tobramycin
Brand names: Tobi, Nebcin
Tobramycin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious bacterial infections in your body.
Drug Shortage Alert
tobramycin is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.01/unit
Generic Available
Yes (30 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Tobramycin treats serious infections caused by bacteria.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Tobramycin can potentially damage your hearing and kidneys.
How It Works
Tobramycin belongs to a class of drugs called aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
Tobramycin is given as an injection into a muscle or vein. The usual dose for adults with serious infections is 3 mg/kg per day, divided into 3 equal doses every 8 hours. For life-threatening infections, the dose may be increased to 5 mg/kg per day, divided into 3 or 4 equal doses. Your doctor will adjust the dose based on your weight and kidney function.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tobramycin may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if tobramycin passes into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store tobramycin at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 13,276 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 23,287 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
23,287
Death-Related Reports
2,764
Hospitalization Reports
11,066
Top Indication
Cystic Fibrosis
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 1,939 |
| 2 | DEATH | 1,667 |
| 3 | INFECTIVE PULMONARY EXACERBATION OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS | 1,559 |
| 4 | PNEUMONIA | 1,453 |
| 5 | DYSPNOEA | 1,373 |
| 6 | CYSTIC FIBROSIS | 1,263 |
| 7 | COUGH | 1,257 |
| 8 | HOSPITALISATION | 996 |
| 9 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 942 |
| 10 | INFECTION | 832 |
| 11 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 818 |
| 12 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 721 |
| 13 | MALAISE | 675 |
| 14 | PYREXIA | 672 |
| 15 | FATIGUE | 608 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Tobramycin can potentially damage your hearing and kidneys. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or hearing loss before starting this medicine. Your doctor will monitor your kidney and hearing function during treatment. Report any dizziness, ringing in the ears, or changes in hearing or kidney function to your doctor right away.
Known Drug Interactions
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Both drugs have the potential to damage your kidneys. Taking them together adds to this risk and can lead to kidney failure.
What to do: Do not use these drugs at the same time. Your doctor must choose a different therapy.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • ZOSYN administration can significantly reduce tobramycin concentrations in hemodialysis patients. Monitor tobramycin concentrations in these patients. In vivo inactivation : When aminoglycosides are administered in conjunction with piperacillin to patients with end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis, the concentrations of the aminoglycosides (especially tobramycin) may be significantly reduced and should be monitored.
Mechanism: In patients on dialysis, piperacillin can chemically deactivate tobramycin in the blood, making the antibiotic less effective.
What to do: If you are on dialysis, your doctor should monitor your tobramycin blood levels to make sure the dose is still working.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking tobramycin?
How long will I need to take tobramycin?
Can tobramycin interact with other medications?
What tests will be done while I am taking tobramycin?
What are the signs of kidney problems?
What are the signs of hearing problems?
Can tobramycin cause nerve damage?
What if I have cystic fibrosis?
Can tobramycin cause allergic reactions?
When should I call my doctor?
What are the common side effects of tobramycin?
Does tobramycin interact with other medications?
What drug class is tobramycin?
Is tobramycin safe during pregnancy?
Has tobramycin been recalled?
Is tobramycin currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
CGMP Deviations:
Akorn, Inc.
CGMP Deviations:
Akorn, Inc.
Related Medications in Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near tobramycin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with tobramycin →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with tobramycin →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with tobramycin →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with tobramycin →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with tobramycin →
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Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for tobramycin
The FDA label for tobramycin (sold under brand names such as Tobi, Nebcin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic class. Tobramycin treats serious infections caused by bacteria. Official labeling lists 11 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 13,276 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.01.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 4 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: February 27, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages