amikacin vs colistin
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and colistin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Cortisporin TC Otic is an ear drop medicine. It treats ear infections by killing bacteria and reducing inflammation.
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.
This medicine treats outer ear infections caused by bacteria. It can also treat infections in mastoidectomy and fenestration cavities. The medicine works against bacteria that are sensitive to the antibiotics in it.
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.
Cortisporin TC Otic contains antibiotics that kill bacteria. It also has hydrocortisone, which reduces swelling and itching. Thonzonium bromide helps the medicine penetrate the ear tissues.
No common side effects listed.
No common side effects listed.
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
No adverse event reports.
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.
Neomycin can sometimes cause skin sensitivity. This medicine may also cause hearing problems or kidney damage, but this is rare.
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.
It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare amikacin with
How to Read This amikacin vs colistin Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while colistin sits within the Polymyxin Antibiotic 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 colistin has 0. 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 colistin — 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.