Two medicines, side by side
Amikacin vs tetracycline
Amikacin and tetracycline are both labeled for bacterial infections. Drugs@FDA records approvals of amikacin since 2018 and of tetracycline since 1953. Pharmacies paid $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) and $0.247 per tetracycline 250 mg capsule (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 tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Check it at the source: the amikacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025); the tetracycline FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 18, 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 tetracycline record
Tetracycline (Achromycin) · label of March 18, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsTo reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of tetracycline hydrochloride and other antibacterial drugs, tetracycline hydrochloride should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 1953
- Generic labelers
- 10 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.247 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Amikacin label of December 10, 2025, Tetracycline label of March 18, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do amikacin and tetracycline differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibacterial and tetracycline a tetracycline-class antimicrobial.
Only the amikacin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: amikacin since 1981; tetracycline since 1954 (Drugs@FDA).
| Amikacin | Tetracycline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections |
| Pharmacologic class | Aminoglycoside Antibacterial | Tetracycline-class Antimicrobial |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| 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). | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | September 28, 2018 | November 19, 1953 |
| First generic approved | January 22, 1981 | September 17, 1954 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 6 labelers | 10 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $2.33 per mL (Amikacin sulf 500 mg/2 mL vial) | $0.247 per capsule (Tetracycline 250 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -23% | -65% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 18,617 | 767 |
| 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)
What next?
- Alternatives to amikacin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions