amikacin

Also known as 1-N-(L(-)-gamma-amino-alpha-Hydroxybutyryl)kanamycin a, O-3-amino-3-Deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->4)-O-(6-amino-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->6))-N(3)-(4-amino-L-2-hydroxybutyryl)-2-deoxy-L-streptamine, Amiglyde-v, Amikavet, Briclin, Amicacin, Amikacina

Key facts

Drug.Watchedfields: changed
Drug.verifiedrevid: 464364466
Drug.image: Amikacin.svg
Drug.image_class: skin-invert-image
Drug.image2: Amikacin 3D ball-and-stick 4P20.png
Drug.image_class2: bg-transparent
Drug.tradename: Amikin, Amiglyde-V, Arikayce, others
Drug.MedlinePlus: a682661
Drug.DailyMedID: Amikacin
Drug.pregnancy_AU: D
Drug.routes_of_administration: Intramuscular, intravenous, inhalation
Drug.class: Aminoglycoside

~18 min read

Article

13 sections

Contents

Medical uses
Available forms
Special populations
Adverse effects
Contraindications
Interactions
Pharmacology
Mechanism of action
Resistance
Pharmacokinetics
Chemistry
Veterinary uses
References

Amikacin is an antibiotic medication used for a number of bacterial infections. This includes joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infections. It is also used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. It is used by injection into a vein using an IV or into a muscle.

Amikacin, like other aminoglycoside antibiotics, can cause hearing loss, balance problems, and kidney problems. Other side effects include paralysis, resulting in the inability to breathe. If used during pregnancy it may cause permanent deafness in the baby. Amikacin works by blocking the function of the bacteria's 30S ribosomal subunit, making it unable to produce proteins.