Daptomycin for injection contains daptomycin, a cyclic lipopeptide antibacterial agent derived from the fermentation of Streptomyces roseosporus . The chemical name is N -decanoyl-L-tryptophyl-D‑asparaginyl-L-aspartyl-L-threonylglycyl-L-ornithyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanyl-L-aspartylglycyl-D-seryl- threo -3‑methyl-L-glutamyl-3-anthraniloyl-L-alanine ε 1 -lactone. The chemical structure is: The empirical formula is C 72 H 101 N 17 O 26 ; the molecular weight is 1620.67. Daptomycin for injection is supplied in a single-dose vial as a sterile, preservative-free, pale yellow to light brown, lyophilized cake containing approximately 500 mg of daptomycin for intravenous (IV) use following reconstitution with 0.9% sodium chloride injection [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.7 )] . The only inactive ingredient is sodium hydroxide, which is used for pH adjustment. Freshly reconstituted solutions of daptomycin for injection range in color from pale yellow to light brown. chemical-structure

What kind of drug is daptomycin?

The FDA classifies daptomycin as a lipopeptide antibacterial. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take daptomycin with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run daptomycin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is daptomycin sold under?

We track 4 daptomycin-containing products in the U.S.: Cubicin, Cubicin Rf, Daptomycin and Dapzura Rt. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does daptomycin come in?

Across the brands we track, daptomycin is currently marketed as powder and injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic daptomycin?

Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic daptomycin product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.

Daptomycin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibacterial sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names, for bacteremia and bacterial skin diseases. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Lipopeptide Antibacterial
Treats: Bacteremia and Bacterial Skin Diseases
Available as: Powder · Injectable
Sold as: 4 products — Cubicin, Cubicin Rf and Daptomycin, and others
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Yes
Typical price: about $623 for a 30-count supply

How daptomycin is dosed

From the FDA label for Daptomycin (application ANDA215215). Other daptomycin products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

Adult Patients Administer to adult patients intravenously in 0.9% sodium chloride, either by injection over a 2-minute period or by infusion over a 30-minute period. ( 2.1 , 2.7 ) Recommended dosage regimen for adult patients ( 2.2 , 2.4 , 2.6 ): Creatinine Clearance (CL CR ) Dosage Regimen cSSSI For 7 to 14 days S. aureus Bacteremia For 2 to 6 weeks ≥30 mL/min 4 mg/kg once every 24 hours 6 mg/kg once every 24 hours <30 mL/min, including hemodialysis and CAPD 4 mg/kg once every 48 hours* 6 mg/kg once every 48 hours* *Administered following hemodialysis on hemodialysis days. Pediatric Patients Unlike in adults, do NOT administer by injection over a two (2) minute period to pediatric patients. ( 2.1 , 2.7 ) Administer to pediatric patients intravenously in 0.9% sodium chloride, by infusion over a 30- or 60-minute period, based on age. ( 2.1 , 2.7 ) Recommended dosage regimen for pediatric patients (1 to 17 years of age) with cSSSI, based on age ( 2.3 ): Age group Dosage* Duration of therapy 12 to 17 years 5 mg/kg once every 24 hours infused over 30 minutes Up to 14 days 7 to 11 years 7 mg/kg once every 24 hours infused over 30 minutes 2 to 6 years 9 mg/kg once every 24 hours infused over 60 minutes 1 to less than 2 years 10 mg/kg once every 24 hours infused over 60 minutes * Recommended dosage is for pediatric patients (1 to 17 years of age) with normal renal function. Dosage…

Daptomycin side effects

The following adverse reactions are described, or described in greater detail, in other sections: Anaphylaxis/Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Eosinophilic Pneumonia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Tubulointerstitial Nephritis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Peripheral Neuropathy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Increased International Normalized Ratio (INR)/Prolonged Prothrombin Time [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 ) and Drug Interactions ( 7.2 )] Adult cSSSI Patients: The most common adverse reactions that occurred in ≥2% of adult cSSSI patients receiving daptomycin for injection 4 mg/kg were diarrhea, headache, dizziness, rash, abnormal liver function tests, elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK), urinary tract infections, hypotension, and dyspnea. ( 6.1 ) Pediatric cSSSI Patients: The most common adverse reactions that occurred in ≥2% of pediatric patients receiving daptomycin for injection were diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pruritus, pyrexia, elevated CPK, and headache. ( 6.1 ) Adult S. aureus bacteremia/endocarditis Patients: The most common adverse reactions that occurred in ≥5% of S. aureus bacteremia/endocarditis patients receiving daptomycin for…

Every daptomycin product we track (4)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Daptomycin products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Cubicin	72/100	Prescription	Powder	Generic	$623	View →
2	Cubicin Rf	72/100	Prescription	Powder	Generic

Frequently asked questions

What is daptomycin?: Daptomycin for injection contains daptomycin, a cyclic lipopeptide antibacterial agent derived from the fermentation of Streptomyces roseosporus . The chemical name is N -decanoyl-L-tryptophyl-D‑asparaginyl-L-aspartyl-L-threonylglycyl-L-ornithyl-L-aspartyl-D-alanyl-L-aspartylglycyl-D-seryl- threo -3‑methyl-L-glutamyl-3-anthraniloyl-L-alanine ε 1 -lactone. The chemical structure is: The empirical formula is C 72 H 101 N 17 O 26 ; the molecular weight is 1620.67. Daptomycin for injection is supplied in a single-dose vial as a sterile, preservative-free, pale yellow to light brown, lyophilized cake containing approximately 500 mg of daptomycin for intravenous (IV) use following reconstitution with 0.9% sodium chloride injection [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.7 )] . The only inactive ingredient is sodium hydroxide, which is used for pH adjustment. Freshly reconstituted solutions of daptomycin for injection range in color from pale yellow to light brown. chemical-structure
What kind of drug is daptomycin?: The FDA classifies daptomycin as a lipopeptide antibacterial. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take daptomycin with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run daptomycin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is daptomycin sold under?: We track 4 daptomycin-containing products in the U.S.: Cubicin, Cubicin Rf, Daptomycin and Dapzura Rt. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does daptomycin come in?: Across the brands we track, daptomycin is currently marketed as powder and injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.

Daptomycin drug interactions

CoA Reductase Inhibitors In healthy adult subjects, concomitant administration of daptomycin for injection and simvastatin had no effect on plasma trough concentrations of simvastatin, and there were no reports of skeletal myopathy [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. However, inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase may cause myopathy, which is manifested as muscle pain or weakness associated with elevated levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK). In the adult Phase 3 S. aureus bacteremia/endocarditis trial, some patients who received prior or concomitant treatment with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor developed elevated CPK [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . Experience with the coadministration of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and daptomycin for injection in patients is limited; therefore, consideration should be given to suspending use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors temporarily in patients receiving daptomycin for injection. 7.2 Drug-Laboratory Test Interactions Clinically relevant plasma concentrations of daptomycin have been observed to cause a significant concentration-dependent false prolongation of prothrombin time (PT) and elevation of International Normalized Ratio (INR) when certain recombinant thromboplastin reagents are utilized for the assay. The possibility of an erroneously elevated PT/INR result due to interaction with a recombinant thromboplastin reagent may be minimized…