Use of Neomycin prior to bowel surgery

You may be advised to take a short course of tablets the day before your bowel or intestinal surgery. These tablets contain an antibiotic called neomycin which may lower your risk of developing an infection after your surgery.

What do I need to know before taking neomycin tablets?

Do not take neomycin tablets

• if you are allergic to the active ingredient, neomycin sulphate, or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate). Allergic reactions include mild symptoms such as itching and/or rash. More severe symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty in swallowing or breathing).
• if you are allergic to any of the aminoglycosides group of medicines (this group includes gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, netilmicin, kanamycin, streptomycin).
• if you suffer from a progressive muscle weakness called Myasthenia gravis.
• if you suffer from intestinal obstruction (blockage of the bowel).

How do I take it?

Three doses of neomycin are usually taken on the day before your surgery at specific times. TWO tablets make up one dose. Follow the advice provided to you during the pre-operative assessment clinic.

What are the possible side-effects?

When swallowed, only very small amounts of neomycin are absorbed into your bloodstream. This means that there is a low risk of having side effects.

• Some people may experience nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. In extremely rare cases, neomycin may affect your kidneys or hearing.
• If you develop any signs of an allergic reaction such as rash or itching of the skin, stop taking neomycin and seek medical advice immediately by contacting Addenbrooke’s Pre-Operative Assessment on telephone 01223 250888, Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:00 or your GP surgery outside these hours. If more severe signs of an allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face and/or lips occur, you should seek medical advice immediately by attending your Emergency Department or calling 999

How do I store neomycin tablets?

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle.

Store at room temperature, below 30ºC, in a dry place, and protect from sunlight.

If your doctor decides to stop the treatment, return any left-over medicine to your pharmacist. Only keep the tablets if your doctor tells you to.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures are to help protect the environment.

Contacts / Further information

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Addenbrooke’s Pre-Operative Assessment on telephone 01223 250888, Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:00.

For information about any medicines issued from Cambridge University Hospitals, you can also contact the Medicines Information helpline on telephone 01223 217502 or email cuh.medicinesinformation@nhs.net Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00.

If you have any urgent concerns outside these hours please contact your GP surgery.