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Kanamycin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial that was formerly marketed in the United States as Kantrex and generic kanamycin sulfate injection. FDA Orange Book records list the U.S. human kanamycin products as discontinued. Historical injection labeling limited treatment to short-term use for serious infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
read more about what was kanamycin ...Kanamycin inhibited bacterial protein synthesis and had bactericidal activity against susceptible organisms. Historical labeling included activity against selected strains of Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter species, and staphylococci.
Historical U.S. labeling used kanamycin for short-term treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Culture and susceptibility results guided continued treatment. The label specifically stated that kanamycin was not indicated for long-term therapy such as tuberculosis due to toxicity associated with prolonged use.
The historical intramuscular regimen for adults and children was 15 mg per kg daily in divided doses, commonly 7.5 mg per kg every 12 hours. Intravenous dosing also did not exceed 15 mg per kg daily and was divided into two or three doses. Total daily exposure did not exceed 1.5 g, and kidney impairment required dosing changes.
Kanamycin carried a boxed warning for aminoglycoside toxicity. Major risks included permanent auditory damage, vestibular toxicity, kidney injury, neuromuscular blockade, and respiratory paralysis. Kidney function, hearing, balance, and serum drug concentrations were monitored closely during treatment.
FDA Orange Book records list U.S. kanamycin human drug products as discontinued.
Kanamycin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis.
The historical labeling used 15 mg per kg daily in divided doses, with a total daily limit of 1.5 g.
Yes. Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity were major labeled risks and could become severe or irreversible.
Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations March 20, 2020 Edition. https://www.fda.gov/media/136324/download. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.
Hearing Loss and Nephrotoxicity in Long-Term Aminoglycoside Treatment in Patients With Tuberculosis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12102302/. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.
Kanamycin. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/68007612. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.
Kantrex: Package Insert and Prescribing Information. https://www.drugs.com/pro/kantrex.html. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.
Recent Advances in Understanding Aminoglycoside Ototoxicity and Its Prevention. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12053140/. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.