amikacin vs imipenem/cilastatin
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and imipenem/cilastatin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikin
Primaxin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Primaxin is a strong antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections in your body caused by certain bacteria.
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.
Primaxin treats serious infections like lung infections and urinary tract infections. It can also treat infections in the belly, female organs, blood, bones, joints, and skin. Primaxin can also treat infections of the heart. However, Primaxin is not for treating meningitis or other central nervous system 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.
Primaxin has two medicines: imipenem and cilastatin. Imipenem kills bacteria by stopping them from building cell walls. Cilastatin helps imipenem work better by preventing its breakdown in your kidneys.
No common side effects listed.
- • Phlebitis (vein irritation)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Vomiting
- • Rash
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
- Drug Ineffective 214
- Off Label Use 130
- Pyrexia 87
- Pathogen Resistance 80
- Product Use In Unapproved Indication 72
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.
Primaxin can cause serious allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins or cephalosporins. Primaxin can also cause seizures, especially if you have a brain problem or kidney problems. It can also cause severe diarrhea from C. difficile. Using Primaxin with valproic acid may cause seizures.
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.
Not enough studies have been done to know if Primaxin is safe during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This amikacin vs imipenem/cilastatin Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while imipenem/cilastatin sits within the Carbapenem Antibiotic Combination 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 imipenem/cilastatin has 583. 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 imipenem/cilastatin — 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.