capreomycin sulfate at a glance
Medicine class
Cyclic polypeptide antituberculosis antibiotic
Combination treatment
Used with other active tuberculosis medicines, not alone
Important monitoring
Kidney function, hearing, balance and blood electrolytes require monitoring
What is capreomycin sulfate used for?
The selected UK product is licensed as part of combination treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis caused by susceptible bacteria when primary treatments have been ineffective or cannot be used. Treatment requires a specialist TB service.
Combination treatment of susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis when primary treatments are ineffective or unsuitable.
How does capreomycin sulfate work?
Capreomycin binds across the interface between bacterial ribosomal subunits, disrupting protein production needed for growth and survival.
How to take capreomycin sulfate
A doctor or nurse prepares capreomycin and injects it into a muscle. It is not suitable for oral use or self-administration and must be combined with other tuberculosis medicines selected by the specialist team.
Attend every planned injection and monitoring appointment.
Report hearing, balance, urinary or muscle symptoms promptly.
Do not prepare or inject this product yourself.
capreomycin sulfate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Pain, bleeding or a lump at the injection site
- Rash or itching
- Fever
Get urgent medical advice
- Kidney injury, which may cause reduced urination or abnormal blood tests
- Hearing damage, ringing in the ears, dizziness or impaired balance
- Low potassium and other electrolyte disturbances, potentially causing weakness, cramps or seizures
- Liver problems, including jaundice
- Blood-cell count changes, causing unusual bruising or reduced resistance to infection
- Serious allergic reaction causing breathing difficulty or facial or throat swelling
capreomycin sulfate in pregnancy
Evidence during pregnancy is limited, and potential fetal harm cannot be excluded. A specialist should balance these uncertainties against the serious consequences of inadequately treated tuberculosis.
capreomycin sulfate while breastfeeding
There is insufficient medicine-specific evidence to confirm safety during breastfeeding. A TB specialist and medicines-in-lactation service should assess treatment, other medicines and the infant’s health and maturity. Do not stop breastfeeding without advice.
capreomycin sulfate interactions
Combinations that can add to kidney, hearing or nervous-system toxicity require specialist review and close monitoring.
Streptomycin or viomycin
Concurrent use can increase potentially irreversible kidney and hearing toxicity and is generally avoided.
Amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin or neomycin
Additive kidney and hearing toxicity may occur.
Colistin or polymyxins
The combination may increase kidney and nervous-system toxicity.
Vancomycin
The risk of kidney and hearing damage may increase.
Common questions about capreomycin sulfate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is capreomycin sulfate used for?
It is an injectable antibiotic used with other medicines for susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis when primary treatments are ineffective or cannot be used.
Why is it combined with other tuberculosis medicines?
Tuberculosis requires several active medicines to improve bacterial killing and reduce further resistance; capreomycin must not be used alone.
Is it routinely used for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis now?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.