Amikacin Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Amikacin Injection is an antibiotic from the aminoglycoside class, used to treat certain serious bacterial infections such as bloodstream infections, meningitis, abdominal infections, and bone and joint infections. It works by killing or slowing the growth of bacteria and is given as an injection into a vein or muscle, usually by a healthcare provider. It will not work against colds, the flu, or other viral infections.

What is Amikacin Injection

Amikacin is an antibiotic that treats certain serious infections caused by bacteria. It belongs to a group of medicines called aminoglycoside antibiotics and will not work against colds, the flu, or infections caused by viruses.

Amikacin Injection uses

• Serious infections of the blood (bacteremia, septicemia)
• Meningitis (infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord)
• Infections of the abdomen (stomach area), including infections of the lining of the abdomen (peritonitis)
• Infections of the lungs and respiratory tract
• Skin and soft tissue infections
• Bone and joint infections (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis)
• Urinary tract and kidney infections
• Sometimes used together with other medicines to treat tuberculosis (TB)

Benefits of Amikacin Injection

• Treats serious bacterial infections that may not respond to other antibiotics
• Can be used for infections caused by many different types of bacteria, including some resistant strains

How Amikacin Injection works

Amikacin is an antibiotic that works by killing or slowing the growth of the bacteria causing the infection.

Amikacin Injection dosage

This medicine is given as an injection into a vein or into a muscle, usually by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. If you give this medicine to yourself at home, your healthcare provider will teach you how to prepare and give it correctly.

Use it exactly as directed, at the same time each day, and keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop. Finish the full course of treatment even if you start to feel better, because stopping too soon or skipping doses can let the infection come back and make bacteria harder to treat.

When given into a vein, it is usually given slowly over a period of time rather than all at once. Special care may be needed when this medicine is used in children. Put used needles and syringes in a special sharps container, not in the regular trash.

Available forms and strengths

• Injection (solution for injection into a vein or muscle)

Side effects of Amikacin Injection

Common

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Skin rash
• Fever
• Pain at the injection site
• Diarrhea

Serious

• Allergic reactions - skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Hearing loss or ringing in the ears, dizziness, loss of balance
• Kidney injury - decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet, unusual tiredness or weakness
• Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet, muscle weakness or twitching, seizures, confusion or trouble speaking, loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking
• Severe or watery diarrhea with or without fever and stomach cramps, which can happen even up to 2 months after treatment ends
• Unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
• Bruising, bleeding, fatigue and weakness (from low blood platelets)
• Infections, fatigue, fever, aches, pains and flu-like symptoms (from low white blood cells)

Warnings and precautions

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. 
• This medicine may harm the unborn baby, including causing hearing loss, so your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits with you.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. 
• As a general rule, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine.
• This medicine can cause serious kidney problems, especially in older people or people who are dehydrated. 
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, since your dose may need to be adjusted and your kidney function will be monitored.
• This medicine may cause serious, sometimes permanent, hearing problems, including hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or dizziness. 
• This risk is higher in older people or those who are dehydrated. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in your hearing or balance.
• This medicine may cause serious kidney problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have decreased urination, swelling of the face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or legs, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
• This medicine can cause nerve problems such as burning, tingling, or numbness in the hands, arms, feet, or legs, muscle twitching or weakness, or seizures. Tell your doctor if you have had these problems before.
• The risk of serious kidney, hearing, or other problems is higher if you are taking certain other medicines, so tell your doctor and pharmacist about everything you take.
• If you are having any surgery, including dental surgery, let your doctor or dentist know you are using this medicine.
• You will need regular check-ups and tests, including hearing tests, before and during treatment to see how your body is responding to this medicine.
• This medicine has not been studied for use longer than 14 days, so treatment beyond this time has not been shown to be safe.
• Do not treat diarrhea with over-the-counter products while on this medicine. Contact your care team if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or is severe and watery, as this could be a sign of a serious bowel infection.

Storage

• Keep out of the reach of children and pets
• If you use this medicine at home, you will be told how to store it
• Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date on the label
• Take unused or expired medication to a medication take-back program, or ask your pharmacist or care team how to safely dispose of it if a take-back program is not available
• Store vials between 15 and 30°C
• Discard any unused portion of the solution
• Discard the solution if it becomes dark colored

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing.
• Call your doctor immediately if you notice hearing loss, ringing or roaring in your ears, or dizziness.
• Call your doctor immediately if you have decreased urination, swelling of your face, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Seek medical help if you develop severe or watery diarrhea, with or without fever and stomach cramps, even if it happens weeks after finishing treatment.
• Get emergency help if you think you have received too much of this medicine, even if you do not have symptoms.

Alternatives

• Piperacillin + Tazobactam
• Meropenem
• Imipenem + Cilastatin
• Aztreonam
• Ciprofloxacin
• Levofloxacin