Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Zemdri

Descriptions


Plazomicin is used to treat complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis (kidney infection) in patients who have limited or no other treatment options. Plazomicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth.

This medicine may be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. 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

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of plazomicin in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of plazomicin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney problems, which may require caution for patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while 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 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.

  • Aspirin
  • Emtricitabine
  • Furosemide
  • LetibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tenofovir Alafenamide

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:

  • Hearing loss, family history of or
  • Kidney disease or
  • Nerve or muscle disorder (eg, myasthenia gravis)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins. This medicine must be given slowly, so the needle will have to stay in place for at least 30 minutes.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Urine and hearing tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, a decrease in frequency or amount of urine, an increase in blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dizziness, feeling of fullness in the ears, loss of balance, loss of hearing, ringing or buzzing in the ears, or trouble in hearing. These may be symptoms of a serious hearing or balance problem.

Receiving 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 receiving the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

Plazomicin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop receiving this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues, or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. 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

  1. Blood in the urine
  2. change in the frequency of urination or amount of urine
  3. difficulty in breathing
  4. drowsiness
  5. increased thirst
  6. loss of appetite
  7. nausea
  8. swelling of the feet or lower legs
  9. vomiting

Less common

  1. Blurred vision
  2. cloudy urine
  3. confusion
  4. decrease in urine-concentrating ability
  5. diarrhea
  6. dizziness
  7. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  8. feeling of fullness in the ears
  9. headache
  10. loss of balance
  11. loss of hearing
  12. nervousness
  13. pounding in the ears
  14. ringing or buzzing in the ears
  15. slow or fast heartbeat
  16. trouble in hearing
  17. unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

  1. Burning feeling in the chest or stomach
  2. chest tightness
  3. dry mouth
  4. indigestion
  5. irregular heartbeat
  6. mood changes
  7. muscle pain or cramps
  8. numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
  9. seizures
  10. stomach upset
  11. tenderness in the stomach area

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:

Incidence not known

  1. Constipation

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.