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Drugs and Medicinal Substances

Amikacin

Antiinfective Agents for Systemic Use

Amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used against a number of bacterial infections, among them joint infections, intra-abdominal infections, meningitis, pneumonia, sepsis and urinary tract infections, and it is also used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. It is given by injection into a vein or into a muscle. It works by blocking the bacteria 30S ribosomal subunit, so the bacteria cannot make proteins, and it is derived from kanamycin. Like other aminoglycosides it can cause hearing loss, balance problems and kidney problems, and other side effects include paralysis that stops breathing; used in pregnancy it may cause permanent deafness in the baby. It was patented in 1971 and came into commercial use in 1976, and it is on the World Health Organization List of Essential Medicines. This entry records what is held about the drug and is not medical advice.

Facts
Classification
Approval Status
Approved 1
ATC Class
D: Dermatologicals 2
ATC Class
J: Antiinfectives for Systemic Use 2
ATC Class
S: Sensory Organs 2
Route of Administration
Intravenous 3
Route of Administration
Intramuscular 3
WHO Essential Medicine
Core List 4
First Approved / Isolated Year
1976 3
Sources
1. ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI: ChEMBL molecule record for Amikacin
ChEMBL, EMBL-EBImolecule record: max_phase
Quote, molecule record: max_phase
"max_phase": "4.0"
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2. RxNav RxClass, National Library of Medicine: RxClass ATC classes of Amikacin
RxNav RxClass, National Library of Medicine
  • RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code D06AX (main group D)
    "classId": "D06AX", "className": "Other antibiotics for topical use", "classType": "ATC1-4"
  • RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code J01GB (main group J)
    "classId": "J01GB", "className": "Other aminoglycosides", "classType": "ATC1-4"
  • RxClass ATC class of the drug (levels 1 to 4); ATC class derived from cited code S01AA (main group S)
    "classId": "S01AA", "className": "Antibiotics", "classType": "ATC1-4"
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3. Amikacin (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section of the English Wikipedia article
    Amikacin was patented in 1971, and came into commercial use in 1976.
  • Lead section of the English Wikipedia article [route-of-administration]
    It is used by injection into a vein using an IV or into a muscle.
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4. World Health Organization: The selection and use of essential medicines, 2025: WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list
World Health OrganizationPDF page 16; section 6.2.1; the entry amikacin is in the Core List of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list (2025)
Quote, PDF page 16; section 6.2.1; the entry amikacin is in the Core List of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, 24th list (2025)
amikacin FIRST CHOICE
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