Clinical medicine profile
Spectinomycin
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
This profile needs source confirmation
Some sections contain general class guidance rather than medicine-specific evidence. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- Nausea, dizziness, fever, chills, insomnia and urticaria have occasionally occurred with single doses of spectinomycin.
- Anaphylaxis has occurred rarely.
- Mild to moderate pain has been reported after I.M injections.
- Alterations in kidney and liver functions and a decrease in haemoglobin and haematocrit values have occasionally been seen with repeated doses.
- Although a reduction in urine output has been seen after single and multiple doses, spectinomycin has not been noted to produce functional changes indicative of nephrotoxicity.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Gonorrhoea, deep I.M injection as a single dose equivalent to 2g of spectinomycin, although a dose of 4g may sometimes be required, divided between two injection sites. Multiple-dose cours- es have been used for the treatment of dissemi- nated infections. Children over 2 years; 40mg/kg.
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Gonorrhoea caused by penicillin-resistant bacteria or in penicillin allergic patients.
- Clinical selection for Spectinomycin should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC.
- Class context: Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class).
- Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Adverse effects
- Adverse reactions vary by agent.
- Counsel on common predictable effects and serious warning symptoms (allergy, severe rash, jaundice, unusual bleeding, severe GI symptoms, neurological changes).
- Report suspected ADRs via national pharmacovigilance channels.
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Mechanism & disposition
Inhibits protein synthesis in bacterial cell.
Read complete mechanism
Inhibits protein synthesis in bacterial cell. The site of action is the 30S ribo- somal subunit. Mechanism is agent-specific. At receptor, enzyme, ion channel, transporter or microbial target level, the drug alters a physiological or pathological pathway to produce its therapeutic effect. Confirm precise molecular mechanism in current SmPC / pharmacology reference for this INN before high-stakes decisions.
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reviewed brand listings are linked yet. | |||
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.