Tobramycin is an antibiotic. It is used to treat serious bacterial infections of the brain, spinal cord, stomach and bowel, bladder, kidney, lungs, bones, and skin.
This medicine may be used to treat other bacterial infections as decided by your doctor.
Tobramycin injection is to be given intramuscularly (into the muscle) or intravenously (into the vein) via drip or infusion.
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type and severity of your infection and your response to the medication.
You must complete the entire course of this medicine. If you don't, the infection will not be properly controlled.
Ensure that you keep all the appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Tobramycin.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Do not use Tobramycin if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or similar antibiotics such as amikacin, tobramycin, neomycin, and streptomycin.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- hearing or ear problems
- family history of hearing problems due to the use of certain antibiotics e.g. gentamicin, amikacin
- low calcium level in the blood
- myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness disorder)
- Parkison's disease (a disorder that affects the movement of a person, causing symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement and impaired balance or walking)
- low volume of circulating fluids in the body
- cystic fibrosis (an inherited disease that causes excessively thick and sticky mucus [phlegm] build up in the lungs, intestines, or other organs)
- overweight
- kidney disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Tobramycin to a child or the elderly. Children and elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.
Individuals who have certain genetic traits (
MT-RNR1 variant) may experience an increased risk of hearing loss with this medicine. Although not routinely done, your doctor may advise you to undergo genetic testing to check if this medicine is best suited for you. If you know you have this gene type, inform your doctor. Monitor for signs of hearing loss and let your doctor know immediately.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
Routine tests (e.g. kidney function, Tobramycin levels in the blood, electrolyte levels, ear examination) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
Tobramycin may cause any of the following side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, tiredness or weakness, confusion, disorientation, and pain at the injection site.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- severe diarrhoea or diarrhoea with severe stomach cramps or bloody stools
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth or eyes accompanied by fever
- rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
- ringing in the ears, changes in hearing or hearing loss
- pain or difficulty in passing urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- certain antibiotics e.g. cefalotin, amikacin, vancomycin, polymyxin B
- certain water pills or medicines for water retention e.g. etacrynic acid, furosemide
- medicines used for blocking pain and sensation and relaxing the muscles during procedures e.g. suxamethonium, tubocurarine
- medicines used to treat muscle weakness e.g. neostigmine, pyridostigmine
- amphotericin B (medicine used to treat fungal infection)
- cisplatin (medicine for cancer)
- ciclosporin (medicine used in organ transplants or certain immune disorders)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Tobramycin.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Protect from light.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
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