This article describes possible side effects of gentamicin eye drops. To learn more about gentamicin, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Gentamicin eye drops are a generic medication. They aren’t available in a brand-name version. Gentamicin also comes in an injectable form and topical forms, but these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
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More common side effects of gentamicin
Gentamicin eye drops may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of gentamicin eye drops include:
Mild side effects of gentamicin
Gentamicin may cause certain mild side effects. Typically, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of gentamicin eye drops that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of gentamicin in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with gentamicin eye drops. But it’s unclear whether it occurred in the drug’s studies.
Gentamicin eye drops may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of gentamicin
Gentamicin may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from gentamicin eye drops, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with gentamicin.
Serious side effects of gentamicin eye drops that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of gentamicin in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with gentamicin eye drops. But it’s unclear whether it occurred in the drug’s studies.
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Common questions about side effects of gentamicin
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of gentamicin eye drops. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How long do side effects of gentamicin usually last?
Side effects of gentamicin are typically temporary and don’t last a long time. For example, you may feel burning or stinging when you put the drops in your eye. But this sensation should go away within a short time. It could be a sign of a problem if burning, stinging, or other side effects don’t go away.
Tell your doctor if you have side effects that last a long time. You should also tell your doctor about any new symptoms that develop while using gentamicin eye drops.
Can gentamicin cause kidney-related side effects?
No, kidney-related problems aren’t expected side effects of gentamicin eye drops. This kind of side effect wasn’t reported in studies of gentamicin eye drops.
Kidney-related side effects are possible with the injection form of gentamicin. But the eye drops usually stay and work in your eye and don’t go into other parts of your body and cause side effects.
If you’re concerned about kidney problems, talk with your doctor. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more information about the side effects of gentamicin.
Does gentamicin cause long-term side effects?
Long-term side effects aren’t expected with gentamicin eye drops. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had used the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.
Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about possible long-term side effects with gentamicin.
Side effects of gentamicin in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of gentamicin eye drops.
Low platelets
In studies, low platelet levels were a rare side effect in people using gentamicin eye drops. This side effect may be serious.
With low platelets, you have an increased risk of bleeding. Symptoms may include easy bruising or bleeding, such as nosebleeds or bleeding gums. It can happen if your body absorbs gentamicin eye drops, which is rare.
Ways to manage
If you experience easy or unusual bruising or bleeding, tell your doctor. They can determine the most likely cause and suggest ways to manage it.
Other types of eye infections
In studies, other types of eye infections were seen in people using gentamicin eye drops. This side effect may be serious.
If you use gentamicin eye drops for a long time, eye infections caused by fungi and other organisms can develop. It’s also possible for bacteria to become resistant to gentamicin eye drops. Resistance means bacteria develop ways to defeat an antibiotic, so the antibiotic no longer works. Resistant bacteria can continue to grow and cause infection in the eye.
Symptoms of eye infections may include:
- eye discharge
- eye pain
- eye redness
- eye swelling
Ways to manage
If symptoms of an eye infection come back while using gentamicin eye drops, tell your doctor right away. They may need to prescribe a different eye drop.
For some people, gentamicin eye drops can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- burning or stinging in the eye that doesn’t go away
- itchiness
- redness, itchiness, pain, or swelling in the eye
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to gentamicin eye drops, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for gentamicin
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking gentamicin eye drops.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to use gentamicin eye drops if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether gentamicin eye drops are a safe treatment option for you.
Before using gentamicin eye drops, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- allergies to preservatives or any other ingredients in gentamicin eye drops
- past allergic reaction to gentamicin
Gentamicin and pregnancy
It’s not known whether gentamicin eye drops should be used during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Gentamicin and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether gentamicin eye drops should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.
Gentamicin eye drops aren’t known to interact with alcohol.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with gentamicin eye drops.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of gentamicin eye drops. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How can I manage the common side effects of gentamicin eye drops?
- How do the side effects of gentamicin eye drops compare to other medications that could treat my condition?
- What side effects should I let you know about if they happen?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
