Neomycin

Neomycin is used for:

Reducing bacteria in the intestines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Neomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It kills sensitive bacteria by stopping the production of essential proteins needed by the bacteria to survive.

Do NOT use Neomycin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Neomycin or to any other aminoglycosides (eg, gentamicin)
• you are taking fludarabine, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium), or penicillin
• you have intestinal obstruction, ulcers of the bowel, or inflammatory bowel or stomach disease

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Neomycin :

Some medical conditions may interact with Neomycin . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have diarrhea, a stomach infection, nerve damage, muscle weakness, Parkinson disease, kidney problems, or are dehydrated

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Neomycin . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Penicillin because it may decrease Neomycin 's effectiveness
• Cephalosporins (eg, cephalexin), cyclosporine, fludarabine, loop diuretics (eg, furosemide), methoxyflurane, or nitrosureas (eg, carmustine) because the risk of side effects such as kidney damage and hearing loss may be increased
• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), digoxin, loop diuretics (eg, furosemide), methotrexate, methoxyflurane, nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium), polypeptide antibiotics (eg, actinomycin), succinylcholine, or vancomycin because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Neomycin
• Digoxin or methotrexate because their effectiveness may be decreased by Neomycin

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Neomycin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Neomycin :

Use Neomycin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Neomycin by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Take Neomycin with plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
• Do not take Neomycin for more than 2 weeks unless advised to do so by your health care provider.
• Take Neomycin on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
• To clear up your infection completely, use Neomycin for the full course of treatment. Keep using it even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Neomycin , take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If more than one dose is missed, contact your health care provider.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Neomycin .

Important safety information:

• Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
• Be sure to use Neomycin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Neomycin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Long-term or repeated use of Neomycin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
• Lab tests, including hearing tests, may be performed while you use Neomycin . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Neomycin should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 6 months old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Neomycin while you are pregnant. It is not known if Neomycin is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Neomycin .

Possible side effects of Neomycin :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch .

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include change in urination frequency or amount of urine.

Store Neomycin at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Neomycin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Neomycin , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Neomycin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Neomycin . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.