Telavancin

Generic name: Telavancin
Brand names: Vibativ
Dosage form: intravenous powder for injection (750 mg)
Drug class: Glycopeptide antibiotics

Usage of Telavancin

Telavancin is an antibiotic that is used to treat severe skin infections caused by bacteria.

Telavancin is also used to treat pneumonia in a hospital setting, or pneumonia that can develop while using a ventilator (artificial breathing machine).

Telavancin may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Telavancin side effects

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your caregiver if you feel itchy or tingly, or have a red rash during the injection.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; rapid heartbeats; difficult breathing, fainting; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Telavancin may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody (even if it occurs months after your last dose);

fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out); or

signs of kidney problems--little or no urinating, swelling in your ankles or feet, weight gain, or urine that looks foamy.

Common side effects of telavancin may include:

foamy urine;

nausea, vomiting;

diarrhea; or

changes in your sense of taste.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Telavancin

You should not use telavancin if you are allergic to telavancin, or if you are also using a certain type of heparin.

Certain people may be at greater risk of death from using televancin compared with another antibiotic called vancomycin. This risk has been highest in people with pre-existing kidney problems who use telavancin to treat pneumonia they had developed while in a hospital.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

kidney problems;

diabetes;

heart disease, high blood pressure;

long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);

if you are allergic to vancomycin; or

if you have routine "INR" or prothrombin time tests.

If you are able to become pregnant, you may need a pregnancy test before you start using telavancin. You are considered able to become pregnant unless you have ovarian failure, have had a tubal ligation or hysterectomy, or have been in menopause or not had a menstrual period in 2 years.

You may not be able to use this medicine if you are pregnant. In animal studies, telavancin caused birth defects. However, it is not known whether these effects would occur in humans. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of telavancin on the baby.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Relate drugs

How to use Telavancin

Usual Adult Dose for Skin and Structure Infection:

10 mg/kg by IV infusion over 60 minutes every 24 hours for 7 to 14 days Comments: -Therapy duration should be guided by the severity and site of the infection and the patient's clinical progress.Use: Treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by susceptible isolates of the following Gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus anginosus group (includes S. anginosus, S. intermedius, S. constellatus), or Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates only).

Usual Adult Dose for Nosocomial Pneumonia:

10 mg/kg by IV infusion over 60 minutes every 24 hours for 7 to 21 daysComments:-Therapy duration should be guided by the severity of the infection and the patient's clinical progress.-This drug should be reserved for use when alternative treatments are not suitable.Use: Treatment of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) caused by susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates).

Warnings

Certain people may be at greater risk of death from using televancin compared with another antibiotic called vancomycin, especially people with kidney problems who use telavancin for pneumonia that can develop while in a hospital.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of kidney problems. Your kidney function will need to be checked before, during and after treatment with telavancin.

You may not be able to use telavancin if you are pregnant. In animal studies, telavancin caused birth defects. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

What other drugs will affect Telavancin

Telavancin can harm your kidneys or cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, HIV, osteoporosis, organ transplant rejection, bowel disorders, or pain or arthritis (including Advil, Motrin, and Aleve).

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

a diuretic or "water pill";

heart rhythm medicine;

a blood thinner--warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven;

certain heart or blood pressure medicine--Benazepril, Candesartan, Captopril, Enalapril, irbesartan, lisinopril, losartan, olmesartan, Telmisartan, trandolapril, valsartan, and others; or

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), Celecoxib, diclofenac, Indomethacin, Meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect telavancin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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