Daptomycin Injection

Conditions Treated

Daptomycin injection is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat certain blood or serious skin infections caused by bacteria. Daptomycin injection is in a class of medications called cyclic lipopeptide antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria. Antibiotics will not work for treating colds, flu, or other viral infections.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

Daptomycin injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• constipation
• vomiting
• stomach pain
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• headache
• increased sweating
• redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site
• unusual weight gain
• sore throat
• increased urge to urinate
• burning sensation when urinating

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• hives
• rash
• itching
• blisters or peeling of skin
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• cough
• new or worsening fever
• severe diarrhea with watery or bloody stools (up to 2 months after your treatment)
• muscle pain or weakness
• dark or cola-colored urine
• pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
• fast heartbeat
• dizziness
• pale skin
• confusion
• extreme tiredness

Daptomycin injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Daptomycin injection comes as a powder to be added to fluid and injected into a vein by a doctor or nurse. It is usually given once a day. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection being treated and your response to daptomycin treatment. You may receive daptomycin injection in a hospital or you may administer the medication at home. If you are using daptomycin injection at home, use it at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use daptomycin injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment with daptomycin injection. If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor. Use daptomycin injection until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop using daptomycin injection too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.

What Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Are There Any Special Instructions

Before using daptomycin injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to daptomycin or any other medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor, in Advicor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor, in Vytorin). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease.