Amikacin

Amikacin is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of serious bacterial infections.

• Amikacin is available under the following different brand names: Amikin

Adult and pediatric dosage

Injectable solution

• 50mg/mL
• 250mg/mL

General Dosing

• 15 mg/kg/day divided IV/IM every 8-12 hours

Urinary Tract Infection

• 250 mg IV/IM every 12 hours
• Extended Interval Dosing (every 24 hours)
• First dose: 15 mg/kg IV based on lean body weight

Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia 

• 20 mg/kg/day IV; may administer with antipseudomonal beta-lactam or carbapenem

Pediatric

General dosing

• 15-22.5 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided every 8 hours
• Neonates (younger than 7 days)
  • Younger than 29 weeks gestational age: 18 mg/kg IV/IM every 48 hours
  • 30-33 weeks gestational age: 18 mg/kg IV/IM every 36 hours
  • Older than 34 weeks gestational age: 15 mg/kg IV/IM every 24 hours
• Neonates (older than 7 days)
  • 30-33 weeks gestational age: 15 mg/kg IV/IM every 24 hours
  • Older than 34 weeks gestational age: 15 mg/kg IV/IM every 12-18 hours
• Neonates (8-28 days old and less than 29 weeks gestational age)
  • 15 mg/kg IV/IM every 36 hours
  • Use this dose for the following: significant asphyxia, indomethacin for PDA, poor cardiac output, or renal impairment
• Neonates (older than 28 days old and less than 29 weeks gestational age)
  • 15 mg/kg IV/IM every 24 hours
  • Use this dose for the following; significant asphyxia, indomethacin for PDA, poor cardiac output, or renal impairment

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See "Dosages."

Common side effects of Amikacin include:

• nausea, 
• vomiting, 
• loss of appetite, 
• loss of balance or coordination, 
• muscular paralysis, 
• fever, 
• headache,
• increased thirst, 
• low blood pressure,
• rash, and
• injection site reactions such as pain, irritation, or redness

Serious side effects of Amikacin include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• severe dizziness, 
• hearing loss, and
• kidney dysfunction

Rare side effects of Amikacin include:

• none 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them.  Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Amikacin has severe interactions with the following drugs:
  • amphotericin B deoxycholate
  • cidofovir
  • neomycin PO
• Amikacin has serious interactions with at least 24 other drugs
• Amikacin has moderate interactions with at least 71 other drugs.
• Amikacin has minor interactions with at least 61 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects.  Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drugs interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use.  Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist.  Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What are Side Effects Associated with Using Amikacin?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Amikacin?”

Cautions

• Caution in patients with renal impairment
• Not intended for long-term therapy; caution in patients with renal failure (not on dialysis), hypocalcemia, myasthenia gravis, and conditions that depress neuromuscular transmission
• Serious and potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, reported; before therapy instituted, evaluate for previous hypersensitivity reactions to aminoglycosides; if anaphylaxis or a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue therapy and institute appropriate supportive measures
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis reported; if hypersensitivity pneumonitis occurs, discontinue therapy and manage patients as medically appropriate
• Higher frequency of hemoptysis and bronchospasm, reported with treatment; if these occur, manage patients as medically appropriate
• Aminoglycosides can cause nephrotoxicity; close monitoring of patients with known or suspected renal dysfunction may be needed when prescribing drug
• Higher frequency of ototoxicity reported with treatment; closely monitor patients with known or suspected auditory or vestibular dysfunction; if patients develop tinnitus this may be an early symptom of ototoxicity
• Aminoglycosides may aggravate muscle weakness because of a potential curare-like effect on neuromuscular function; if neuromuscular blockade occurs, it may be reversed by the administration of calcium salts, but mechanical assistance may be necessary
• Higher frequency of exacerbations of underlying pulmonary disease reported with treatment; treat patients as medically appropriate if this occurs
• Aminoglycosides can cause total, irreversible, bilateral congenital deafness in pediatric patients exposed in utero

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use in life-threatening emergencies when no safer drug available.  Positive evidence of human fetal risk.  
• Excretion in milk is unknown, not recommended.