Oritavancin, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by IV to treat serious bacterial skin infections.
• If you develop severe diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than 2 or 3 days while taking this medicine, or for several weeks after you stop taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antibacterial

Generic and brand names: oritavancin, injection; Orbactiv

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 bacterial skin infections. It is not used to treat colds, the flu, or mild infections.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

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
• Kidney or liver disease

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

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

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause or worsen diarrhea. If you develop severe diarrhea or diarrhea that lasts more than 2 or 3 days while taking this medicine, or for several weeks after you stop taking this medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not take medicine to treat diarrhea without your provider's approval.

This medicine may cause an infusion-related reaction. Tell your healthcare provider if you have flushing, itching, or a rash on your face, neck, and upper body.

Serious bone infections have happened more often in people treated with this medicine than in people treated with other medicines. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

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

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, 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.): 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 or ongoing diarrhea; bloody bowel movements; severe nausea or vomiting; unusual tiredness or weakness; unexplained fever; severe stomach pain; flushing, redness, or itching during the infusion; fast heartbeat; shortness of breath; bone, joint, or muscle pain.

Other: Headache; nausea; vomiting; mild diarrhea, mild dizziness, 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:

• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek)
• Heparin
• 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.

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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.