Proper Use of This Medicine

To help clear up your infection completely, aminoglycosides must be given for the full time of treatment , even if you begin to feel better after a few days. Also, this medicine works best when there is a certain amount in the blood or urine. To help keep the correct level, aminoglycosides must be given on a regular schedule.

Dosing—The dose of aminoglycosides will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of aminoglycosides. Your dose may be different if you have kidney disease. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The dose of most aminoglycosides is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The medicine is injected into a muscle or vein. Depending on the aminoglycoside prescribed, doses are given at different times and for different lengths of time. These times are as follows:

For amikacin
• For all dosage forms:
  • Adults and children: The dose is given every eight or twelve hours for seven to ten days.
  • Newborn babies: The dose is given every twelve hours for seven to ten days.
  • Premature babies: The dose is given every eighteen to twenty-four hours for seven to ten days.

For gentamicin
• For all dosage forms:
  • Adults and children: The dose is given every eight hours for seven to ten days or more.
  • Infants: The dose is given every eight to sixteen hours for seven to ten days or more.
  • Premature and full-term newborn babies: The dose is given every twelve to twenty-four hours for seven to ten days or more.

For kanamicin
• For all dosage forms:
  • Adults and children: The dose is given every eight or twelve hours for seven to ten days.

For netilmicin
• For all dosage forms:
  • Adults and children: The dose is given every eight or twelve hours for seven to fourteen days.

For streptomycin
• For all dosage forms—The dose of streptomycin is often not based on body weight and the amount given depends on the disease being treated.
  • Treatment of tuberculosis (TB) :
    • Adults: Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. This dose is injected into a muscle. The dosing schedule will also be determined by your doctor, usually once daily or twice weekly or three times-a-week. This medicine must be given with other medicines for tuberculosis (TB).
    • Children and adolescents: Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. This dose is injected into a muscle. The dosing schedule will also be determined by your doctor, usually once daily or twice weekly or three times-a-week. This medicine must be given with other medicines for tuberculosis (TB).
  • Treatment of bacterial infections :
    • Adults: 250 to 500 milligrams of streptomycin is injected into a muscle every six hours; or 500 milligrams to 1 gram of streptomycin is injected into a muscle every twelve hours.
    • Children and adolescents: Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. This dose is injected into a muscle every six to twelve hours.

For tobramycin
• For all dosage forms:
  • Adults and adolescents: The dose is given every six to eight hours for seven to ten days or more.
  • Older infants and children: The dose is given every six to sixteen hours.
  • Premature and full-term newborn babies: The dose is given every twelve to twenty-four hours.