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Amikacin Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings

Brand names: Amikin, Amikin Pediatric

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 4, 2023.

Amikacin Pregnancy Warnings

This drug is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and the benefit outweighs the risk.

AU TGA pregnancy category: D
US FDA pregnancy category: D

Comments:
-Therapeutic blood levels in the mother do not equate with safety for the fetus.
-Some experts recommend: Aminoglycosides should be considered potentially ototoxic and nephrotoxic to the fetus.

Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of fetotoxicity, fetal harm, or impaired fertility with this drug. There are reports of total irreversible, bilateral congenital deafness in children whose mothers used streptomycin during pregnancy. Evidence of (probably reversible) damage to immature nephrons of the fetal kidney associated with gentamicin use, and eighth cranial nerve damage associated with aminoglycoside exposure in utero have been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

AU TGA pregnancy category D: Drugs which have caused, are suspected to have caused or may be expected to cause, an increased incidence of human fetal malformations or irreversible damage. These drugs may also have adverse pharmacological effects. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category D: There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks.

See references

Amikacin Breastfeeding Warnings

A decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-The effects in the nursing infant are unknown.
-Breastfed infants should be monitored for antibiotic-associated colitis, diarrhea, and/or candidiasis.

See references

See also

References for pregnancy information

  1. Product Information. Amikin (amikacin). Bristol-Myers Squibb. 2002;PROD.
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. Australian Product Information.
  3. TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian Drug Evaluation Committee. Prescribing medicines in pregnancy: an Australian categorisation of risk of drug use in pregnancy. http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/medpreg.htm 2010.

References for breastfeeding information

  1. Product Information. Amikin (amikacin). Bristol-Myers Squibb. 2002;PROD.
  2. United States National Library of Medicine. Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT 2013.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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