Streptomycin

Streptomycin injection is used to treat moderate to severe bacterial infections in many different parts of the body.

Streptomycin belongs to the class of medicines known as aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Streptomycin injection is usually used for serious bacterial infections for which other medicines may not work. However, it may also cause some serious side effects, including damage to your hearing and sense of balance.

These side effects may be more likely to occur in elderly patients and newborn infants. You and your doctor should talk about the benefits of this medicine as well as the risks.

This medicine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor. This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Solution
• Powder for Solution

Before using Streptomycin, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. 

For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric Population: Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of streptomycin injection in children. However, this medicine should be used with caution in young infants.

Geriatric Population: No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of streptomycin injection in geriatric patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving streptomycin injection.

Pregnancy: All Trimesters: Category D: Studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy in a life threatening situation or a serious disease may outweigh the potential risk.

Breastfeeding: Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions: Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose or other precautions may be necessary.

When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amifampridine
• Ataluren

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alcuronium
• Atracurium
• Cidofovir
• Cisatracurium
• Colistimethate Sodium
• Decamethonium
• Doxacurium
• Ethacrynic Acid
• Fazadinium
• Foscarnet
• Furosemide
• Gallamine
• Hexafluorenium
• Lysine
• Metocurine
• Mivacurium
• Pancuronium
• Pipecuronium
• Rapacuronium
• Rocuronium
• Succinylcholine
• Tubocurarine
• Vecuronium

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Bumetanide

Other Interactions: Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems: The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.

Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease (e.g., prerenal azotemia)—Higher blood levels of streptomycin may result, which increases the risk of serious side effects
• Hearing problems 
• Muscle problems 
• Nerve problems—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse

Proper usage of Streptomycin requires strict adherence to your doctor’s orders. A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles (usually in the buttocks, middle thighs, or upper arms).

To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine 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 constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, you must receive this medicine on a regular schedule.

To keep your kidneys working well and help prevent kidney problems, drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine while you are receiving this medicine.

Before using Streptomycin, there are some precautions you must take. Your doctor will check your progress closely while you or your child are receiving this medicine.

This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you or your child should continue to receive it. Blood, urine, nerve, and hearing tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

You will need to see your doctor after finishing this medicine to make sure your infection is gone. You may also need to see your doctor again in four months to have a repeat blood test done for other infections such as syphilis.

If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

Call your doctor right away if you or your child have:

• itching
• hives
• hoarseness
• shortness of breath
• trouble breathing
• trouble swallowing
• any swelling of your hands, face or mouth after you receive this medicine.

High doses of streptomycin injection may cause serious reactions (e.g., syndrome of CNS depression) for a young infant. Infants should not receive a dose of this medicine that is higher than the recommended dose.

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child have a sudden decrease in hearing or loss of hearing, which may be accompanied by dizziness and ringing in the ears.

Tell your doctor if you or your child have:

• dizziness or lightheadedness
• the feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• the sensation of spinning

These may be symptoms of damage to your hearing or sense of balance.

Make sure your doctor knows that you or your child are using this medicine before having a surgery or other procedures that require you to receive a numbing medicine (e.g., anesthetics, neuromuscular blocking agents).

Using streptomycin injection together with numbing medicines may increase your risk of having difficulty in breathing, drowsiness, inability to breath without assistance, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Streptomycin. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common:

• black, tarry stools
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• chest pain
• chills
• clumsiness
• cough
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• the feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• fever
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• nausea
• painful or difficult urination
• the sensation of spinning
• shortness of breath
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen glands
• unsteadiness
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting

Less common:

• back, leg, or stomach pains
• bleeding gums
• bloody or cloudy urine
• blurred vision
• change in vision
• dark urine
• deafness
• difficulty with breathing
• difficulty with swallowing
• dry mouth
• fast heartbeat
• general body swelling
• headache
• hives
• impaired vision
• itching
• loss of appetite
• muscle weakness
• nosebleeds
• pain in lower back or side
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• skin rash
• thirst
• tightness in the chest
• wheezing
• yellowing of the eyes or skin

Rare:

• change in the frequency of urination or amount of urine
• drowsiness
• increased thirst
• swelling of the feet or lower legs
• weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common:

• hives or welts
• redness of the skin

Less common:

• impaired vision

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.