PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

plazomicin vs tobramycin

Side-by-side comparison of plazomicin and tobramycin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
plazomicin Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
tobramycin Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
Type
plazomicin Prescription
tobramycin Prescription
Summary
plazomicin

Zemdri is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat complicated urinary tract infections.

tobramycin

Tobramycin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious bacterial infections in your body.

What It Treats
plazomicin

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.

tobramycin

Tobramycin treats serious infections caused by bacteria. This includes infections in the blood, lungs, brain (meningitis), belly, skin, bones, and urinary tract. It is used when other antibiotics might not work or are too harmful.

How It Works
plazomicin

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.

tobramycin

Tobramycin 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.

Common Side Effects
plazomicin
  • Decreased kidney function
  • Diarrhea
  • High blood pressure
  • Headache
  • Nausea
tobramycin
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Lethargy
FAERS Reports
plazomicin
  • Acute Kidney Injury 1
  • Antibiotic Level Above Therapeutic 1
  • Creatinine Renal Clearance Decreased 1
  • Drug Effect Less Than Expected 1
  • Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage 1
tobramycin
  • Off Label Use 1,939
  • Death 1,666
  • Infective Pulmonary Exacerbation Of Cystic Fibrosis 1,559
  • Pneumonia 1,450
  • Dyspnoea 1,373
Serious Warnings
plazomicin

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.

tobramycin

Tobramycin can potentially damage your hearing and kidneys. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or hearing loss before starting this medicine. Your doctor will monitor your kidney and hearing function during treatment. Report any dizziness, ringing in the ears, or changes in hearing or kidney function to your doctor right away.

Pregnancy
plazomicin

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.

tobramycin

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tobramycin may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if tobramycin passes into breast milk.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This plazomicin vs tobramycin Comparison

plazomicin is classified in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic drug class, while tobramycin 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, plazomicin has 5 submissions while tobramycin has 7,987. 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 plazomicin and tobramycin — 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.