dalbavancin
Dalvance (dalbavancin) is a glycopeptide antibiotic that's used to treat skin infections caused by certain types of bacteria. But it's usually used for adults and children who specifically have, or might have, an infection from resistant bacteria, which are generally hard to treat. This medication is often given as an infusion through the veins (IV) over 30 minutes for one dose. Even though Dalvance (dalbavancin) is given as an injection, it can still cause headache and stomach-related side effects like nausea and diarrhea.
What is Dalvance (dalbavancin)?
What is Dalvance (dalbavancin) used for?
- Skin and skin structure infections (e.g., cellulitis) caused by certain bacteria
How Dalvance (dalbavancin) works
Dalvance (dalbavancin) is a glycopeptide antibiotic. It works by stopping bacteria from making a cell wall (their outer protective covering). This causes the bacteria to become vulnerable to harm and have a lower chance of surviving.
Drug facts
Side effects of Dalvance (dalbavancin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (6%)
- Diarrhea (4%)
- Headache (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Itchy skin
Dalvance (dalbavancin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: hives, rash, blisters, skin reddening, swelling of the lips or tongue, trouble breathing
- Infectious (C. difficile-related) diarrhea: rapid heart rate, foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day)
The following Dalvance (dalbavancin) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Flushing, mostly over the face, neck, and chest, during injection
- Infusion reactions—chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, feeling faint or lightheaded
- Severe diarrhea, fever
- Unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Dalvance (dalbavancin)
Pros
- Typically only need to get one dose for the full treatment course
- Works well to treat skin and skin structure infections caused by hard-to-treat bacteria
- Can be used in children of all ages
- Don't need routine blood tests to check antibiotic levels in the body
- Not known to interact with other medications
Cons
- Must be given as an IV infusion by a healthcare provider
- Can cause infusion-related reactions (e.g., skin flushing, itching, rash)
- Only approved for bacterial skin and soft tissue infections
- No recommendations for use included yet in Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) clinical guidelines for skin and soft tissue infections
- Not available as a lower-cost generic
Pharmacist tips for Dalvance (dalbavancin)
- Let your care team know if you develop other symptoms of an illness or if your symptoms become worse. Dalvance (dalbavancin) can only treat infections caused by bacteria, so it won't help if you have an infection caused by a virus or fungus.
- Even though Dalvance (dalbavancin) is given as an injection, it can still cause diarrhea. Diarrhea as a side effect isn't typically serious.
- Get medical help as soon as possible if you develop watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, fatigue, or stomach cramps anytime during treatment or after stopping Dalvance (dalbavancin). These could be signs of C. difficile-related diarrhea, which can be serious and should be treated right away.
- Your care team will watch for any flushing, hives, itching, and rash during your Dalvance (dalbavancin) infusion. Also tell your provider if you feel back pain during or shortly after your infusion. These are all signs of infusion-related reactions. Your provider might need to slow or stop the infusion to make these reactions go away.
Common questions about Dalvance (dalbavancin)
In clinical studies, most people responded to Dalvance (dalbavancin) within 2 to 3 days of receiving the dose. Their infection started to get better or didn't spread 2 to 3 days after they received a dose of Dalvance (dalbavancin). These people also didn't have a fever 2 to 3 days after the dose. Contact your provider for further instructions if it's been at least 3 days since your treatment and you notice that your symptoms haven't improved or have gotten worse. Your provider might want to get a sample from your skin to check whether there's another type of bacteria that might be causing the infection, or they might treat you with different antibiotics.
It takes about 40 days for most of Dalvance (dalbavancin) to leave the body after a single dose in people with healthy kidneys. This time-frame is estimated based on the half-life of Dalvance (dalbavancin). Because the medication is cleared from your body through your kidney, Dalvance (dalbavancin) might stick around longer in people with kidney problems.
Dalvance (dalbavancin) is administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion. This means that it's injected into the veins over a certain period of time. Usually, a trained provider in a healthcare setting (like a hospital, office, or nursing home) will prepare Dalvance (dalbavancin) and administer the medication.
The Dalvance (dalbavancin) infusion typically takes 30 minutes. But your provider will slow it down if you experience reactions during your infusion. These reactions can include flushing of the upper body, hives, itchy skin, or rash. Slowing down the infusion to help with these symptoms might make your infusion take longer to complete.
Yes, you can safely take Dalvance (dalbavancin) if you're allergic to penicillin. The two medications are different types of antibiotics: Dalvance (dalbavancin) is a glycopeptide antibiotic, whereas penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic. They work differently to get rid of bacteria and have completely different chemical structures. So if you're allergic to one of these antibiotics, it doesn't mean you'll be allergic to the other.
Yes, Dalvance (dalbavancin) covers (treats) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (also known as MRSA). MRSA is a type of bacteria that's hard to treat since many antibiotics don't work against it.
How to save using GoodRx
Risks and warnings for Dalvance (dalbavancin)
Dalvance (dalbavancin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reactions or skin reactions
- Risk factors: Allergy to other related antibiotics
Severe allergic reactions to Dalvance (dalbavancin) are possible. These can include hives and life-threatening reactions like facial swelling or anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of an allergic reaction to get appropriate treatment.
Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
Antibiotics, including Dalvance (dalbavancin), raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Antibiotics change the amount of normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This can cause C. diff to overgrow in your gut and lead to an infection. C. diff infection can cause diarrhea that can sometimes be life-threatening.
This type of infectious diarrhea is different than the diarrhea you might get as a possible side effect of Dalvance (dalbavancin). C. diff-related diarrhea can cause rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, bloody stools, or frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day). C. diff-related diarrhea is a medical emergency, so get medical attention right away if you experience any of these symptoms. You'll get tested for C. diff infection and receive treatment, if needed.
Dalvance (dalbavancin) dosage
Typical dosage for Dalvance (dalbavancin)
Dalvance (dalbavancin) is given as an infusion into the veins (intravenous or IV) over 30 minutes. It's administered by a provider in a healthcare setting (e.g., hospital, office, nursing home).
- Age 18 years or older: The typical dose is 1,500 mg IV. The medication is either given all at once as a single dose, or given as 1,000 mg for one dose and then 500 mg one week later.
- Age 6 years to under 18: The dose is based on body weight. The typical dose is 18 mg/kg (up to 1,500 mg) IV as a single dose.
- Age under 6 years: The dose is based on body weight. The typical dose is 22.5 mg/kg (up to 1,500 mg) IV as a single dose.
Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems.
What are alternatives to Dalvance (dalbavancin)?
Dalvance (dalbavancin) images
