Dalfopristin or synercid

Dalfopristin and quinupristin is a combination antibiotic that fights severe or life-threatening infection caused by bacteria.

Dalfopristin and quinupristin is used to treat severe infections in the blood and other body systems.

Dalfopristin and quinupristin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide

You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to dalfopristin and quinupristin.

Before receiving dalfopristin and quinupristin, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, or a history of any type of allergy.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Dalfopristin and quinupristin is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Dalfopristin and quinupristin is most often given in a hospital setting. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take up to 1 hour or longer to complete.

Dalfopristin and quinupristin is usually given for at least 7 days, or longer for more severe infections.

Before receiving dalfopristin and quinupristin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

astemizole (Hismanal), cisapride (Propulsid), or terfenadine (Seldane)

cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)

digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin)

diazepam (Valium) or midazolam (Versed)

methylprednisolone (Medrol, Duralone, Medipred, and others)

cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), tacrolimus (Prograf)

cancer medications such as vinblastine (Velban), vincristine (Oncovin), vinorelbine (Navelbine), docetaxel (Taxotere), paclitaxel (Taxol)

a calcium channel blocker such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), nisoldipine (Sular), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan)

HIV or AIDS medications such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), nevirapine (Viramune), or ritonavir (Norvir)

heart rhythm medications such as disopyramide (Norpace), lidocaine, or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex).