Colistimethate (Injection)

Introduction

Colistimethate Sodium (koe-lis-ti-METH-ate SOE-dee-um)

Treats infections caused by bacteria. This medicine is an antibiotic.

Brand Name(s)

Coly-Mycin M Parenteral

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using sodium citrate (Tricitrasol®), succinylcholine (Anectine®, Quelicin®), or medicine to treat an infection (such as amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin, polymyxin, streptomycin, Amikin®, Garamycin®, or Neo-Fradin®).

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you have kidney disease, lung disease, or diarrhea.
• Sometimes this medicine will be used in a nebulizer (a breathing machine). The patient will breathe it into the lungs to treat an infection. When used this way, the medicine should be mixed right before you put it in the nebulizer for a breathing treatment. You must throw away any leftover liquid medicine that is not used. If you have any questions, talk to your doctor.
• Colistimethate injection may cause some people to become dizzy or to have numbness and tingling sensations in the hands, toes, and feet. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or do not have normal feelings in your hands and feet. If these symptoms are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.
• Serious breathing problems may occur after you get a shot of this medicine into one of your muscles. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have any change in your breathing after you receive this medicine.
• If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea.
• Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child 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; troubled breathing; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; or weight gain.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blue lips or skin.
• Decrease in how much and how often you urinate.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, tingling, or numbness in your hands or feet.
• Fever.
• Shortness of breath, troubled breathing, or wheezing.
• Speech problems.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain.
• Itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed or where the shot is given.
• Rash or itching skin.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Use This Medicine

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine may be given through a needle placed in one of your veins or as a shot into a muscle.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
• When used as a breathing treatment for the lungs, the medicine should be mixed right before you put it in the nebulizer. You must throw away any leftover liquid medicine that is not used. Do not use pre-mixed liquid medicine that has been stored for any length of time for your breathing treatment. If you bought pre-mixed liquid medicine at the pharmacy, throw it away. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for instructions on how to mix your medicine for the breathing treatment.