Pentamycetin

Brand Name:Pentamycetin Ophthalmic Ointment 1% Ophthalmic Solution 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution 0.25%,Pentamycetin/HC Eye and Ear Ointment/HC Eye and Ear Suspension, Chloromycetin Injection

Prescription needed: Yes

What is this drug used for?

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic that is usually only given to treat life-threatening infections when other safer antibiotics are not working or cannot be used. When it is prescribed, it is used to treat infections of the brain (e.g., meningitis, abscesses), epiglottitis, pneumonia and typhoid fever. It can also be applied to the eye or ear for some infections.

Is there any reason not to take this drug?

You should not take this drug if you are allergic to it. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor specifically if you have or have ever had:
  • any blood problems (bruising, bleeding, anemia, low white blood cells)
  • problems with kidney or liver
  • problems with vision
  • a condition called porphyria or Glucose-6-PD deficiency
  • a hole in your ear drum (rupture of tympanic membrane)

What about possible side effects?

Occasional side effects to this medication include:
  • stinging or burning of the eyes (when using the eye preparation)
  • diarrhea
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • headache

Other less common and possibly severe side effects include:

  • a condition called thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, anemia or aplastic anemia - this is the most serious side effect of this medication and can occur during therapy or after therapy has stopped - contact your doctor immediately if you experience unusual bleeding, bruising, unexplained sore throat, fever, chills, or other signs of infection
  • changes in vision
  • feeling numb in the hands or feet
  • rash
  • feeling confused
  • a condition called Gray Syndrome in premature babies or newborns

This is not a complete list of side effects. If you are concerned about these or other unusual symptoms while taking this medication, ask your doctor and/or pharmacist for more information and advice.

What if I am taking other drugs?

The following drug interactions are typically seen when they are used with the intravenous form of the drug as opposed to the eye or ear drops.

Always provide your doctor with a list of all other drugs you are taking (including over-the-counter medications and herbal/natural products) as they may interact with and/or may change the safety or effectiveness of either drug. Tell your doctor specifically if you are taking any of these drugs as he/she may need to make changes or monitor you more closely:

  • warfarin - can increase the amount of warfarin in the blood and increase the chances for side effects, especially bleeding
  • medications that can cause changes in your white blood cell count, anemia or other blood problems (e.g. medications for overactive thyroid or cancer, azathioprine, and others) – talk to you doctor or pharmacist
  • rifampin, Phenobarbital - may decrease the amount of chloramphenicol in the blood and interfere with how well it can work
  • phenytoin - may increase the amount of phenytoin in the blood and increase the chances for side effects
  • some antibiotics - may interfere with how well other antibiotics can work; talk to your doctor or pharmacist
  • iron: may decrease how well iron can work
  • cyclosporine - may increase the amount of cyclosporine and increase the chances for side effects
  • tolbutamide, chlorpropamide - increase the amount of these drugs in the blood and increase the chances for side effects

This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your list of medications.

Other information:

Lab Tests: You will need to have your blood tested frequently while taking this medication to make sure you are not having side effects.

If you have diabetes and check your urine for sugar, this medication can cause you to have a false positive (meaning that the test will read positive but you may not have any sugar in the urine). Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet or medications.

Children: Reduced dose necessary.

Seniors: No known risk.

Pregnancy: Very little information on the safety in pregnancy. Generally not recommended, especially during near the end of pregnancy, as it may pose a risk to the baby. Talk to your doctor.

Women who are nursing: Generally not recommended. Talk to your doctor

People who drive or operate machinery: No known problems.

Overdose: If you experience any unusual reactions or if you seriously exceed the recommended dosage, call your doctor or 911.

Stopping the drug: Always complete the full course of this medication. Even if you feel better, the infection may still be present and symptoms may recur. Talk to your doctor before stopping any medication.

If you miss a dose: For oral forms of this medication, take as soon as you remember. If your next scheduled dose is due, double the dose to make up for the missed dose. For eye, ear and skin applications, apply a single dose as soon as you remember. If you are unsure of what to do, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Storage conditions: Closed container; cool, dry location away from excess moisture (not in the bathroom); direct light, always out of reach of children.

Alcohol: No known problems. If you drink, always drink in moderation.

Dietary Precautions: None