Chloromycetin Injection : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Chloromycetin injection (Chloramphenicol injection) may cause a decrease in the number of certain types of blood cells in the body. In some cases, people who experienced this decrease in blood cells later developed leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells). You may experience this decrease in blood cells whether you are being treated with Chloromycetin for a long time or a short time. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: pale skin; excessive tiredness; shortness of breath; dizziness; fast heartbeat; unusual bruising or bleeding; or signs of infection such as sore throat, fever, cough, and chills.

Your doctor will order laboratory tests regularly during your treatment to check whether the number of blood cells in your body has decreased. You should know that these tests do not always detect changes in the body that may lead to a permanent decrease in the number of blood cells. It is best that you receive Chloromycetin injection in the hospital so that you can be closely monitored by your doctor.

Chloromycetin injection should not be used when another antibiotic can treat your infection. It must not be used to treat minor infections, colds, flu, throat infections or to prevent the development of an infection.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving Chloromycetin injection.

Why is this medication prescribed?

Chloromycetin injection (Chloramphenicol injection) is used to treat certain types of serious infections caused by bacteria when other antibiotics cannot be used. Chloromycetin injection is in a class of medications called antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria..

Antibiotics such as Chloromycetin injection will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

How should this medicine be used?

Chloromycetin injection comes as a liquid to be injected into a vein by a doctor or nurse in a hospital. It is usually given every 6 hours. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection being treated. After your condition improves, your doctor may switch you to another antibiotic that you can take by mouth to complete your treatment.

You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with Chloromycetin injection. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, tell your doctor.

Use Chloromycetin injection for as long as your doctor tells you, even if you feel better. If you stop using Chloromycetin injection too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

Other uses for this medicine

In the event of biological warfare, Chloromycetin injection may be used to treat and prevent dangerous illnesses that are deliberately spread such as plague, tularemia, and anthrax of the skin or mouth. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before receiving Chloromycetin injection,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Chloromycetin injection or any other medications.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants (”blood thinners”) such as warfarin (Coumadin); aztreonam (Azactam); cephalosporin antibiotics such as cefoperazone (Cefobid), cefotaxime (Claforan), ceftazidime (Fortaz, Tazicef), and ceftriaxone (Rocephin); cyanocobalamin (vitamin B₁₂); folic acid; iron supplements; certain oral medications for diabetes such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese) and tolbutamide; phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin); and medications that may cause a decrease in the number of blood cells in the body. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of the medications that you are taking may cause a decrease in the number of blood cells. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Other medications may also interact with Chloromycetin injection, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
tell your doctor if you have ever been treated with Chloromycetin injection before, especially if you experienced severe side effects. Your doctor may tell you not to use Chloromycetin injection.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while receiving Chloromycetin injection, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving Chloromycetin injection.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Chloromycetin injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
tongue or mouth sores
headache
depression
confusion

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

hives
rash
itching
swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
hoarseness
difficulty swallowing or breathing
watery or bloody stools (up to 2 months after your treatment)
stomach cramps
muscle aches or weakness
sweating
feelings of numbness, pain, or tingling in an arm or leg
sudden changes in vision
pain with eye movement

Chloromycetin injection may cause a condition called gray syndrome in premature and newborn infants. There have also been reports of gray syndrome in children up to age 2 and in newborns whose mothers were treated with Chloromycetin injection during labor. Symptoms, which usually occur after 3 to 4 days of treatment, may include: stomach bloating, vomiting, blue lips and skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and death. If treatment is stopped at the first sign of any symptoms, the symptoms may go away, and the infant may recover completely. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication during labor or to treat babies and young children.

Chloromycetin injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

What other information should I know?

Ask your doctor any questions you have about Chloromycetin injection. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the Chloromycetin injection, talk to your doctor.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Brand names

Chloromycetin^®Injection
Mychel-S^®Injection

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.