Amikacin

Description

Amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that fights against bacteria. It is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections of the lungs, skin, abdomen, blood, brain, urinary tract, bones and joints. Amikacin eye drops are used to treat bacterial eye infections. This medicine kills or stops the growth of bacteria causing the infection. It is not effective against infections caused by viruses. Common side effects of Amikacin are pain at the injection site, skin rash, headache, weakness, and dizziness. Do not use this medicine if you are previously allergic to it. High doses of this medicine may cause damage to your hearing, sense of balance, and kidneys. Perform your kidney function and hearing tests during treatment. Once an antibiotic is started, it is always recommended to finish the entire course of treatment. Amikacin should only be used to treat or prevent infections that are caused by bacteria. Using an antibiotic when it is not required can make it less effective for future infections.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Amikacin

  • Black or tarry stools
  • Blurred vision
  • Decrease in frequency of urination
  • Dizziness
  • Hearing loss
  • Muscle pain
  • Unusual tiredness and weakness
  • Skin rash
  • Vomiting
  • Swelling of eyelids
  • Eye pain
  • Visual disturbances
  • Pain at the injection site
  • Dilated pupils
  • Breathing difficulty

Uses of Amikacin

What is it prescribed for?

  • Intra-abdominal Infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Bacteremia
  • Bone and Joint infections
  • Bacterial Conjunctivitis
  • Bacterial Keratitis
  • Blepharoconjunctivitis
  • Strabismus Surgery
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Bacterial Meningitis
  • Skin and soft tissue infections
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of amikacin starts immediately after the administration. You will start to feel better in 3 to 5 days after receiving this medicine
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of amikacin lasts for an average duration of 8 to 12 hours.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Amikacin.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Amikacin should not be used during pregnancy unless there are no safer options. Use of amikacin in pregnant women caused some babies to have birth defects. However, in some serious conditions, your doctor may recommend this medicine if the benefit is greater than the risk of harm to the baby.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    It is best to be cautious before using Amikacin while breastfeeding because it is not known whether this medicine crosses into human milk. Hence it should only be used if the benefit is greater than the risk of harm to the baby. If used, the baby should be observed for symptoms such as diarrhoea and yeast infection.

Allergy

Avoid using Amikacin if you are previously allergic to it. Some patients may get allergic reactions to this medicine. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of allergic reactions such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulties, etc.

Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a skeletal muscle weakness condition characterized by severe weakness of any of the muscles under your voluntary control, including the arms and legs. Amikacin should be avoided in patients with myasthenia gravis since it may get worsen.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Amikacin should not be used during pregnancy unless there are no safer options. Use of amikacin in pregnant women caused some babies to have birth defects. However, in some serious conditions, your doctor may recommend this medicine if the benefit is greater than the risk of harm to the baby.

Breast-feeding

It is best to be cautious before using Amikacin while breastfeeding because it is not known whether this medicine crosses into human milk. Hence it should only be used if the benefit is greater than the risk of harm to the baby. If used, the baby should be observed for symptoms such as diarrhoea and yeast infection.
General warnings

Antibiotic resistance

The entire course of treatment with Amikacin should be completed, even if the condition gets better to avoid antibiotic resistance.

Contact lens

Do not wear contact lenses when you are using amikacin eye drops for treating an eye infection.

Hearing loss and kidney damage

High doses of Amikacin may cause damage to your hearing, sense of balance, and kidneys. Perform your kidney function and hearing tests during treatment.

Missed Dose

Injection: Since amikacin injection is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low. Eye drops: Try not to skip a dose of amikacin eye drops. And if a dose is skipped, do not add it up to the next dose.

Overdose

Injection: Since amikacin injection is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected. Eye drops: Seek emergency medical attention in case of an overdose with amikacin eye drops.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine

Ethinyl Estradiol

Furosemide

Aspirin

Adefovir

Ceftriaxone

Vancomycin

Disease interactions

Impaired kidney function

Patients with kidney diseases need special consideration while using Amikacin due to the risk of kidney damage. Dose adjustment should be done based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
What is amikacin used to treat? Well, amikacin classification is aminoglycosides and used to treat bacterial infections affecting the lungs, skin, abdomen, blood, brain, urinary tract, eyes, bones and joints. It is available as an injection and eye drops. Injection: Amikacin injectables should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting. Report any undesirable side effects to the doctor promptly. Amikacin injection is available as strength of amikacin 100mg, amikacin 250 mg and amikacin 500 mg. Amikacin dosage will be determined by your doctor. Eyedrops: Use as directed by the doctor.
Miscelleneous

Usage does not depend on food timings

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
Amikacin works by preventing the formation of bacterial cell walls. This helps in stopping the growth and multiplication of the microorganism, eventually killing it.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Aminoglycosides, Antibiotics

Schedule

Schedule H

Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Dailymed - AMIKACIN SULFATE Injection. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 January 2021].

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0b56f6df-a05d-4520-8bf0-d7cefe20f6ad##>

Drugs, H., 2021. Amikacin Injection: Medlineplus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: < [Accessed 7 January 2021].

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682661.html>

Jawapharma.com. 2021. Jawa Pharmaceuticals (INDIA) Pvt. Ltd.- Manufacturer And Supplier Of Eye Drops, Eye Lubricant, Ear Drops, Eye Ointment, Ear Ointment Jaipur,Noida,Rajasthan,India, Antibacterial Eye Drops, Antibacterial Eye Ointment, Antibacterial And Steroid Drops, Antibacterial And Steroid Ointment, Antibacterial And NSAID Drops, NSAID Drops, Antiallergic Eye Drops, Anti Catract Eye Drops, Antibacterial Eye Drop, Corneal Conjuctivial OEDEMA, Mydriatic & Cycloplegic Drops, Antifungal, Anti Glaucoma, Antiviral Ointment, Eye Lubricant, Eye Drops, Ear Drops, Eye Ointment, Ear Ointment Jaipur,Noida,Rajasthan,India, Eye Drops Manufacturer, Ear Drops Manufacturer, Eye Drops Suppliers, Ear Drops Suppliers, Eye Ointment Manufacturer, Ear Ointment Manufacturer, Eye Ointment Suppliers, Ear Ointment Suppliers, Manufacturer Of Eye Drops, Supplier Of Eye Drops, Manufacturer Of Ear Drops, Supplier Of Ear Drops, Manufacturer Of Eye Ointment, Supplier Of Eye Ointment, Manufacturer Of Ear Ointment, Suppliers Of Ear Ointment, Eye Drops Manufacturer Jaipur.Html,Noida,Rajasthan,India, Ear Drops Manufacturer Jaipur,Noida,Rajasthan,India , Ear Ointment Manufacturer Jaipur,Noida,Rajasthan,India, Eye Ointment Manufacturer Jaipur,Noida,Rajasthan,India , Eye Drops Supplier Jaipur,Noida,Rajasthan,India, Ear Drops Supplier Jaipur,Noida,Rajasthan,India. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 January 2021].

http://www.jawapharma.com/manufacturer%20and%20supplier%20of%20antibacterial%20eye%20drops.html>

Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Amikacin 250 Mg/Ml Injection - Summary Of Product Characteristics (Smpc) - (Emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 January 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/619>

Go.drugbank.com. 2021. Amikacin | Drugbank Online. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 January 2021].

https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00479>

Glowm.com. 2021. Amikacin Sulfate. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 January 2021].

https://www.glowm.com/resources/glowm/cd/pages/drugs/a027.html>

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Information on this page was last updated on 9 Feb 2021

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