Why is neomycin NOT given by the parenteral route?

Why is neomycin NOT given by the parenteral route?

• A. It is only available as a cream.
• B. It has a sedative effect.
• C. It gets metabolized by the liver.
• D. It is toxic.

Answer: (D)

Neomycin is an aminoglycoside that is used for gut decontamination or topically because it is poorly absorbed from the GI tract and from the skin. If it were given by injections (parenterally), it would enter the bloodstream and can cause serious toxicity, especially to the kidneys (nephrotoxicity) and the inner ear (ototoxicity). That systemic toxicity is why it is not used parenterally. The other statements aren’t correct: the drug isn’t restricted to a cream only, it isn’t associated with a sedative effect, and it isn’t primarily metabolized by the liver. The key point is that its potential for systemic toxicity makes parenteral use unsafe.

Neomycin is an aminoglycoside that is used for gut decontamination or topically because it is poorly absorbed from the GI tract and from the skin. If it were given by injections (parenterally), it would enter the bloodstream and can cause serious toxicity, especially to the kidneys (nephrotoxicity) and the inner ear (ototoxicity). That systemic toxicity is why it is not used parenterally. The other statements aren’t correct: the drug isn’t restricted to a cream only, it isn’t associated with a sedative effect, and it isn’t primarily metabolized by the liver. The key point is that its potential for systemic toxicity makes parenteral use unsafe.