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Gentamicin
Pronounced jen-tah-MY-sin
Brand names: Garamycin
Type: Aminoglycoside antibiotic · All Antibiotics & Infection Medicines
What Gentamicin is used for
- Serious hospital infections, often combined with other antibiotics
- Certain heart valve infections
- Eye infections (drops and ointment)
◆ Kidney note
One of the most kidney-toxic antibiotics; dosing is level-guided and timed around dialysis in kidney failure.
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Injection site pain
Important cautions
- Can injure the kidneys and damage hearing or balance — blood levels are monitored and courses are kept as short as possible
- Risk rises when combined with other kidney-straining medicines such as vancomycin or water pills
How it comes
Injection (hospital), eye drops and ointment, cream. This guide lists forms only — it never lists strengths or doses.
Toxicity lists: Gentamicin also appears on Medicines That Can Harm the Kidneys.
Related medicines — Antibiotics & Infection Medicines
Please note: This page is a patient-education summary, not medical advice, and it deliberately contains no doses. Medicines affect everyone differently — always follow your own prescription and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.