Two medicines, side by side
Amikacin vs ceftazidime
Amikacin and ceftazidime are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of amikacin since 2018 and of ceftazidime since 1985. Pharmacies paid $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) and $3.70 per ceftazidime 1 g vial (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial and ceftazidime a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the amikacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025); the ceftazidime FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 4, 2026).
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 ceftazidime record
Ceftazidime (Fortaz) · label of May 4, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTazicef (ceftazidime for injection) is indicated for the treatment of patients with infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated organisms in the following diseases: 1. Lower Respiratory Tract Infections, including pneumonia, caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Pseudomonas spp.; Haemophilus influenzae, including ampicillin-resistant strains; Klebsiella spp.; Enterobacter spp.; Proteus mirabilis; […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 19, 1985
- Generic labelers
- 3 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $3.70 per vial
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Amikacin label of December 10, 2025, Ceftazidime label of May 4, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do amikacin and ceftazidime differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial and ceftazidime a cephalosporin 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 …”; Ceftazidime, “The half-life following IV administration was approximately 1.9 hours.”
Only the amikacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: amikacin since 1981; ceftazidime since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Amikacin | Ceftazidime | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Aminoglycoside Antibacterial | Cephalosporin 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). | The half-life following IV administration was approximately 1.9 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 28, 2018 | July 19, 1985 |
| First generic approved | January 22, 1981 | November 20, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 3 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) | $3.70 per vial (Ceftazidime 1 g vial) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 18,617 | 7,635 |
| 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