Tag: Kanamycin

Kanamycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic first isolated from the bacterium *Streptomyces kanamyceticus* in 1957 and historically used for various severe bacterial infections. Its usage has declined over time due to toxicity and resistance, but understanding what infections does kanamycin treat is key to appreciating its limited role today, particularly for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

While some older antibiotics have fallen out of common use in modern medicine, their pharmacology remains a point of interest. So, **is Kantrexil an antibiotic?** Yes, it is, and its active ingredient, Kanamycin, belongs to the aminoglycoside family, a powerful class of antibacterial medications.

Originally, Kantrexil was an antibiotic medication containing kanamycin, a drug known for significant risks including ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. While no longer marketed, understanding what is kantrexil used for requires looking at its two distinct formulations: an injectable antibiotic and an oral suspension for diarrhea.

Though the brand name Kantrexil is largely discontinued, the product was known to contain the antibiotic kanamycin, along with other agents like attapulgite and bismuth subcarbonate, and was prescribed for bacterial diarrhea. As a combination product, it provided both symptomatic relief and targeted antibiotic action within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.