amikacin vs fidaxomicin
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and fidaxomicin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikin
Dificid
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Fidaxomicin is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat diarrhea caused by a bacteria called C. difficile.
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.
Fidaxomicin treats diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). C. difficile is a bacteria that can cause diarrhea. This medicine should only be used to treat C. difficile infections.
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.
Fidaxomicin is a macrolide antibacterial drug. It works by stopping the growth of C. difficile bacteria in your gut. This helps to relieve diarrhea and other symptoms caused by the infection.
No common side effects listed.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Abdominal pain
- • Gastrointestinal bleeding
- • Anemia
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
- Clostridium Difficile Infection 461
- Drug Ineffective 398
- Diarrhoea 339
- Disease Recurrence 178
- Clostridium Difficile Colitis 156
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.
Do not take fidaxomicin if you are allergic to it or any of its ingredients. Allergic reactions can include trouble breathing, rash, itching, and swelling of the face, mouth, or throat. If you have a severe allergic reaction, stop taking fidaxomicin and get medical help right away.
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 fidaxomicin will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if fidaxomicin passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medicine.
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How to Read This amikacin vs fidaxomicin Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while fidaxomicin sits within the Macrocyclic 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 fidaxomicin has 1,532. 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 fidaxomicin — 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.