Prescription medication · Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
plazomicin
Also sold as Zemdri. Zemdri treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults, including kidney infections (pyelonephritis).
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 3
- FDA reportsRarely reported
- Rx
- Availability
plazomicin (Zemdri) is a prescription Aminoglycoside Antibiotic. Zemdri treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults, including kidney infections (pyelonephritis).
Zemdri is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat complicated urinary tract infections.
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What it does
Zemdri treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults, including kidney infections (pyelonephritis).
Common side effects
Decreased kidney function, Diarrhea, High blood pressure
Key warnings
Zemdri can cause serious side effects, including kidney damage, hearing loss, and muscle weakness.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from plazomicin's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Zemdri is given through a vein (IV) over 30 minutes. The usual dose is 15 mg/kg every 24 hours. Your doctor will decide how long you need to take Zemdri, usually for 4 to 7 days. Your doctor will check your kidney function before and during treatment to adjust the dose if needed.
This is a plain-language summary of plazomicin's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of plazomicin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Zemdri, call your doctor right away. They will tell you when to get your next dose.
This is a plain-language summary of plazomicin's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store Zemdri injection in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for plazomicin, by number of reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
1 reports
- Antibiotic Level Above Therapeutic
Antibiotic Level Above Therapeutic
1 reports
- Creatinine Renal Clearance Decreased
Creatinine Renal Clearance Decreased
1 reports
- Drug Effect Less Than Expected
Drug Effect Less Than Expected
1 reports
- Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage
Gastrointestinal Haemorrhage
1 reports
- Renal Failure
Renal Failure
1 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.
Where plazomicin sits
plazomicin has more FDA adverse-event reports than 0% 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 plazomicin; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 3 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2021–2022.
Total Reports
3
Hospitalization Reports
1
Top Indication
Infusion
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1 |
| 2 | ANTIBIOTIC LEVEL ABOVE THERAPEUTIC | 1 |
| 3 | CREATININE RENAL CLEARANCE DECREASED | 1 |
| 4 | DRUG EFFECT LESS THAN EXPECTED | 1 |
| 5 | GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE | 1 |
| 6 | RENAL FAILURE | 1 |
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
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.
Common Questions
What if I am allergic to Zemdri?
Can Zemdri affect my kidneys?
Can Zemdri affect my hearing?
Can Zemdri cause muscle weakness?
What should I tell my doctor before taking Zemdri?
What are the most common side effects of Zemdri?
How long will I need to take Zemdri?
How is Zemdri given?
What if I have kidney problems?
Can I take Zemdri with other medications?
What are the common side effects of plazomicin?
What drug class is plazomicin?
Is plazomicin safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near plazomicin - same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
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amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
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amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
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ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
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azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
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What the FDA Data Shows for plazomicin
The FDA label for plazomicin (sold under brand names such as Zemdri) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Aminoglycoside Antibiotic class. Zemdri treats complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) in adults, including kidney infections (pyelonephritis). Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Decreased kidney function, Diarrhea, High blood pressure.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. 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: June 29, 2018
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