Neomycin Sulfate, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to lessen symptoms of coma caused by liver disease. It may also be used to prevent infections caused by bowel surgery. Take it exactly as directed.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause severe kidney problems, nerve problems, hearing loss, or other unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anti-infective

Generic and brand names: neomycin sulfate, oral; Neo-Fradin

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to lessen symptoms of coma caused by liver disease. It may also be used to prevent infections caused by bowel surgery.

This medicine will not cure viral infections such as colds and the flu.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• A blockage in the intestines, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis
• Hearing problems
• Kidney disease
• Muscle diseases such as myasthenia gravis or Parkinson’s disease

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not miss doses. Do not use this medicine for other conditions unless your healthcare provider approves.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18 years.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

This medicine comes in tablet and liquid forms. If you have the liquid form of this medicine, use the measuring spoon, cup, dropper, or oral syringe that comes with the medicine, or ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen spoon because the dose may not be correct.

Drink plenty of water while you are taking this medicine.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: trouble hearing, numbness, tingling, muscle twitching, seizures, decreased urination.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause severe kidney problems, nerve problems, and hearing loss (that may be permanent), even when used at normal doses. You need to have lab tests or hearing tests to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk of side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Ringing in your ears, hearing loss, trouble breathing, trouble urinating, decreased urination, dizziness, loss of balance, muscle weakness or twitching, numbness or tingling, seizures, severe diarrhea.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rectal pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Amphotericin b (Abelcet, AmBisome, Amphotec)
• Antibiotics such as amikacin, bacitracin, cefaclor, cefepime (Maxipime), cefotaxime (Claforan), ceftazidime (Fortaz), ceftriaxone, cephalexin (Keflex), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), colistimethate (Coly-Mycin), gatifloxacin (Zymaxid), gentamicin, kanamycin, levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), paromomycin, penicillin, polymyxin B, streptomycin, tobramycin, and vancomycin (Vancocin)
• Antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), cidofovir (Vistide), and tenofovir (Viread)
• Botulinum injections such as abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport), incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin), onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox), and rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc)
• Cancer medicines such as carboplatin, cisplatin, fluorouracil (Adrucil, Carac, Efudex, Fluoroplex), and sorafenib (Nexavar)
• Digoxin (Lanoxin)
• Diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride/hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic), bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone, ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone/hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide)
• Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) and tacrolimus (Astagraf, Prograf, Protopic)
• Medicines to treat bone loss such as risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia) and zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa)
• Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, diclofenac (Cambia, Voltaren, Zipsor), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac, nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• Vitamin B-12
• Warfarin (Coumadin)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.