amikacin vs amoxicillin
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and amoxicillin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikin
Amoxil
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections. It contains amoxicillin, an antibiotic, and clavulanate, which helps the amoxicillin work better.
Amikacin treats serious infections caused by bacteria. This includes infections in the blood, lungs, bones, joints, brain, skin, and abdomen. It can also treat burns, post-surgery infections, and complicated urinary tract infections.
This medicine treats infections like lower respiratory infections, ear infections (otitis media), sinus infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. It works against specific bacteria that cause these infections. However, it should only be used when tests show the bacteria are susceptible to it, to avoid antibiotic resistance.
Amikacin belongs to a class of drugs called aminoglycosides. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Amoxicillin kills bacteria by stopping them from building cell walls. Some bacteria produce a substance called beta-lactamase, which can destroy amoxicillin. Clavulanate blocks beta-lactamase, allowing amoxicillin to effectively kill the bacteria.
No common side effects listed.
- • Diarrhea or loose stools
- • Nausea
- • Skin rashes
- • Hives
- • Vomiting
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
- Long-term kidney disease 4,661
- Sudden kidney damage 4,200
- Diarrhea 4,083
- Allergic reaction to the medicine 3,744
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,700
Amikacin can potentially cause hearing loss and kidney damage. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or are taking other medicines that can affect your hearing or kidneys. Your doctor should closely monitor you for hearing and kidney problems during treatment. This drug can also cause muscle weakness or breathing problems, especially if you are also taking anesthesia or certain muscle relaxants.
This medicine can cause serious allergic reactions, including fatal ones. Stop taking it and get medical help right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. This medicine can also cause severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor if you develop a rash. It can also cause liver problems and severe diarrhea.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Amikacin may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if amikacin passes into breast milk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Amoxicillin passes into breast milk and may cause harm to a nursing infant. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.
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How to Read This amikacin vs amoxicillin Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while amoxicillin sits within the Penicillin Antibiotic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amikacin has 8,117 submissions while amoxicillin has 20,388. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between amikacin and amoxicillin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.