Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Synercid

Descriptions


Quinupristin and dalfopristin injection is used to treat infections of the skin and the blood. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor. It is given by injection and is used mainly for serious infection for which other medicine may not work.

Quinupristin and dalfopristin belong to the family of medicine called antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines used in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. Quinupristin and dalfopristin will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of quinupristin and dalfopristin injection in children younger than 16 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of quinupristin and dalfopristin injection in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Astemizole
  • Atorvastatin
  • Cerivastatin
  • Cholera Vaccine, Live
  • Fluvastatin
  • Haloperidol
  • Lovastatin
  • Pravastatin
  • Simvastatin
  • Tacrolimus
  • Vinblastine
  • Vincristine
  • Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
  • Vinorelbine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Carbamazepine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Delavirdine
  • Diazepam
  • Diltiazem
  • Disopyramide
  • Felodipine
  • Indinavir
  • Isradipine
  • Lacidipine
  • Lidocaine
  • Manidipine
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Midazolam
  • Nevirapine
  • Nicardipine
  • Nifedipine
  • Nilvadipine
  • Nimodipine
  • Nisoldipine
  • Paclitaxel
  • Quinidine
  • Ritonavir
  • Verapamil

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Colitis (inflammation of the colon) or
  • Diarrhea, severe—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Liver disease—Liver disease may increase blood levels of this medicine, increasing the chance of side effects.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. The medicine must be injected slowly, so your IV tube will need to stay in place for 60 minutes.

To help clear up your infection completely, this medicine must be given for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. Also, it works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, quinupristin and dalfopristin must be given on a regular schedule.

Precautions

Your doctor will check your progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, call your doctor.

This medicine may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop receiving this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. If you have any questions or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Swelling, redness, or pain at the injection site

Less common

  1. Changes in skin color
  2. dry, red, hot, or irritated skin
  3. joint pain
  4. muscle pain
  5. pain
  6. redness, burning sensation, or pain under the skin usually in the injection site
  7. swelling of the foot or leg
  8. tenderness

Rare

  1. Agitation
  2. anxiety
  3. back, leg, or stomach pains
  4. black, tarry stools
  5. bleeding gums
  6. bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
  7. blood in the urine
  8. bloody, black, or tarry stools
  9. blue lips, fingernails, or skin
  10. blurred vision
  11. bone pain
  12. burning, tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs
  13. chest pain or discomfort
  14. chest pain, possibly moving to the left arm, neck, or shoulder
  15. chills
  16. coma
  17. confusion
  18. constipation
  19. convulsions or seizures
  20. cough or hoarseness
  21. darkened urine
  22. decreased urine output
  23. difficult, fast, or labored breathing
  24. difficult or painful urination
  25. difficulty with moving
  26. difficulty with swallowing
  27. dizziness
  28. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
  29. drowsiness
  30. extremely shallow or slow breathing
  31. fainting
  32. fast, slow, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
  33. feeling of warmth or heat
  34. flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
  35. general body swelling
  36. general tiredness and weakness
  37. hallucinations
  38. headache
  39. high fever
  40. hives
  41. inability to speak
  42. increased thirst
  43. indigestion
  44. irritability
  45. itching
  46. light-colored stools
  47. loss of appetite
  48. loss of bladder control
  49. loss of consciousness
  50. loss of strength or energy
  51. lower back or side pain
  52. muscle pain or cramps
  53. muscle stiffness or weakness
  54. nausea or vomiting
  55. no blood pressure or pulse
  56. nosebleeds
  57. not breathing
  58. pain in the joints
  59. pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
  60. pale skin
  61. problems with bleeding or clotting
  62. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  63. rapid weight gain
  64. redness, burning sensation, or pain in the vagina
  65. sensation of pins and needles
  66. severe bloody diarrhea
  67. severe or sudden headache
  68. shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
  69. shortness of breath
  70. skin rash
  71. skin rash with red patches
  72. slurred speech
  73. sore throat
  74. sores on the skin
  75. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  76. stabbing pain
  77. stiff neck
  78. stopping of the heart
  79. sweating
  80. swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
  81. swollen glands
  82. temporary blindness
  83. tightness in the chest
  84. tingling of the hands or feet
  85. total body jerking
  86. trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
  87. troubled breathing
  88. unconsciousness
  89. unexplained bleeding or bruising
  90. unusual tiredness or weakness
  91. unusual weight gain or loss
  92. upper right abdominal or stomach pain
  93. vomiting
  94. vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
  95. weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe
  96. wheezing
  97. worsening of the underlying disease
  98. yellowing of the eyes or skin

Incidence not known

  1. Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

  1. Acid or sour stomach
  2. ankle, knee, or great toe joint pain
  3. belching
  4. cold sweats
  5. cool, pale skin
  6. cramps in the legs
  7. depression
  8. excessive muscle tone
  9. heartburn
  10. hives or welts
  11. increased hunger
  12. itching of the vagina or genital area
  13. joint stiffness or swelling
  14. lower back or side pain
  15. muscle tension or tightness
  16. nightmares
  17. pain during sexual intercourse
  18. redness of the skin
  19. shakiness
  20. sleeplessness
  21. stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
  22. sweating
  23. swelling or inflammation of the mouth
  24. thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
  25. trouble sleeping
  26. unable to sleep
  27. white patches in the mouth, tongue, or throat

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.