Amikacin belongs to the aminoglycoside class of antibiotics. Its success lays in its ability to either kill or prevent the growth of the bacteria. Unfortunately, Amikacin dosingdoes not work on virus infections, colds, or the flu.
Amikacin isusually used to treat major bacterial infections, where other medicines have failed. While effective, it contains several detrimental side effects, including damage to hearing, balance, and kidneys, all of which occur predominantly in old people and newborns.
Amikacin Dose
Amikacin is usually given directly to the vein or muscle through an injection, every 8 hours or so. Medical weight, condition, and the effectiveness of the drug all factor into the dosage prescribed by the physician, who also determines the method and duration of use. In some cases, the doctor may also prescribe lab tests (testing the urine and blood) before determining the dosage of treatment.
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Treatment Conditions |
Amikacin Dose |
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Bacteremia |
15 to 22.5 mg/kg/day IV or IM in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Intraabdominal Infection |
15 to 22.5 mg/kg/day IV or IM in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Joint Infection |
15 to 22.5 mg/kg/day IV or IM in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Osteomyelitis |
15 to 22.5 mg/kg/day IV or IM in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Pneumonia |
15 to 22.5 mg/kg/day IV or IM in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Skin or soft tissue infection |
15 to 22.5 mg/kg/day IV or IM in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Urinary Tract Infection |
250 mg IV or IM every 12 hours |
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Meningitis |
IV or IM: 15 to 22.5 mg/kg/day in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Nosocomial Pneumonia |
20 mg/kg /day IV in 1 to 3 divided doses |
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Cystic Fibrosis |
Adult |
Doses of up to 35 mg/kg/day once daily by IV infusion or in divided doses every 6 to 8 hours have been reported. |
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Pediatric |
Doses of up to 35 mg/kg/day IV in 1 to 3 divided doses have been reported. |
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Febrile Neutropenia |
Adult |
Doses of up to 15 to 30 mg/kg/day IV in 1 to 3 divided doses have been reported in conjunction with a beta-lactam antibiotic. |
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Pediatric |
Doses ranging from 15 to 30 mg/kg/day in 1 to 3 divided doses have been reported in conjunction with a beta-lactam antibiotic |
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Peritonitis |
Adult |
2 mg/kg in 1 exchange/day (based on ideal body weight) intraperitoneally for anuric patients and 2.5 mg/kg/bag for nonanuric patients (investigational) |
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Pediatric |
Initial dose: 25 mg/L dialysate intraperitoneally |
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Tuberculosis - Active |
Adult |
15 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) IM or IV every 24 hours |
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Pediatric |
15 to 30 mg/kg (maximum 1 g) IM or IV every 24 hours |
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If at all possible, amikacin dosing levels should be gauged to a personalized level, in order to avoid excessive use. The physician should take note of both peak and trough levels of serum in the body throughout the treatment process. Peak levels occur between 30-90 minutes after the injection and should not exceed 35 mcg/mL. Likewise, trough levels occur immediately prior to the next dose and should not be above 10 mcg/mL. The mcg/mL number should always fall within this range.
Serious infections have resulted in peak and trough levels of 20-25 mcg/mL and 1-4 mcg/mL respectively. Additionally, peak levels of 25-30 mcg/mL and trough levels of 4-8 mcg/mL dosage have been recommended in life-threatening situations.
How to Use Amikacin Safely
If the treatment occurs at home, your doctor or health care provider will provide you with instructions on injecting amikacin into the body (both where and how to inject the dosage). If any confusion about the instructions persist, do not inject the dosage of amikacin into the body; call the doctor for more information.
Before taking an amikacin dose at home, learn all proper procedures and methods. Examine the product for any possible discoloration or particles—either one can indicate an unsafe product to use. Do not use if either are evident! When finished, discard the medicine in the proper method.
Continue the amikacin dose for the full treatment, even if symptoms improve in a few days; or else the bacterial infection may return. If the condition either continues after the treatment or worsens, contact your doctor.
Possible Side Effects of Amikacin
Serious side effects of amikacin include allergic reactions (hives, swelling of the mouth, face, tongue, a rash, or trouble breathing); a ringing in the ears, loss of hearing, little urine when using the bathroom, numbness or tingling feelings, muscle spasms, seizures, dizziness and loss of balance, cramps in the stomach region, and severe diarrhea. All of these are serious side effects. You should consult your doctor if any of these persist.
Some minor side effects include: an increase thirst, a decrease in appetite, a rash, or nausea and vomiting.
Warnings and Precautions
If you are considering using amikacin, consult your doctor if you are allergic to any antibiotics in the aminoglycoside class (gentamicin or tobramycin for example), or if you are allergic to anything else. Amikacinhas some inactive ingredients, including sulfites, which could cause an allergic reaction. Consult your pharmacist or doctor with any questions.
Be sure to divulge your medical history to your doctor before starting to use amikacin,especially if you have hearing problems, cystic fibrosis, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s, kidney problems, or low blood minerals.
Because amikacinis an antibacterial drug, it can negate bacterial vaccines, such as typhoid. Do not use those immunizations when using amikacin, without the approval from your doctor.
Additionally, be careful using amikacin during a pregnancy. While there have not been reports of any harm to babies of women who used amikacin, there have been reports in women who used similar drugs. Discuss the pros and cons with your doctor!