Telavancin, Injection tel-ah-VAN-sin

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antibacterial

Generic and brand names: telavancin, injection; Vibativ

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is an antibiotic given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat serious skin infections. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

This medicine will not cure viral infections such as colds and the flu.

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
• diabetes
• heart disease, including heart failure or long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
• high blood pressure
• kidney or liver disease

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant because it may harm the baby. You must have a pregnancy test before you are given this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. If you need birth control, talk to your healthcare provider about what forms to use while you are taking this medicine. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

The injections are given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) by your healthcare provider, usually when you are in a hospital.

Read the Medication Guide that you are given when you start receiving this medicine.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause or worsen diarrhea. Severe bloody diarrhea may be a sign of a life-threatening condition. If you develop diarrhea while taking this medicine or within 2 months after the last dose, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not take medicine to treat diarrhea without your provider's approval. Some diarrhea medicine will make your diarrhea worse.

This medicine may cause flushing, itching, or a rash on your face, neck, and upper body. These symptoms are temporary, but you should alert your healthcare provider if they occur.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or lab tests, tell the healthcare provider you have received this medicine.

You may need to have lab tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for tests.

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

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): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe diarrhea; severe nausea or vomiting; unusual tiredness or weakness; dizziness; trouble urinating; decreased urination; fever; chills; severe stomach pain; flushing, redness, or itching during the infusion; chest pain; irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath.

Other: Headache; nausea; vomiting; foamy urine; change in sense of taste; decreased appetite; swelling, pain, or redness at the infusion site.

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:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), irbesartan (Avapro), and losartan (Cozaar)
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), levofloxacin (Levaquin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), promazine (Sparine), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, trifluoperazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• diuretics such as bumetanide, furosemide (Lasix), and torsemide (Demadex)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone; Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), procainamide (Procan SR), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF, Sorine)
• pain or arthritis medicines such as diclofenac (Voltaren), diflunisal, etodolac, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), oxaprozin, (Daypro), and piroxicam (Feldene)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

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.