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dalbavancin vs oritavancin

Side-by-side comparison of dalbavancin and oritavancin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
dalbavancin Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotic
oritavancin Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotic
Type
dalbavancin Prescription
oritavancin Prescription
Summary
dalbavancin

Dalbavancin is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacterial infections of the skin and tissues under the skin.

oritavancin

KIMYRSA is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat serious skin infections caused by certain bacteria.

What It Treats
dalbavancin

Dalbavancin treats acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). These infections are caused by certain types of bacteria. It can treat infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and other bacteria.

oritavancin

KIMYRSA treats acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adults. These infections are caused by specific Gram-positive bacteria. KIMYRSA can fight Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis, among others. Your doctor will determine if KIMYRSA is the right medicine for your infection.

How It Works
dalbavancin

Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic. It works by stopping bacteria from growing. This helps your body fight off the infection.

oritavancin

KIMYRSA is a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic. It works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls. This kills the bacteria and helps to clear the infection.

Common Side Effects
dalbavancin
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
oritavancin
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abscesses on limbs or under the skin
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
dalbavancin
  • Off Label Use 138
  • Rash 93
  • Back Pain 55
  • Pruritus 55
  • Dyspnoea 53
oritavancin
  • Off Label Use 173
  • Pruritus 162
  • Urticaria 105
  • Rash 84
  • Chills 83
Serious Warnings
dalbavancin

Serious allergic reactions and skin reactions have been reported. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. Rapid IV infusion can cause flushing, rash, itching, and back pain. Slowing the infusion may help.

oritavancin

You should not take KIMYRSA if you are using intravenous heparin. Do not use heparin for 5 days (120 hours) after getting KIMYRSA. Serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction.

Pregnancy
dalbavancin

It is not known if dalbavancin will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if dalbavancin passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medicine.

oritavancin

It is not known if KIMYRSA can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if KIMYRSA passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take KIMYRSA.

How to Read This dalbavancin vs oritavancin Comparison

dalbavancin is classified in the Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotic drug class, while oritavancin sits within the Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, dalbavancin has 394 submissions while oritavancin has 607. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between dalbavancin and oritavancin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.