amikacin vs ertapenem
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and ertapenem 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.
Ertapenem is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria 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.
Ertapenem treats moderate to severe infections caused by certain bacteria. It can treat infections in the stomach, skin (including diabetic foot infections without bone infection), lungs (community-acquired pneumonia), and urinary tract. It also treats pelvic infections. Ertapenem can also prevent infection after colorectal surgery.
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.
Ertapenem belongs to a class of drugs called carbapenem antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
No common side effects listed.
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Problems where the IV was placed
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
- Drug Ineffective 995
- Macular Degeneration 768
- Off Label Use 394
- Pyrexia 358
- Nausea 293
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.
Ertapenem can cause serious allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins or cephalosporins. Seizures have happened during treatment with ertapenem, especially in people with brain problems or kidney issues. Ertapenem can also cause severe diarrhea due to Clostridioides difficile.
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.
There is not enough information about ertapenem use during pregnancy to know if it is safe. Ertapenem does pass into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using ertapenem if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare amikacin with
Compare ertapenem with
How to Read This amikacin vs ertapenem Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while ertapenem sits within the Carbapenem 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 ertapenem has 2,808. 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 ertapenem — 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.