What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Amikacin and polymyxin b
Amikacin's FDA label of December 10, 2025 names polymyxin b in its boxed warning section, and polymyxin b's label names amikacin too.
Check it at the source: the amikacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 10, 2025, Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.); the polymyxin b FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 9, 2025, Gland Pharma Limited).
What does the amikacin label say about polymyxin b?
Amikacin label, boxed warningConcurrent and/or sequential systemic, oral or topical use of other neurotoxic or nephrotoxic products, particularly bacitracin, cisplatin, amphotericin B, cephaloridine, paromomycin, viomycin, polymyxin B, colistin, vancomycin, or other aminoglycosides should be avoided.
Source: FDA drug label (Amikacin Sulfate), Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., effective December 10, 2025 (SPL set 20fa61ef-11e2-4d01-82ea-b5412cefaead), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the polymyxin b label say about amikacin?
Polymyxin b label, boxed warningTHE CONCURRENT OR SEQUENTIAL USE OF OTHER NEUROTOXIC AND/OR NEPHROTOXIC DRUGS WITH POLYMYXIN B SULFATE, PARTICULARLY BACITRACIN, STREPTOMYCIN, NEOMYCIN, KANAMYCIN, GENTAMICIN, TOBRAMYCIN, AMIKACIN, CEPHALORIDINE, PAROMOMYCIN, VIOMYCIN, AND COLISTIN SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
Source: FDA drug label (POLYMYXIN B), Gland Pharma Limited, effective May 9, 2025 (SPL set dc74dee2-1d0b-4fab-a29b-1755fdb5da75), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Amikacin | Polymyxin b | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections | Bacterial infections, Urinary tract infections |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $2.33 per mL 500 mg/2 mL vial | n/a |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once