amikacin vs plazomicin
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and plazomicin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikin
Zemdri
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Zemdri is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat complicated urinary tract infections.
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.
Zemdri treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults, including kidney infections (pyelonephritis). It is for infections caused by certain bacteria like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Because there is not much information on how safe and effective Zemdri is, use it only when other treatments are not an option.
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.
Zemdri belongs to a class of drugs called aminoglycoside antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
No common side effects listed.
- • Decreased kidney function
- • Diarrhea
- • High blood pressure
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
- Acute Kidney Injury 1
- Antibiotic Level Above Therapeutic 1
- Creatinine Renal Clearance Decreased 1
- Drug Effect Less Than Expected 1
- Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage 1
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.
Zemdri can cause serious side effects, including kidney damage, hearing loss, and muscle weakness. It can also harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, hearing problems, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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.
Zemdri can harm your unborn baby. You should not take Zemdri if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Zemdri passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking Zemdri.
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How to Read This amikacin vs plazomicin Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while plazomicin sits within the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 plazomicin has 5. 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 plazomicin — 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.