Key takeaways
Vancomycin (Vancocin, Firvanq) and daptomycin (Cubicin, Cubicin RF, Dapzura RT) are both antibiotics used to treat serious infections, but they belong to different medication classes. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic taken orally to treat *Clostridioides difficile* (C. diff) diarrhea and gut infections caused by *Staphylococcus aureus*. Daptomycin, on the other hand, is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic given as an injection to treat serious skin and bloodstream infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA). While vancomycin is available in both capsule and liquid forms and is taken multiple times a day. There is also an IV form of vancomycin but it is used to treat different bacterial infections. Daptomycin is administered once daily through an IV infusion. Both medications are available as a generic medication, whereas daptomycin is typically used in healthcare settings. Common side effects of vancomycin include nausea and stomach pain, while daptomycin can cause headache and diarrhea. Both medications can affect the kidneys, but daptomycin is less likely to cause kidney injury compared to vancomycin. Additionally, daptomycin can lead to a serious muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis, especially if taken with statins.
