Gentamicin Sulfate, Ophthalmic
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Gentamicin Sulfate, Ophthalmic during a consultation by Dr Noor in Perth.”
Gentamicin Sulfate, Ophthalmic for pets
(gin-ta-mye-sin sul-fate)
Description:
This is an antibiotic from the aminoglycoside group.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Gentocin®
- Genoptic®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- a 0.3% eye ointment in a 3.5-gram tube
- and a 0.3% eye drop solution in a 5-mL bottle with a dropper.
- For people:
- a 0.3% eye ointment in a 3.5-gram tube
- and a 0.3% eye drop solution in a 5-mL bottle with a dropper.
- In some cases, trained professionals may make a custom (compounded) gentamicin eye drop or eye ointment at a stronger level, if your veterinarian instructs this.
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
Key Information
- This medicine is used to treat eye infections caused by bacteria.
- Some gentamicin eye drop products also include steroids. Steroids can be unsafe for your animal’s eye if there is an eye ulcer or if the infection is caused by a virus or a fungus.
- Give this medicine in a clean way so the bottle or tube does not get contaminated. When you are not using it, keep the cap closed tightly.
- If your animal is using other eye medicines too, wait 5 minutes after using this one before putting any other medicine into the eye.
- Keep this medicine either in the refrigerator or at room temperature, and keep it away from moisture and direct light. Do not freeze it. Do not use it if the color looks different, if the liquid looks cloudy, or if you can see particles in the solution.
How is this medication useful?
Gentamicin can also be made into a custom eye medicine for infections that no longer respond to weaker antibiotics, especially in horses. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect this medicine. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including other eye medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had the same illness or problem before, let your veterinarian know what was used last time and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had side effects from medicines before. Examples include allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- This medicine is expected to begin working within 1 to 2 hours. Even so, you may not be able to see changes right away.
- Your animal should start to feel better within 1 to 2 days.
- This medicine does not last long in the body. Its effect ends within 24 hours.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
If your animal fits any of the situations listed below, speak with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to similar medicines (for example, amikacin or tobramycin).
- Animals that have a full-thickness hole through the clear front surface of the eye (the cornea). Gentamicin can harm the deeper inside parts of the eye and may lead to blindness if it reaches that area.
- Animals that are pregnant or nursing.
- Animals that have kidney problems.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If any of these signs are strong, get worse, or do not go away, contact your veterinarian.
- Mild burning, mild stinging, eye irritation, or redness in the eyes.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Trouble breathing, noisy breathing, or swelling in the throat can be signs of a severe allergic reaction to this medicine.
- Possible signs of kidney problems include changes in how much urine is produced, vomiting, low appetite, and low energy.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
- When this medicine is used in the eye, giving too much is not likely. However, side effects or toxic effects could happen if your animal swallows the medicine.
- If that happens, contact your veterinarian right away for instructions.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work properly, it must be given exactly the way your veterinarian ordered it. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it the right way.
- Before you give the medicine, wash your hands.
- To keep the medicine clean, do not let the dropper tip touch your animal’s eye and do not let it touch anything else.
- If any medicine is left on the fur or skin around your animal’s face after dosing, wipe it away gently using a damp tissue or cloth.
- If your animal is getting more than one eye medicine, leave 5 minutes between each one before giving the next. Put eye drops in before eye ointments so the drops can soak into the eye.
- If you are giving this medicine as an eye solution to your horse, your veterinarian may have placed a special tube to deliver medicine to the eye (a subpalpebral lavage, also called an SPL catheter). Use this tube only in the way your veterinarian instructed. After you put the medicine into the tube, use only air to flush the medicine through to the eye.
- If you are struggling to apply the medicine, or if your animal will not tolerate the treatment, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for advice on how to give it and how to reduce stress during dosing.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. Make sure you know how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking to your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time.
- After that, continue with the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, store it at room temperature, and keep it protected from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom (compounded) version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date that come with that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special safety steps are required when handling this medicine unless you are allergic to it or to similar medicines (for example, amikacin or tobramycin). Even so, it is a good practice to wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour this medicine into the toilet and do not rinse it down a sink.
- If your area has a community medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not easily recognized by someone searching trash. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, then place it in your household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Before entering a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine, check the rules.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
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