In the U.S.—

In Canada—

• Antibacterial, systemic

Spectinomycin (spek-ti-noe-MYE-sin) is used to treat most types of gonorrhea. It is given by injection into a muscle. It is sometimes given with other medicines for gonorrhea and related infections.

Spectinomycin may be used in patients who are allergic to penicillins, cephalosporins, or probenecid (e.g., Benemid). This medicine is also used to treat recent sexual partners of patients who have gonorrhea. However, spectinomycin will not work for gonorrhea of the throat, syphilis, colds, flu, or other virus infections.

Spectinomycin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage form:

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

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 spectinomycin, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to spectinomycin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in humans. However, spectinomycin has been recommended for the treatment of gonorrhea and related infections in pregnant patients who are allergic to penicillins, cephalosporins, or probenecid (e.g., Benemid). In addition, studies in animals have not shown that spectinomycin causes birth defects or other problems.

Breast-feeding—It is not known if spectinomycin passes into breast milk. However, spectinomycin has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children—This medicine has been used in a limited number of children. In effective doses, the medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. However, use in infants is not recommended.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of spectinomycin in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines—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. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Spectinomycin is given by injection into a muscle. To help clear up your gonorrhea completely, usually only one dose is needed. However, in some infections a second dose of this medicine may be required.

Gonorrhea and related infections are spread by having sex with an infected partner. Therefore, it may be desirable that the male sexual partner wear a condom (prophylactic) during intercourse to prevent infection. Also, it may be necessary for your partner to be treated at the same time you are being treated. This will help to avoid passing the infection back and forth.

Dosing—

The dose of spectinomycin will be different for different patients. The following information includes only the average doses of spectinomycin.

• For cervical, rectal, or urethral gonorrhea :
  • Adults and children 45 kilograms of body weight (99 pounds) and over: 2 grams injected into a muscle as a single dose.
  • Children up to 45 kilograms of body weight (99 pounds): 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight injected into a muscle as a single dose.
  • Infants: Use is not recommended.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy. 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. If this reaction is especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

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 as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• Rare
  • Chills or fever;  itching or redness of the skin 
  
  

Other 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. However, check with your doctor if any of these effects continue or are bothersome:

• Less common
  • Dizziness;  nausea and vomiting;  pain at the place of injection;  stomach cramps 
  
  

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.