2. What should I know before treatment with Gentamicin Injection BP?
You should not be given Gentamicin Injection BP if you have ever had an allergic reaction
to gentamicin or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI, or if you have
experienced previous toxic reactions (hearing loss, kidney damage) to an antibiotic.
Talk to your doctor if you have: kidney problems, hearing problems, neuromuscular
disorders, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or
are breastfeeding.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Gentamicin Injection BP and affect how it works.
4. How is Gentamicin Injection BP given?
Gentamicin Injection BP is given as an injection into a muscle or as a slow injection
(drip) into a vein.
5. What should I know during treatment with Gentamicin Injection BP?
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Things you should do
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Tell your doctor straight away if: the symptoms of your infection do not improve within
a few days, or if they become worse; you have stomach cramps, diarrhoea; have dizziness,
vertigo, tinnitus, roaring in the ears or hearing loss.
Remind any doctor, nurse, dentist or pharmacist who are treating you that you are
being given Gentamicin Injection BP.
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Things you should not do
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Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without
first telling your doctor or consulting with a pharmacist.
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Driving or using machines
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Gentamicin Injection BP may cause dizziness or vertigo in some people. Do not drive,
operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how Gentamicin
Injection BP affects you.
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Looking after your medicine
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Gentamicin Injection BP is stored in the pharmacy or on the hospital ward under the
correct conditions.
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6. Are there any side effects?
Side effects of this medicine may include loss of appetite, weight loss; numbness,
skin tingling; skin rash/itching/reddening; vomiting, nausea; increased saliva; sore
mouth; muscle/joint pain; pain at injection site; increased temperature; confusion,
hallucinations; mental depression; headache; visual disorders; hair loss; kidney problems;
shallow breathing, shortness of breath, swelling of throat; diarrhoea; convulsions;
dizziness, vertigo, balance problems tinnitus, roaring in ears/hearing loss.
Active ingredient:
gentamicin
sulfate
Full Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Gentamicin Injection BP. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information
or if you have any concerns or questions about treatment with Gentamicin Injection
BP.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I being treated with Gentamicin Injection BP?
Gentamicin Injection BP contains the active ingredient gentamicin sulfate. It is an antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines called aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Gentamicin Injection BP is used to treat the bacterial infections in the following
areas of the body: bloodstream, lung, urine, skin, bone, liver, stomach, spleen, gallbladder,
intestines; and also septic abortion (miscarriage) and burns complicated by the infection.
Gentamicin Injection BP works by stopping protein production in susceptible bacteria
which leads to their death.
2. What should I know before treatment with Gentamicin Injection BP?
Warnings
Do not use Gentamicin Injection BP if:
you are allergic to gentamicin, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this
leaflet.
you have experienced previous toxic reactions including hearing loss, often with loss
of balance or damage to your kidneys to an antibiotic.
If you are not sure if you are allergic to any of the above, ask your doctor.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include rash, itching or hives on
the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness
of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing.
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives
or dyes.
Check with your doctor if you:
have problems with your kidneys
have neuromuscular disorders, such as:
myasthenia gravis, parkinsonism (a disorder affecting movement with trembling, rigid
posture, slow movements and/or a shuffling, unbalanced walk)
are significantly overweight
have diarrhoea following antibiotic use
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section
6. Are there any side effects?
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
Gentamicin Injection BP is potentially harmful to the fetus. Like most aminoglycoside
antibiotics, Gentamicin Injection BP is not recommended for use during pregnancy.
If there is a need for you to be given Gentamicin Injection BP, your doctor will discuss
with you the benefits and risks of using it during your pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed
Gentamicin Injection BP passes into breast milk and is not recommended for use during
breastfeeding. If there is a need for you to be given Gentamicin Injection BP, your
doctor will discuss with you the benefits and risks of being given Gentamicin Injection
BP whilst you are breast-feeding.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are
given Gentamicin Injection BP.
Use in the elderly
There may be a greater chance of loss of hearing if you are over 65 years of age.
Use in children
Gentamicin Injection BP should be used with caution in premature and newborn babies.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with Gentamicin Injection BP, these include:
Digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart problems
some medicines used during surgery, such as suxamethonium, some anaesthetics, large
transfusions with citrated anticoagulated blood
opioid analgesics, medicine used for strong pain relief
some other anti-infective medicines, such as aminoglycosides, polymyxin B, colistin,
vancomycin, amphotericin B, clindamycin, cephalosporins, ciclosporins, penicillins
cisplatin, a medicine used in cancer treatment
some diuretics, medicines used to treat swelling of the ankles, feet or legs, such
as etacrynic acid, furosemide
indometacin, a medicine used to treat arthritis and inflammation
neostigmine, a medicine used to relax muscles
Vitamin K
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Gentamicin Injection BP.
4. How is Gentamicin Injection BP given?
How much is given
Your doctor will decide how much Gentamicin Injection BP you should receive and the
length of time for which you should receive it.
How is Gentamicin Injection BP given
Gentamicin Injection BP is given as an injection into a muscle or as a slow injection
(drip) into a vein.
If you are given too much Gentamicin Injection BP
As Gentamicin Injection BP is given under the close supervision of your doctor, it
is very unlikely that you will receive too much. If you experience any side effects,
tell your doctor or nurse immediately.
5. What should I know during treatment with Gentamicin Injection BP?
Things you should do
Tell your doctor straight away if you:
the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become
worse
have stomach cramps or diarrhoea
have dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, roaring in the ears or hearing loss
If you are about to start any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist that
you are being given Gentamicin Injection BP.
Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist who are treating you that you are using Gentamicin
Injection BP.
Things you should not do
Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without
first telling your doctor or consulting with a pharmacist.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Gentamicin
Injection BP affects you.
Gentamicin Injection BP may cause dizziness and vertigo in some people
Drinking alcohol
No information is available.
Looking after your medicine
Gentamicin Injection BP is stored in the pharmacy or on the hospital ward under the
correct conditions.
Disposal of Gentamicin Injection BP
The hospital staff will dispose of any leftover Gentamicin Injection BP.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.
Serious side effects
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making
you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Some of these side effects (for example certain liver conditions, and blood abnormalities)
can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at
www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription.
What Gentamicin Injection BP contains
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Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
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Gentamicin sulfate
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Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
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Disodium edetate
Water for injections
Sodium hydroxide
Sulfuric acid
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Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
Each Gentamicin Injection BP contains Gentamicin (as Sulfate) 80 mg/2 mL.
What Gentamicin Injection BP looks like
Gentamicin Injection BP is clear, colorless solution in an ampoule.
Aust R 11376
Who distributes Gentamicin Injection BP
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
This leaflet was prepared in September 2025.