capreomycin

Skip to the navigation

Pronunciation: KAP ree oh MYE sin

Brand: Capastat Sulfate

What is the most important information I should know about capreomycin?

Capreomycin can harm your kidneys or damage the nerve that controls your hearing. These effects are increased if you already have kidney disease or hearing problems, or when you also use certain other medicines, including injected antibiotics. Before you use capreomycin, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and any medicines you are using.

It is not known whether capreomycin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine. Capreomycin is usually given over long periods (in some cases up to 2 years).

What is capreomycin?

Capreomycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body.

Capreomycin is used in combination with other medicines to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Capreomycin is usually given after other tuberculosis medications have been tried without success.

Capreomycin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using capreomycin?

You should not use capreomycin if you are allergic to it.

Capreomycin can harm your kidneys or damage the nerve that controls your hearing.

To make sure capreomycin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • kidney disease; or
  • hearing problems.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether capreomycin will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether capreomycin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to anyone under 18 years old without medical advice.

How is capreomycin given?

Before you start treatment with capreomycin, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you have the type of tuberculosis that is treatable with this medicine.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Capreomycin is injected into a muscle or into a vein through an IV. A healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles, IV tubing, and other items used to inject the medicine.

Capreomycin must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before using it. If you are using the injections at home, be sure you understand how to properly mix and store the medicine.

Prepare your dose only when you are ready to give an injection. Do not use capreomycin if it has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medication.

Use a disposable needle only once. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles and syringes. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Capreomycin is sometimes given daily and later given 2 or 3 times per week. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Tuberculosis is often treated over a long period of time (12 to 24 months). Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with tuberculosis should remain under the care of a doctor.

While using capreomycin, you may need frequent blood tests. Your kidney function and hearing may also need to be checked.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using capreomycin. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Capreomycin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of capreomycin.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include hearing problems, ringing in your ears, dizziness, weak or shallow breathing, and little or no urinating.

What should I avoid while using capreomycin?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of capreomycin?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives, itching, rash; fever; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • swelling, rapid weight gain, little or no urinating;
  • severe dizziness, spinning sensation, ringing or roaring sound in your ears, hearing loss;
  • skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
  • low calcium --numbness or tingly feeling around your mouth, fast or slow heart rate, muscle tightness or contraction, overactive reflexes; or
  • low potassium --confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling.

Common side effects may include:

  • pain, swelling, or a hard lump where the injection was given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect capreomycin?

Capreomycin can harm your kidneys or damage the nerve that controls your hearing. These effects are increased when you also use certain other medicines. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with capreomycin, especially:

  • other antibiotics (oral, injected, or inhaled);
  • antivirals;
  • chemotherapy;
  • medicine for bowel disorders;
  • medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection; or
  • some pain or arthritis medicines (including aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve).

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with capreomycin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about capreomycin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01. Revision date: 3/6/2014.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.