Amikin

Who is Amikin for ?

Your doctor has ordered amikacin, an antibiotic, to help treat your infection. The drug will be either injected into a large muscle (such as your buttock or hip) or added to intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for at least 30 minutes, one to three times a day. Amikacin eliminates bacteria that cause many kinds of infections, including lung, skin, bone, joint, stomach, blood, and urinary tract infections. Amikin is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how your infection and symptoms respond to the medication.

When should I be careful taking Amikin ?

Amikacin can cause severe hearing and kidney problems. Before administering amikacin, tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially diuretics ("water pills"), cisplatin (Platinol), amphotericin (Amphotec, Fungizone), other antibiotics, and vitamins. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your health care provider immediately: dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, numbness, muscle twitching or weakness, difficulty breathing, decreased urination, rash, itching, or sore throat.

Before administering amikacin,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to amikacin, gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin, netilmicin (Netromycin), streptomycin, tobramycin (Nebcin), or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease, vertigo, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, myasthenia gravis, or Parkinson's disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking amikacin, call your doctor immediately. Amikacin can harm the fetus.

Amikin Side Effects

Amikacin occasionally causes side effects. To reduce this risk, your health care provider may adjust your dose based on your blood test results. Follow the directions in the IMPORTANT WARNING section for symptoms listed there and tell your health care provider if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• vomiting
• fatigue
• pale skin