amikacin vs sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim
Side-by-side comparison of amikacin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Amikin
Bactrim, Septra
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim is a combination antibiotic. It is used to treat bacterial 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.
This medicine can treat urinary tract infections, ear infections, bronchitis, and traveler's diarrhea. It also treats and prevents a type of pneumonia called Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Your doctor will decide if this medicine is the best choice for you.
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.
This medicine contains two drugs that work together to kill bacteria. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim both stop bacteria from making folic acid. Bacteria need folic acid to grow and multiply.
No common side effects listed.
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Loss of appetite
- • Skin rash
- Off Label Use 1,908
- Drug Ineffective 1,673
- Cough 1,620
- Dyspnoea 1,556
- Hospitalisation 1,360
- Fever 6,174
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 5,424
- Tiredness 5,208
- Diarrhea 4,754
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,728
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.
Rarely, this medicine has caused severe reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and liver damage, which can be deadly. Tell your doctor right away if you have a fever, rash, blisters, mouth sores, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine may not be safe for your baby. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This amikacin vs sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim Comparison
amikacin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim sits within the Sulfonamide 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 sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim has 26,288. 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 sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim — 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.