Gentamicin+benzalkonium
About
Gentamicin+benzalkonium belongs to the aminoglycoside antibiotic primarily used to treat bacterial infections eye and ear, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and otitis externa (redness and swelling of the external ear canal). Conjunctivitis is the infection of the outer white membrane of the eyeball. This infection is highly contagious in nature and can pass on to another. Otitis externa is a bacterial infection of the external ear canal.
Gentamicin+benzalkonium contains Gentamicin, which helps in treating and preventing a wide range of bacterial infections. It kills bacteria (bactericidal action) by preventing the synthesis of proteins required by bacteria, which is essential for the bacterial cell's growth and survival. Gentamicin+benzalkonium has a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against aerobic gram-positive and aerobic gram-negative bacteria (that live in oxygen). Benzalkonium acts as a preservative in the formulation.
Gentamicin+benzalkonium should be used as advised by your doctor. It is an external preparation intended for use in the eyes and ears. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects, such as eye/ear burning sensation, ear pain, irritation during administration, and blurred vision. Most of these side effects of Gentamicin+benzalkonium do not require medical attention and gradually subside over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Gentamicin+benzalkonium contains benzalkonium as a preservative, so it may cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel stinging or pain in the eye and abnormal eye sensation after using this medicine, please inform your doctor. Do not use Gentamicin+benzalkonium on your own as self-medication may lead to antibiotic resistance. Gentamicin+benzalkonium must not be used in the ear if the eardrum is damaged in any way. Consult your doctor before using Gentamicin+benzalkonium if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Gentamicin+benzalkonium is not recommended for children unless prescribed by a doctor. Gentamicin+benzalkonium may cause temporary vision problems (blurred vision), so be cautious while driving and operating machinery or avoid doing such activities.
Uses of Gentamicin+benzalkonium
Medicinal Benefits
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Gentamicin+benzalkonium
- Irritation
- Burning sensation
- Blurred vision
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Gentamicin+benzalkonium if you are allergic or have had a severe reaction to the aminoglycosides antibiotics like gentamicin, tobacco, amikacin, streptomycin, and kanamycin. The Gentamicin+benzalkonium contains benzalkonium as a preservative that may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and change contact lens colours. You should not wear contact lenses while you have bacterial conjunctivitis symptoms or while you are using Gentamicin+benzalkonium. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment, even if you feel better, without asking your doctor, as your symptoms may come back and may even worsen your condition. Inform your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within two days of starting treatment, if they worsen during treatment or if you get another eye or ear infection. If you have ruptured the eardrum, please do not use Gentamicin+benzalkonium unless prescribed. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor before taking Gentamicin+benzalkonium. Do not use Gentamicin+benzalkonium on children unless prescribed by the doctor. Gentamicin+benzalkonium may cause blurred vision sometimes, so it is advised not to drive a car or operate machinery after administrating it.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Gentamicin+benzalkonium interacts with antibiotics (cephalexin, cefadroxil, cephradine, besifloxacin, gatifloxacin, amikacin, tobramycin), muscle relaxants (atracurium, pancuronium, vecuronium), immunosuppressive agent (ciclosporin), anticancer (cisplatin), diuretics (furosemide, ethacrynic acid), antifungal (amphotericin).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interaction found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Gentamicin+benzalkonium should not be given to patients with eye and ear fungal infections, holes in the eardrum, have had liver or kidney problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionThe interaction of Gentamicin+benzalkonium with alcohol is unknown. Consult your doctor before consuming alcohol during your treatment with Gentamicin+benzalkonium.
Pregnancy
cautionGentamicin+benzalkonium is a pregnancy Category C medicine. It is not known whether Gentamicin+benzalkonium will affect pregnant women or fetus or not. Hence, the intake of Gentamicin+benzalkonium should be avoided if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant as it may harm the baby.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere are limited studies on how Gentamicin+benzalkonium affects breastfed infants. Hence, consult your doctor before using Gentamicin+benzalkonium if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionDrive with caution, Gentamicin+benzalkonium It is better to avoid driving as Gentamicin+benzalkonium usually causes temporarily blurred vision and affects your driving ability. Drive only when you are alert and have clear vision. causes temporarily blurred vision and affects driving ability.
Liver
cautionInform your doctor if you have any history of liver diseases or hepatic impairment before starting Gentamicin+benzalkonium.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before using Gentamicin+benzalkonium.
Children
safe if prescribedGentamicin+benzalkonium should be used for children only when advised by a doctor. However, the safety and effectiveness of Gentamicin+benzalkonium have not been established in neonates.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eating probiotics and a diet rich in vitamins can help to improve eye health and ward off infection.
- Rinse your eyes regularly with clean water.
- Placing cooled tea bags on your eyes while they are closed can be a way to relax and unwind.
- Make sure you dry your ears completely after swimming or taking a shower.
- Keep your ears clean by washing them and using a cotton swab carefully.
- Eat fiber-rich food like whole grains, beans, lentils, berries, broccoli, peas, and bananas.
- Avoid foods rich in calcium, grapefruit, and grapefruit juice, as they might hinder the absorption of antibiotics.
- Avoid the usage of tobacco and alcohol.
- To cure your condition effectually, complete the full course of Gentamicin+benzalkonium even though you find symptomatic relief.
Special Advise
- Use of Gentamicin+benzalkonium for prolonged may result in a new fungal eye infection (secondary infection). Do not use Gentamicin+benzalkonium for longer than prescribed.
- Gentamicin+benzalkonium should not be administered directly into the eye's anterior chamber.
- Gentamicin+benzalkonium must not be used in the ear if the eardrum is damaged in any way.
- It is advised to contact your doctor if the infection symptoms persist or worsen after two weeks of treatment.
- If you experience any purulent (pus-containing) discharge or your inflammation and pain increase while using Gentamicin+benzalkonium, please discontinue the use and consult a doctor.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Conjunctivitis: Also known as pink eye, it is a condition in which the outer membrane of the eyeball gets swollen and infected. There are usually three types of conjunctivitis, namely bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis. Common signs and symptoms include red-toned eyes with a thick discharge with intense itchiness. It is highly contagious in nature and can spread from one person to another.
Otitis externa: It is a condition that causes inflammation (pain, redness, and swelling) of the external ear canal, which is the tube between the outer ear and eardrum. It is primarily caused by bacterial infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus the most common bacteria that cause otitis externa.
FAQs
Gentamicin+benzalkonium contains Gentamicin an antibiotic which stops bacterial growth by preventing the synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions. This prevents bacteria from repairing and multiplying. Thereby, helps in treating ear and eye bacterial infections.
Prolonged use of eye drop of Gentamicin+benzalkonium can cause an overgrowth of other microorganisms like fungi and develop bacterial resistance.
Gentamicin+benzalkonium ear drops should be used with caution and only under a doctor’s supervision if you have chronic otitis media (infection of the middle ear cavity) or a perforated tympanic membrane (a hole or a tear in the tissue that separates the ear canal from the middle ear). Let your doctor know if you have kidney disease, myasthenia gravis (neuromuscular disease), before using Gentamicin.
Never stop the treatment with Gentamicin+benzalkonium on your own as the infection may come back again (relapse) if the prescribed treatment is not completely taken before stopping Gentamicin+benzalkonium once discuss this with your doctor.
You should avoid contaminating the applicator tip of Gentamicin+benzalkonium with material from the eye/ear, fingers, or other sources. Try not to share personal cloth or stuff till your eye/ear infections persist. Do not wear contact lenses as it can cause your eye condition to get worse. Besides this, avoid putting cotton swabs and bobby pins in the ear as it can cause your ear condition to get worse.
