What is Amikacin sulfate?
Amikacin sulfate injection is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria such as:
- Pseudomonas species,
- Escherichia coli,
- Providencia species,
- Indole-positive and indole-negative Proteus species,
- Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia species,
- and Acinetobacter.
Amikacin is also used in certain staphylococcal infections as well.
Amikacin binds to components of bacteria that produce important bacterial proteins, blocking protein synthesis which eventually leads to stopping further bacterial growth. Amikacin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to gentamicin and tobramycin.
Common side effects of amikacin sulfate injection include:
- loss of balance,
- muscular paralysis,
- fever,
- rash,
- headache,
- and low blood pressure.
Serious side effects of amikacin sulfate injection include:
- hearing loss and kidney dysfunction for individuals treated with high doses or for longer periods.
Drug interactions of amikacin sulfate injection include:
- amphotericin due to significant risk of loss of hearing and severe kidney dysfunction,
- and due to high risk of loss of hearing and kidney dysfunction, Amikacin should be used with great caution with medications like:
Amikacin is harmful to the fetus and should not be used during pregnancy unless there are not safer options. It is unknown if Amikacin enters breast milk. Use caution while breastfeeding.
What are the important side effects of Amikacin sulfate?
Side effects of Amikacin are:
- hearing loss,
- kidney dysfunction,
- loss of balance,
- muscular paralysis,
- fever,
- rash,
- headache, and
- low blood pressure.
Amikacin carries a boxed warning of loss of hearing and kidney dysfunction for individuals treated with high doses or for longer periods.
Amikacin sulfate side effects list for healthcare professionals
All aminoglycosides have the potential to induce auditory, vestibular, and renal toxicity and neuromuscular blockade. They occur more frequently in patients with present or past history of renal impairment, of treatment with other ototoxic or nephrotoxic drugs, and in patients treated for longer periods and/or with higher doses than recommended.
Neurotoxicity-Ototoxicity
Toxic effects on the eighth cranial nerve can result in hearing loss, loss of balance, or both. Amikacin primarily affects auditory function. Cochlear damage includes high frequency deafness and usually occurs before clinical hearing loss can be detected.
Neurotoxicity-Neuromuscular Blockade
Acute muscular paralysis and apnea can occur following treatment with aminoglycoside drugs.
Nephrotoxicity
Elevation of serum creatinine, albuminuria, presence of red and white cells, casts, azotemia, and oliguria have been reported. Renal function changes are usually reversible when the drug is discontinued. As would be expected with any aminoglycoside, reports of toxic nephropathy and acute renal failure have been received during postmarketing surveillance.
Other
In addition to those described above, other adverse reactions which have been reported on rare occasions are:
- skin rash,
- drug fever,
- headache,
- paresthesia,
- tremor,
- nausea and vomiting,
- eosinophilia,
- arthralgia,
- anemia,
- hypotension
- and hypomagnesemia.
Macular infarction sometimes leading to permanent loss of vision has been reported following intravitreous administration (injection into the eye) of amikacin.
Summary
Amikacin sulfate injection is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas species, Escherichia coli, Providencia species, Indole-positive and indole-negative Proteus species, Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia species, and Acinetobacter. Amikacin is also used in certain staphylococcal infections as well. Common side effects of amikacin sulfate injection include loss of balance, muscular paralysis, fever, rash, headache, and low blood pressure. Amikacin is harmful to the fetus and should not be used during pregnancy unless there are not safer options. It is unknown if Amikacin enters breast milk. Use caution while breastfeeding.
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Treatment & Diagnosis
- Bladder Infection
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)
- Vaginal Yeast Infection
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Infection
- MRSA Infection
- Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)
- Middle Ear Infection (Otitis Media)
- Giardiasis (Giardia Lamblia Infection)
- Inner Ear Infection (Otitis Interna)
- HIV Infection
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection
- Upper Respiratory Infection
- E. coli 0157:H7 (Escherichia coli 0157:H7)
- Zika Virus Infection
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection
- Enterovirus (Non-Polio Enterovirus Infection)
- Rotavirus Infection
- Urinary Tract Infections in Children
- Urinary Tract Infection FAQs
- Yeast Infection FAQs
- MRSA FAQs
- Strep Streptococcal Throat Infection FAQs
- Ear Infection FAQs
- Is It Easier to Get Staph Infection When You've Had it Before?
- What Causes Yeast Infections (Vaginitis)?
- What Is the Difference Between a Bladder Infection vs. UTI?
- How Do You Get Staph Infection?
- What Causes an Ear Infection?
- How Do You Get an Ear Infection?
- How to Get Rid of a Staph Infection
- Is there Over-the-Counter Ear Infection Medicine?
- Flesh Eating Bacterial Infection
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptoms
- Superbug Staph (MRSA) Spread in Community
- E. coli Infection Facts
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment
- Air Travel, Colds, and Sinus Infections
Medications & Supplements

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