Prescription medication · Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
tobramycin
Also sold as Tobi, Nebcin. Tobramycin treats serious infections caused by bacteria.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 23,287
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
tobramycin (Tobi) is a prescription Aminoglycoside Antibiotic, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (23,287 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
tobramycin (Tobi) is a prescription Aminoglycoside Antibiotic. Tobramycin treats serious infections caused by bacteria.
Tobramycin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious bacterial infections in your body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
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.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from tobramycin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of tobramycin's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of tobramycin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of tobramycin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store tobramycin at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 23,287 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for tobramycin, by number of reports
- Death
Death
1,666 reports
- Infective Pulmonary Exacerbation Of Cystic Fibrosis
Infective Pulmonary Exacerbation Of Cystic Fibrosis
1,559 reports
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia
1,450 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
1,373 reports
- Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis
1,263 reports
- Cough
Cough
1,256 reports
- Hospitalisation
Hospitalisation
996 reports
- Condition Aggravated
Condition Aggravated
942 reports
- Infection
Infection
832 reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
721 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for tobramycin each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where tobramycin sits
tobramycin has more FDA adverse-event reports than 58% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is tobramycin; the line is the median (50th percentile).
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
Reports Mentioning Death
2,764
11.9% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
11,066
Top Indication
Cystic Fibrosis
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 12 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 721 |
| 13 | MALAISE | 675 |
| 14 | PYREXIA | 672 |
| 15 | FATIGUE | 608 |
| 16 | HEADACHE | 543 |
| 17 | PSEUDOMONAS INFECTION | 538 |
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.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
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 →
Medication Guides
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Common Drug Interactions
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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 23,287 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.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
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