Two medicines, side by side
Amikacin vs ampicillin
Amikacin and ampicillin are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of amikacin since 2018 and of ampicillin since 1966. Pharmacies paid $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) and $0.441 per ampicillin 500 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial and ampicillin a penicillin-class antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the amikacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025); the ampicillin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 21, 2025).
Highlights of the amikacin record
Amikacin (Arikayce) · label of December 10, 2025
Patients treated with parenteral aminoglycosides should be under close clinical observation because of the potential ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with their use. Safety for treatment periods which are longer than 14 days has not been established.
Used for
From the label: indicationsAmikacin Sulfate Injection is indicated in the short-term treatment of serious infections due to susceptible strains of Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas species, Escherichia coli, species of indole-positive and indole-negative Proteus, Providencia species, Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia species, and Acinetobacter ( Mima-Herellea ) species. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 28, 2018
- Generic labelers
- 6 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $2.33 per mL
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Highlights of the ampicillin record
Ampicillin (Penbritin-S) · label of February 21, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsAmpicillin for injection is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the following conditions: Respiratory Tract Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Staphylococcus aureus (penicillinase and nonpenicillinase-producing), H. influenzae, and Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1966
- Generic labelers
- 17 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.441 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Amikacin label of December 10, 2025, Ampicillin label of February 21, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do amikacin and ampicillin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial and ampicillin a penicillin-class antibacterial.
Half-life, in each label's words: Amikacin, “General Pharmacokinetic studies in normal adult subjects reveal the mean serum half-life to be slightly over 2 hours …”; Ampicillin, “Due to maturational changes in renal function, ampicillin half-life decreases as postmenstrual age (a sum of …”
Only the amikacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: amikacin since 1981; ampicillin since 1971 (Drugs@FDA).
| Amikacin | Ampicillin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Aminoglycoside Antibacterial | Penicillin-class Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | General Pharmacokinetic studies in normal adult subjects reveal the mean serum half-life to be slightly over 2 hours with a mean total apparent volume of distribution of 24 liters (28% of the body weight). | Due to maturational changes in renal function, ampicillin half-life decreases as postmenstrual age (a sum of gestational age and postnatal age) increases for infants with postnatal age of less than 28 days. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 28, 2018 | December 29, 1966 |
| First generic approved | January 22, 1981 | March 3, 1971 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 17 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) | $0.441 per capsule (Ampicillin 500 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -8% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 18,617 | 8,240 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to amikacin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions