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Uses

What is daptomycin used for?

Daptomycin is an antibiotic that is commonly used for the following infections caused by certain bacteria.

Daptomycin may not be appropriate for some of the infections listed above, depending on which germs are causing the infection. Bacteria in some locations may have developed resistance to daptomycin, which will make it not work as well.

Daptomycin may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does daptomycin work (mechanism of action)?

Daptomycin kills certain types of bacteria by blocking their ability to create proteins and other substances that they need to grow and multiply.

How is daptomycin supplied (dosage forms)?

Daptomycin is available as an intravenous (IV) injection that is given by a healthcare provider.

How should I store daptomycin?

Daptomycin is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. If you will store daptomycin at home, follow the instructions given by your healthcare provider.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of daptomycin?

The most common side effects of daptomycin are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Fever or increased sweating
  • Dizziness or headache
  • Itching or rash 
  • Changes in liver function tests
  • Elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK)
  • Urinary tract infections
  • High or low blood pressure
  • Sepsis, which is when your body has a severe response to infection
  • Blood infections
  • Chest pain or shortness of breath
  • Fluid retention
  • Throat pain
  • Trouble sleeping

There may be other side effects of daptomycin that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of daptomycin?

While less common, the most serious side effects of daptomycin are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Daptomycin can cause allergic reactions, including a specific type of allergic reaction called DRESS. DRESS stands for Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms. It is also sometimes called multiorgan hypersensitivity. This is a reaction that can affect multiple parts of the body, including your liver, kidneys, and heart. Stop using daptomycin and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain
  • Dark colored urine
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Muscle Problems. Daptomycin can cause muscle problems, including muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness called myopathy. In some people, the muscle may break down (rhabdomyolysis), which can be serious and rarely lead to kidney damage and death. Stop using daptomycin and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis.

  • Unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness
  • Low energy levels or feeling easily tired, especially with activity
  • Dark-colored urine (pee)
  • Fever
  • Muscle cramps
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea or vomiting

Lung Problems. Daptomycin can cause eosinophilic pneumonia, which is a lung problem caused by an increased number of a specific type of white blood cell (eosinophils). The increased number of eosinophils can cause swelling and damage to the lungs, which can lead to breathing problems and even death in severe cases. Stop using daptomycin and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of eosinophilic pneumonia.

  • Fever 
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cough

Kidney Problems. Daptomycin can cause swelling of a small part of your kidneys’ filters, called the tubules. This condition, known as tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN), can cause your kidneys to not work as well as they should. Stop using daptomycin and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of TIN. 

  • Increased or decreased amount of urine (pee)
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fever
  • Rash
  • High blood pressure
  • Irregular mood swings
  • Confusion or drowsiness
  • Swelling throughout your body or weight gain

Nerve Problems. Nerves are the fibers that carry sensations from your body to the brain. Damage to these nerves, called peripheral neuropathy, can happen in people who are using daptomycin. Stop using daptomycin and call your healthcare provider if you develop pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea. An overgrowth of germs called Clostridioides difficile, or “C. diff,” can happen in your gut with many types of antibiotics, including daptomycin. This can cause a condition known as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and can happen even up to 2 months after stopping the antibiotic. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of this condition.

  • Watery diarrhea
  • Diarrhea that does not go away
  • Blood in your stool (poop)
  • Severe stomach cramps
  • Fever that starts after you start or finish the medicine

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use daptomycin?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use daptomycin.

  • Daptomycin
  • Cubicin
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific daptomycin products they stock.

What should I know about daptomycin before using it?

Daptomycin is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic.

If you will store daptomycin at home, do not share it with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them. Keep daptomycin out of the reach of children.

Use daptomycin as prescribed. Using daptomycin in a way other than it was prescribed may increase the chance that the bacteria will develop resistance to daptomycin. This may cause daptomycin to not work as well in the future. If symptoms of an infection return after using daptomycin, contact your healthcare provider.

Daptomycin can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how daptomycin affects you.

People who are 65 and older can be at greater risk for some side effects from daptomycin. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group. 

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using daptomycin?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if daptomycin is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following. 

  • Kidney problems
  • Lung problems, such as eosinophilic pneumonia 

Other Medicines and Supplements. Daptomycin may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using daptomycin, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known how daptomycin could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should use daptomycin while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Daptomycin passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should use daptomycin while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does daptomycin interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between daptomycin and food or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect daptomycin, but heavy drinking can slow your immune response and make it harder for your body to fight infection.

Does daptomycin interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are taking a statin, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) or rosuvastatin (Crestor) and others, which is a medicine to lower cholesterol.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with daptomycin. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much daptomycin?

If you or someone else has used too much daptomycin, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of daptomycin?

Daptomycin is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. Your healthcare provider will make sure you are receiving daptomycin as scheduled.