HUMATIN (PAROMOMYCIN)

Humatin Description

Humatin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that may be prescribed if you have an intestinal infection caused by parasites that may have been in the water you drank or from not washing your fresh garden items properly before eating them and there were parasites in the soil. With symptoms that include diarrhea, dehydration, or nausea, you may have been exposed to and ingested the parasites that cause Amoebiasis or Cryptosporidiosis while travelling abroad or locally.

Take Humatin to Stop Bacteria from Making New Cells

The active ingredient of Humatin called Paromomycin is a bactericidal medication, which means that it will kill the bacteria. It is able to penetrate the double membrane that surrounds the bacterial cells where it interferes with the proofreading process. Bacteria need this in order to make more new cells. Without the correct proofreading, there is an increase in the errors made so the DNA polymerase cannot function properly with incorrect information. Bacteria cannot multiply and they die.

Conditions Treated by Humatin

Many of the symptoms of Amoebiasis and Cryptosporidiosis are the same, including watery diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Risk factors for both infections involve travelling to areas with poor sanitation, having a compromised immune system, drinking untreated or unfiltered water, engaging in oral to anal sexual activity, and being a childcare worker.

Humatin is also indicated for Leishmaniasis; the most common forms cause skin sores (cutaneous Leishmaniasis) or affects different internal organs (visceral Leishmaniasis). Infection can occur from the bite of the female phlebotomine sand fly. This parasite is smaller than a mosquito and is usually found in tropics, sub-tropics, and southern Europe.

Before You Take Humatin

Ask your doctor about the safety of taking Humatin while you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breast feeding. To determine if Humatin is the right medication for you, tell your doctor about other medical conditions or allergies you have and provide a list of all over the counter medications and Rx drugs you take or use, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements.

Humatin Precautions and Recommendations

Even if you start to feel better, you must take Humatin for the time period specified by your doctor to be certain the infection has cleared up completely. If you don’t, the bacteria could begin to thrive again but have now become less sensitive to Humatin and other antibiotics. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration so drink lots of liquids during your recovery. Store all meds out of children’s reach and do not share Humatin with others, even if they are displaying the same symptoms.

Possible Side Effects of Humatin

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Stomach cramps
• Loss of appetite