Drug Interaction Report

Gentamicin Topical and Methoxyflurane: Interaction Details

Name: Gentamicin Topical and Methoxyflurane Interaction
Creator: Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS

A pharmacist-reviewed analysis of the Gentamicin Topical and Methoxyflurane interaction: the documented clinical effects, severity rating, onset, mechanism, and management considerations, with cited references throughout.

AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · Source data updated Aug 8, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature

Gentamicin Topical

Garamycin®

Methoxyflurane

No brand names on record

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS

Updated Aug 8, 2026

Editorial policy · Data sources

Interaction severity

Moderate

Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.

Minor

Moderate

Major

Contraindicated

How we grade severity & evidence

Severity levels

Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.

Evidence grades

Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.

Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.

Of 75 documented Gentamicin Topical interactions, 12 are rated moderate — including this one.

Onset

rapid

Evidence

probable

Severity

Moderate

What happens

Renal dysfunction

Interaction Deep Dive

The aminoglycosides and methoxyflurane have both been reported to cause nephrotoxicity. Gentamicin and kanamycin may be more likely to cause this effect. There are only limited case reports demonstrating this interaction clinically¹².

Why it happens (mechanism)

Additive nephrotoxic effects

Common questions

Can I take Gentamicin Topical and Methoxyflurane together?

Renal dysfunction Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.

How serious is the Gentamicin Topical and Methoxyflurane interaction?

It is rated moderate. Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.

How quickly could this interaction happen?

The documented onset is "rapid". Effects can appear quickly, often within about 24 hours of combining the drugs.

How strong is the evidence for this interaction?

The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.

Questions for your pharmacist

Does my dose of Gentamicin Topical or Methoxyflurane need adjusting while I take them together?
What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
Is there anything you'd monitor while I'm on both?

References (2)

Mazze RI & Cousins MJ: Combined nephrotoxicity of gentamicin and methoxyflurane anaesthesia in man. A case report. Br J Anaesth 1973; 45:394-398. PubMed
Churchill D, Knaack J, Chirito E, et al: Persisting renal insufficiency after methoxyflurane anesthesia. Report of two cases and review of literature. Am J Med 1974; 56:575-582. DOI

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Gentamicin Topical

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All Gentamicin Topical interactions (75) Gentamicin Topical drug information

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Methoxyflurane

Keep reading about Methoxyflurane

All Methoxyflurane interactions (11)

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HelloPharmacist doesn't license one of the big commercial interaction databases, so what you'll find here is not a complete list of every known drug interaction. Instead, each entry is researched, analyzed, and written up individually — documented from the published literature, reviewed by a pharmacist, and cited so you can check every source yourself.

If a combination isn't listed here, it means we haven't documented it yet — never that it's safe. For screening a full medication list, we recommend pairing this site with a comprehensive tool like the Drugs.com Interaction Checker and, most importantly, a review by your own pharmacist. For a deep, plain-English, fully sourced explanation of a specific documented interaction — that's exactly what we built this for.

This information is for education, not a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without talking to your pharmacist or prescriber.