Two medicines, side by side
Amikacin vs piperacillin/tazobactam
Amikacin and piperacillin/tazobactam are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of amikacin since 2018 and of piperacillin/tazobactam since 1993. Pharmacies paid $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) and $3.49 per piperacil-tazobact 3.375 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 piperacillin/tazobactam a beta lactamase inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the amikacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025); the piperacillin/tazobactam FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 21, 2025).
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 piperacillin and tazobactam record
Piperacillin and tazobactam (Zosyn) · label of July 21, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsPiperacillin and tazobactam for injection is a combination of piperacillin, a penicillin-class antibacterial and tazobactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, indicated for the treatment of: Intra-abdominal infections in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older ( 1.1 ) Nosocomial pneumonia in adult and pediatric patients 2 months of age and older ( 1.2 ) Skin and skin structure infections in adults ( 1.3 ) […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 22, 1993
- Generic labelers
- 15 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $3.49 per vial
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 17
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Amikacin label of December 10, 2025, Piperacillin/tazobactam label of July 21, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do amikacin and piperacillin/tazobactam differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial and piperacillin/tazobactam a beta lactamase inhibitor.
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 …”; Piperacillin/tazobactam, “Excretion Following single or multiple piperacillin and tazobactam for injection doses to healthy subjects, the plasma …”
Only the amikacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: amikacin since 1981; piperacillin/tazobactam since 2009 (Drugs@FDA).
| Amikacin | Piperacillin/tazobactam | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Aminoglycoside Antibacterial | Penicillin-class Antibacterial, beta Lactamase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Piperacillin and tazobactam for injection is an antibacterial drug [ see Microbiology (12.4) ]. |
| 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). | Excretion Following single or multiple piperacillin and tazobactam for injection doses to healthy subjects, the plasma half-life of piperacillin and of tazobactam ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 hours and was unaffected by dose … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 28, 2018 | October 22, 1993 |
| First generic approved | January 22, 1981 | September 15, 2009 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 15 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) | $3.49 per vial (Piperacil-tazobact 3.375 g vial) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 17 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 18,617 | 33,494 |
| 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)
Do their labels mention each other?
Piperacillin/tazobactam label, drug interactionsPiperacillin and tazobactam is compatible with amikacin and gentamicin for simultaneous Y-site infusion in certain diluents and at specific concentrations.
Piperacillin/tazobactam label, drug interactionsZOSYN, which contains EDTA, is compatible with amikacin and gentamicin for simultaneous Y-site infusion in certain diluents and at specific concentrations.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to amikacin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions