Quinupristin/Dalfopristin, Injection kwih-NYOO-pris-tin dal-FOH-pris-tin

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antibiotic

Generic and brand names: quinupristin and dalfopristin, injection; Synercid

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is an antibiotic that is given by injection (shots) to treat serious bacterial infections, including some skin infections.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• liver disease

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein).

Usually your healthcare provider will give you these infusions while you are in a hospital and your condition is being monitored. Sometimes you may have these infusions at home. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What should I watch out for?

After you receive this medicine, you will be given another IV containing a small amount of sterile fluid to flush out all the medicine and help reduce irritation of your vein.

While you are receiving this medicine, or as late as two or more months after having taken the last dose of the medicine, you may develop diarrhea. If you develop diarrhea, contact your healthcare provider right away.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat.)

Serious: Severe diarrhea; yellowing of the skin or eyes; inflammation, pain, or swelling at the site of the IV; dark urine.

Other: Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, pain in your joints or muscles.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin) and erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.)
• anti-cancer medicines such as docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, and vinorelbine (Navelbine)
• anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nevirapine (Viramune), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antipsychotic medicines such as haloperidol (Haldol) and pimozide (Orap)
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and midazolam (Versed)
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), nifedipine (Procardia, Procardia XL, Adalat, Adalat CC), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cardizem SR, Cardizem CD, Dilacor XR, Tiazac), felodipine, nicardipine (Cardene), nimodipine (Nimotop), and verapamil (Calan, Calan SR, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Covera-HS, Verelan)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone, and prednisolone
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone; Pacerone), digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR), and quinidine
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• lidocaine

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.