Prescription medication · Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
amikacin
Also sold as Amikin. Amikacin treats serious infections caused by bacteria.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 16,238
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- Rx
- Availability
What the data shows
amikacin (Amikin) is a prescription Aminoglycoside Antibiotic, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (16,238 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
amikacin (Amikin) is a prescription Aminoglycoside Antibiotic. Amikacin treats serious infections caused by bacteria.
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights serious infections caused by certain types of bacteria.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
What it does
Amikacin treats serious infections caused by bacteria.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
Amikacin can potentially cause hearing loss and kidney damage.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from amikacin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Amikacin is given as an injection into a muscle or vein. Your doctor will decide the right dose for you based on your weight and kidney function. It is usually given 2 or 3 times a day. Treatment usually lasts 7 to 10 days.
This is a plain-language summary of amikacin's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of amikacin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor right away if you miss a dose. They will tell you when to get your next injection.
This is a plain-language summary of amikacin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 16,238 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for amikacin, by number of reports
- Cough
Cough
1,620 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
1,556 reports
- Hospitalisation
Hospitalisation
1,360 reports
- Therapy Interrupted
Therapy Interrupted
1,348 reports
- Death
Death
1,103 reports
- Dysphonia
Dysphonia
977 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
721 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
702 reports
- Pneumonia
Pneumonia
649 reports
- Diarrhoea 634
Diarrhoea
634 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for amikacin each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where amikacin sits
amikacin has more FDA adverse-event reports than 50% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is amikacin; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 16,238 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
16,238
Reports Mentioning Death
3,283
20.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
6,935
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | COUGH | 1,620 |
| 4 | DYSPNOEA | 1,556 |
| 5 | HOSPITALISATION | 1,360 |
| 6 | THERAPY INTERRUPTED | 1,348 |
| 7 | DEATH | 1,103 |
| 8 | DYSPHONIA | 977 |
| 10 | NAUSEA | 721 |
| 11 | FATIGUE | 702 |
| 12 | PNEUMONIA | 649 |
| 13 | DIARRHOEA | 634 |
| 14 | PYREXIA | 632 |
| 15 | PRODUCTIVE COUGH | 598 |
| 16 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 566 |
| 17 | DRUG RESISTANCE | 554 |
| 19 | APHONIA | 491 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs can be harmful to the kidneys. Using them together significantly increases the chance of kidney injury.
What to do: You should not take these medicines together. Your doctor will need to change your treatment plan to avoid this combination.
ZOSYN, which contains EDTA, is compatible with amikacin and gentamicin for simultaneous Y-site infusion in certain diluents and at specific concentrations.
Mechanism: These two drugs can be given through the same IV line at the same time as long as they are mixed in specific liquids and at certain strengths.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should follow specific mixing instructions to ensure both medications remain safe and effective.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
How long will I need to take amikacin?
What tests will be done while I am taking amikacin?
Can amikacin affect my hearing?
Can amikacin affect my kidneys?
What should I do if I experience dizziness or hearing changes?
Can I take amikacin if I am allergic to other antibiotics?
Will amikacin interact with other medications I am taking?
How will I know if the amikacin is working?
Are there any long-term side effects of amikacin?
When should I call my doctor?
Does amikacin interact with other medications?
What drug class is amikacin?
Is amikacin safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near amikacin - same-class peers and common alternatives.
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with amikacin →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with amikacin →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with amikacin →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
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cefazolin
Ancef, Kefzol
Cefazolin is an antibiotic medicine.
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Medication Guides
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Common Drug Interactions
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What the FDA Data Shows for amikacin
The FDA label for amikacin (sold under brand names such as Amikin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic class. Amikacin treats serious infections caused by bacteria. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 16,238 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: April 8, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages