amikacin vs ceftazidime
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and ceftazidime Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikin
Fortaz
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Ceftazidime is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacterial infections 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.
Ceftazidime treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria. This includes lung infections like pneumonia, skin infections, and urinary tract infections. It can also treat blood infections, bone and joint infections, and infections in the abdomen, the female reproductive system, and the brain (like meningitis).
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.
Ceftazidime belongs to a class of drugs called cephalosporins. It works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls. This kills the bacteria and clears the infection.
No common side effects listed.
- • Pain or swelling where you got the shot
- • Rash
- • Itching
- • Fever
- • Diarrhea
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
- Drug Ineffective 826
- Off Label Use 657
- Pyrexia 533
- Septic Shock 335
- Condition Aggravated 319
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.
Ceftazidime can cause a type of diarrhea called pseudomembranous colitis. Tell your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain or bloody diarrhea. This can happen during or after treatment.
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, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not fully known if ceftazidime will harm your unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
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How to Read This amikacin vs ceftazidime Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while ceftazidime sits within the Third-Generation Cephalosporin 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 ceftazidime has 2,670. 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 ceftazidime — 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.