Telavancin

The Basics

What is Telavancin?

Used alone or with other medications to treat serious skin infections caused by certain types of bacteria; and to treat certain types of pneumonia.

Brand names for Telavancin

Vibativ

How Telavancin is classified

Anti-Infective Agents, Antibacterial Agents, Glycopeptides, Lipoglycopeptides

Telavancin During Pregnancy

Telavancin pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Telavancin while pregnant

Based on findings in animal reproduction studies, VIBATIV may cause fetal harm. There are no available data on VIBATIV use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In embryo-fetal development studies in rats, rabbits, and minipigs, telavancin demonstrated the potential to cause limb and skeletal malformations when given intravenously during the period of organogenesis at doses providing approximately 1-to 2-fold the human exposure at the maximum recommended clinical dose (see Data). Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

Taking Telavancin While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Telavancin?

Because telavancin is poorly absorbed orally, it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant or cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Monitor the infant for possible effects on the gastrointestinal tract, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and candidiasis (e.g., thrush, diaper rash). However, because there is no published experience with telavancin during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Because telavancin is poorly absorbed orally, it is not likely to reach the bloodstream of the infant or cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Monitor the infant for possible effects on the gastrointestinal tract, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and candidiasis (e.g., thrush, diaper rash). However, because there is no published experience with telavancin during breastfeeding, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.

Possible effects of Telavancin on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Telavancin

Clindamycin, Daptomycin, Doxycycline, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole, Vancomycin.