Gentamicin by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Gentamicin side effects - How to prevent gentamicin side effects

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used in the treatment of many types of bacterial infections, particularly Gram-negative infection.

Gentamicin side effects
Gentamicin can cause severe side effects including hearing loss and kidney problems. Additional gentamicin side effects include dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, numbness, muscle twitching or weakness, difficulty breathing, decreased urination, rash, itching, or sore throat.

Gnetamicin drug interactions
Gentamicin side efects can become worse when used in conjunction with diuretics, cisplatin (Platinol), amphotericin (Amphotec, Fungizone), and other antibiotics.

Green tea and CoQ10 may be helpful in gentamicin toxicity
Modification of biochemical parameters of gentamicin nephrotoxicity by coenzyme Q10 and green tea in rats.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2006 May;44(5):416-8. Upaganlawar A, Farswan M, Rathod S, Balaraman R. Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India.
The present study was designed to investigate the possible potential protective role of coenzymeQ10 (CoQ10; 10 mg/kg/day, ip) and/or green tea; 25mg/kg/day, po) against gentamicin (GM) nephrotoxicity. Marked increase in the level of serum urea. creatinine and lipid peroxidation (LPO) content was found after administration of gentamicin (80 mg/kg/day, ip) for eight days along with significant decrease in the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) as well as brush border enzymes (Na+/K+ ATPase, Mg(+2)ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase). Treatment with CoQ10 or green tea alone with GM showed significant decrease in serum urea, creatinine and tissue LPO content and significant increase in antioxidant and membrane bound enzymes. Combined treatment with CoQ10 and green tea was more effective in mitigating adverse effect of GM nephrotoxicity. The present work indicated that CoQ10 and green tea due to their antioxidant activity modified the biochemical changes occurred during gentamicin nephrotoxicity and thus had a potential protective effect.