Two medicines, side by side
Amikacin vs ceftriaxone
Amikacin and ceftriaxone are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of amikacin since 2018 and of ceftriaxone since 1984. Pharmacies paid $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) and $1.44 per ceftriaxone 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 ceftriaxone a cephalosporin antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the amikacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025); the ceftriaxone FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 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 ceftriaxone record
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) · label of February 4, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBefore instituting treatment with Ceftriaxone for injection, USP, appropriate specimens should be obtained for isolation of the causative organism and for determination of its susceptibility to the drug. Therapy may be instituted prior to obtaining results of susceptibility testing. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 21, 1984
- Generic labelers
- 16 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $1.44 per vial
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 20
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Amikacin label of December 10, 2025, Ceftriaxone label of February 4, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do amikacin and ceftriaxone differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial and ceftriaxone 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 …”; Ceftriaxone, “Based on middle ear fluid ceftriaxone concentrations in the 23 to 25 hour and the 46 to 50 hour sampling time …”
Only the amikacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: amikacin since 1981; ceftriaxone since 1987 (Drugs@FDA).
| Amikacin | Ceftriaxone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Urinary tract infections, Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Aminoglycoside Antibacterial | Cephalosporin Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Microbiology: Mechanism of Action Ceftriaxone is a bactericidal agent that acts by inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis. |
| 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). | Based on middle ear fluid ceftriaxone concentrations in the 23 to 25 hour and the 46 to 50 hour sampling time intervals, a half-life of 25 hours was calculated. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 28, 2018 | December 21, 1984 |
| First generic approved | January 22, 1981 | April 30, 1987 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 16 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) | $1.44 per vial (Ceftriaxone 1 g vial) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 20 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 18,617 | 38,242 |
| 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