Amikacin — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies
Compare real Amikacin prices at US and Canadian pharmacies, see official FDA uses and warnings, and find generic alternatives.
What is the typical out-of-pocket cost of amikacin without insurance coverage?
The standard retail price for amikacin without insurance is around $153.24 per 10 vials of 2ml at 500mg/2ml concentration. However, the actual price you pay can vary significantly depending on which pharmacy you use. Many patients find that using a prescription discount card or comparing prices across different pharmacies can substantially reduce this cost. Because amikacin is a generic medication rather than a brand-name drug, it tends to be more affordable than branded alternatives.
What should I expect to pay for amikacin if I have health insurance?
Your out-of-pocket cost for amikacin depends entirely on your individual insurance plan's formulary and your specific copay structure. Not all insurance plans cover amikacin, so contact your insurance provider directly to confirm whether the medication is covered and what your copay will be. If your plan does not cover amikacin or your copay is prohibitively high, you may want to compare prices using a prescription discount card or by shopping around at different pharmacies. This comparison can sometimes reveal lower prices than what your insurance copay would be, making it worthwhile to explore your options before filling your prescription.
Amikacin prices at US pharmacies
(Amikacin Sulfate) — vial, 2ml of 500mg/2ml, qty 20
| Pharmacy | Retail price | With discount card |
|---|---|---|
| Publix Lowest | $44.25 | $41.25 |
| CVS Pharmacy | $52.14 | $49.14 |
| Walgreens | $63.81 | $60.81 |
| Kroger Pharmacy | $78.50 | $75.50 |
| Harris Teeter Pharmacy | $78.50 | $75.50 |
| Walmart Neighborhood Market | $79.00 | $76.00 |
| Walmart Pharmacy | $79.00 | $76.00 |
| Food Lion | $79.20 | — |
Amikacin prices at Canadian pharmacies
No Canadian pharmacy pricing was found for Amikacin in our latest data pull.
Canada prices are converted to USD at time of collection and shown per tablet where available. Ordering from Canadian pharmacies is legal for personal use in most cases but subject to FDA/CBSA rules — see US vs Canada, explained.
What is Amikacin used for?
Amikacin is an injectable aminoglycoside antibiotic reserved for serious infections caused by gram-negative bacteria that don't respond to safer, more commonly used drugs. Hospitals typically turn to it when an infection is proven or strongly suspected to involve resistant organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, or Acinetobacter — bacteria behind severe pneumonia, bloodstream infections, complicated urinary tract infections, and bone or soft-tissue infections.
It's given only by intramuscular injection or IV infusion, always under close medical supervision. The FDA label carries a boxed warning for ototoxicity (hearing and balance damage) and nephrotoxicity (kidney injury), risks shared by the entire aminoglycoside class. Because of this, treatment is deliberately time-limited — safety beyond 14 days of therapy hasn't been established — and clinicians routinely check blood drug levels and kidney function throughout the course to keep dosing in a safe range.
Amikacin isn't a first-choice antibiotic for routine infections. It's a workhorse for resistant, hospital-acquired, or life-threatening cases, where the benefit of controlling the infection outweighs its narrower safety margin.
How Amikacin works
Binds the bacterial ribosome
Amikacin attaches to the 30S ribosomal subunit inside susceptible bacteria — the machinery they use to build proteins.
Causes fatal reading errors
This binding makes the ribosome misread genetic instructions, so the bacterium produces faulty, nonfunctional proteins.
Kills the bacterial cell
The buildup of defective proteins disrupts the cell membrane and kills the bacterium directly — amikacin is bactericidal, not just growth-slowing.
Typical dosage forms & strengths
| Use | Typical adult dose | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Serious gram-negative infections (adults, normal kidney function) | Weight-based, typically 15 mg/kg/day IV or IM, divided into equal doses | Injection / IV infusion |
| Dosing with reduced kidney function | Dose and interval adjusted based on renal function and blood drug levels | Injection / IV infusion |
General reference dosing from the FDA label — not personalized advice. Your prescribed dose may differ based on your infection, kidney function, age, and weight. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
Related & alternative drugs
Warnings & interactions
This is a summary of the official FDA label text, not personalized medical advice. It does not list every possible interaction or side effect. Always tell your prescriber and pharmacist about every medicine and supplement you take.
Common, usually mild
- Pain, redness, or irritation at the injection site
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
Serious — seek care promptly
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or dizziness (ototoxicity)
- Decreased urination or other signs of kidney injury (nephrotoxicity)
- Muscle weakness or difficulty breathing (rare neuromuscular blockade)
- Signs of an allergic reaction: rash, swelling, trouble breathing
Boxed warning
WARNINGS Patients treated with parenteral aminoglycosides should be under close clinical observation because of the potential ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity associated with their use. Safety for treatment periods which are longer than 14 days has not been established. Neurotoxicity, manifested as vestibular and permanent bilateral auditory ototoxicity, can occur in patients with preexisting renal damage and in patients with normal renal function treated at higher doses and/or for periods longer than those recommended. The risk of aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity is greater in patients with renal damage.
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS A history of hypersensitivity to amikacin is a contraindication for its use. A history of hypersensitivity or serious toxic reactions to aminoglycosides may contraindicate the use of any other aminoglycoside because of the known cross-sensitivities of patients to drugs in this class.
Warnings
WARNINGS See WARNINGS box above. Aminoglycosides can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Aminoglycosides cross the placenta and there have been several reports of total irreversible, bilateral congenital deafness in children whose mothers received streptomycin during pregnancy. Although serious side effects to the fetus or newborns have not been reported in the treatment of pregnant women with other aminoglycosides, the potential for harm exists. Reproduction studies of amikacin have been performed in rats and mice and revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to amikacin.
Notable drug interactions
| Drug / substance | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Other nephrotoxic or ototoxic drugs (e.g., vancomycin, loop diuretics) | Combined use raises the risk of kidney injury and hearing/balance damage. |
| Neuromuscular-blocking agents or general anesthetics | Amikacin can add to muscle-relaxing effects, raising the risk of breathing problems. |
| Other aminoglycosides | Not typically combined — overlapping toxicity risk without added benefit. |
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects; Pregnancy (See WARNINGS section.)
Amikacin, by the numbers
Additional public data points beyond retail pricing — useful context, not a price quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Amikacin cost without insurance?
Is there a generic version of Amikacin?
What drug class is Amikacin in?
Page info
Prices last checked 2026-08-21. Reviewed against FDA and DailyMed official sources — see our review process. Not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Christopher J. Graber, M.D., MPH, FIDSA, Infectious Disease