Amikacin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 30, 2024.

Applies to amikacin: injection solution.

Precautions

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you or your child are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you or your child should continue to receive it. Blood, urine, hearing, and nerve tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your or your child's symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have itching; hives; hoarseness; shortness of breath; trouble breathing; trouble swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after you receive this medicine.

Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you or your child have sudden decrease in hearing or loss of hearing, which may be accompanied by dizziness and ringing in the ears. Tell your doctor if you or your child have dizziness or lightheadedness; feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings; or sensation of spinning. These may be symptoms of a damage to your hearing or sense of balance.

Tell your doctor right away if you have trouble using your muscles or trouble breathing while receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have blood in the urine, change in frequency of urination or amount of urine, difficulty with breathing, drowsiness, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, swelling of feet or lower legs, or weakness. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem.

This medicine may cause nerve problems. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have numbness, skin tingling, muscle twitching, or seizures.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of amikacin

Along with its needed effects, amikacin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking amikacin:

Other side effects of amikacin

Some side effects of amikacin may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to amikacin: compounding powder, injectable solution, intravenous solution.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects included injection site paint and hearing loss (permanent in some cases).^[Ref]

Renal

• Common (1% to 10%): Azotemia, decreased creatinine clearance, decreased renal function, increased serum creatinine, increased serum urea
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Renal failure
• Frequency not reported: Acute renal failure, cells in urine, renal toxicity, toxic nephropathy^[Ref]

Renal function changes were usually reversible when the drug was discontinued.^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Hearing loss, permanent hearing loss
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Changes in caloric testing/electronystagmus, drug fever
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pyrexia
• Frequency not reported: Auditory toxicity, cochlear damage, deafness, generalized burning, high frequency deafness, lethargy, neurosensory deafness, ototoxicity, vestibular toxicity^[Ref]

Initial hearing loss usually manifests as diminution of high-tone acuity.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Oliguria, protein in the urine
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Albuminuria, red blood cells in urine, white blood cells in urine^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain^[Ref]

Injection site pain occurred with IM administration.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dizziness, paresthesia, tremor, vertigo
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Balance disorder, headache
• Frequency not reported: Acute organic brain syndrome, confusion, convulsions, eighth cranial nerve toxicity, loss of balance, neuromuscular blockade, paralysis, pseudotumor cerebri^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nausea, vomiting
• Frequency not reported: Increased salivation, stomatitis^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Superinfections or colonization with resistant bacteria or yeast^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash/skin rash
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Pruritus, urticaria
• Frequency not reported: Alopecia^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Muscle twitching
• Frequency not reported: Acute muscular paralysis, joint pain, myasthenia gravis-like syndrome^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anemia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Eosinophilia
• Frequency not reported: Purpura, splenomegaly^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): AST increased
• Frequency not reported: Transient hepatomegaly^[Ref]

Ocular

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Blindness, macular infarction, permanent vision loss, retinal infarction
• Frequency not reported: Visual disturbances^[Ref]

Blindness, macular infarction, and retinal infarction occurred after intravitreous administration.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypomagnesemia
• Frequency not reported: Anorexia, decreased appetite, weight loss^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypotension
• Frequency not reported: Hypertension^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic reaction, anaphylactic response, anaphylactic shock, anaphylactoid reaction, hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Apnea, bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory depression^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Depression^[Ref]

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• What type of drug is Arikayce?

Further information

Amikacin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer