kidney (urinary tract infection), lungs (pneumonia), and bone, skin or soft tissue, including burns. A bacterial infection is a condition in which harmful bacteria grow in the body and cause infection. It can infect any part of the body and multiply very quickly. Tobramycin does not work against infections caused by a virus.
Tobramycin contains Tobramycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacterial cells. Thus, it kills bacteria and treats infection.
Tobramycin will be administered by a healthcare professional. Do not self-administer. Sometimes, Tobramycin may cause side effects such as pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, passing more urine than usual, headache, nausea or vomiting. Most of these side effects of Tobramycin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Tobramycin or other antibiotics, or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid receiving Tobramycin and inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Drive only if you are alert after receiving it as it may cause dizziness, tiredness or drowsiness in some people.
Uses of Tobramycin
Medicinal Benefits
Tobramycin contains Tobramycin, which is used to treat bacterial infections of the brain and spinal cord, stomach or intestines, bladder or kidney, lungs, and bone, skin, or soft tissue, including burns. It works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacterial cells, stopping the growth of bacteria and thereby killing them.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Tobramycin
- Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site
- Passing more urine than usual
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Tobramycin or other antibiotics, or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Avoid receiving Tobramycin and inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning for pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Drive only if you are alert after receiving as it may cause dizziness, tiredness or drowsiness in some people. Children should be careful while performing activities requiring attention such as riding bicycles or climbing. Special care is needed if you have cystic fibrosis or have received a large blood transfusion.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug interactions: Inform your doctor if you are taking other antibiotics (amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, paromomycin and cephalothin), diuretics (ethacrynic acid, furosemide), antifungal drug (amphotericin B), general anaesthetics, anti-cancer medicine (cisplatin), immunosuppressant (ciclosporin), medicines used as muscle relaxants during general anaesthesia, blood thinners (warfarin, phenindione) and medications used to treat muscle weakness (neostigmine and pyridostigmine).
Drug-Food interactions: No food interactions found.
Drug-Disease interactions: Inform your doctor if you have kidney problems, muscle disorders, such as myasthenia gravis (muscles become weak and tired easily) or Parkinsonism (a disease of the brain which affects movement), endocarditis (an inflammation inside the heart), neutropenia (a low number of white blood cells), cystic fibrosis (a disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system), severe burns, or if you or your family members have a mitochondrial mutation disease (condition caused by variants in the genome of mitochondria, the parts of your cells which help make energy), hearing loss due to antibiotics or if you are dehydrated or of advanced age.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorThe interaction of Tobramycin with alcohol is unknown. If you have any concerns regarding this, please discuss them with your doctor.
Pregnancy
unsafeTobramycin is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk of birth defects. Hence, if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Tobramycin. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeTobramycin in not recommended for use during breastfeeding as it passes into breast milk. Hence, if you are a nursing mother, inform your doctor before receiving Tobramycin.
Driving
cautionDrive only if you are alert after receiving Tobramycin. If you experience dizziness, tiredness or drowsiness, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery.
Liver
consult your doctorIf you have any liver problems, inform your doctor before receiving Tobramycin.
Kidney
consult your doctorIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney diseases, inform your doctor before receiving Tobramycin. Your doctor may adjust the dose or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
cautionSpecial care is needed if Tobramycin is to be given to babies or infants less than 6 weeks of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Take probiotics after completing the full course of Tobramycin to restore healthy bacteria in the intestines that may have been killed. Taking probiotics after antibiotic treatment can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Certain fermented foods like cheese, yoghurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, and kimchi can help to restore the good bacteria in the intestine.
- Include fibre-rich foods, as they can be easily digested by gut bacteria, which helps stimulate their growth. Whole grains such as whole-grain bread and brown rice should be included in your diet.
- Make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids every day while you are taking Tobramycin.
- Avoid alcohol consumption as it may increase adverse effects.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial infection: It is a condition in which harmful bacteria grow in the body and cause infection. It can target any part of the body and multiply very quickly. Bacteria come in three basic shapes: spherical, rod, or spiral-shaped. Bacteria may be gram-positive (have thick cell walls) or gram-negative (do not have cell walls). Appropriate tests are done to identify bacterial strains, and based on the results, proper medication is prescribed. Some common symptoms of bacterial infection include cough, fever, and tiredness.
FAQs
Tobramycin is used to treat bacterial infections of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), stomach or intestines, bladder or kidney (urinary tract infection), lungs (pneumonia), and bone, skin or soft tissue, including burns.
Tobramycin contains Tobramycin, an antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis in bacterial cells. This stops the growth of bacteria and kills them.
You are recommended to use Tobramycin for as long as it is advised by your doctor. However, avoid taking for more than 10 days as it may increase the risk of severe side effects.
