amikacin vs amoxicillin/clavulanate
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikin
Augmentin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate. It is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body.
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.
Augmentin treats infections caused by bacteria. It is used for infections such as lower respiratory infections, ear infections, sinus infections, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. This medicine will not work for viral infections, such as colds or the flu.
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. Clavulanate helps amoxicillin work better by preventing bacteria from breaking down amoxicillin. This combination helps to fight a wider range of 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
- Drug allergy 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.
Augmentin can cause serious allergic reactions, including fatal ones. Stop taking Augmentin and get medical help right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. Augmentin can also cause severe skin reactions. Tell your doctor if you develop a rash. This drug 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.
Animal studies show Augmentin may be safe during pregnancy, but there are no good studies in pregnant women. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Amoxicillin passes into breast milk and may cause problems for the baby, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This amikacin vs amoxicillin/clavulanate Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while amoxicillin/clavulanate sits within the Penicillin / Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor Combination 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/clavulanate 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/clavulanate — 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.