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fidaxomicin Side Effects

Also known as: Dificid

Analysis of 2,273 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2011 to 2025.

Total Reports

2,273

Death-Related

248

10.9% of reports

Hospitalizations

699

30.8% of reports

Top Indication

Clostridium Difficile Infection

Most Reported Adverse Reactions

CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION
461
DRUG INEFFECTIVE
398
DIARRHOEA
339
DISEASE RECURRENCE
178
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE COLITIS
156
OFF LABEL USE
128
NAUSEA
120
TREATMENT FAILURE
119
ABDOMINAL PAIN
85
NO ADVERSE EVENT
81
PYREXIA
74
DEATH
69
VOMITING
69
FATIGUE
55
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY
52
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE
48
PRODUCT USE ISSUE
47
CLOSTRIDIUM TEST POSITIVE
46
DYSPNOEA
44
MALAISE
44

Who Reports Side Effects

Gender Distribution

Female 1,221 (60%)
Male 738 (36%)
Unknown 84

Age Distribution

0-17 61 (4%)
18-44 200 (14%)
45-64 412 (29%)
65-74 326 (23%)
75+ 422 (30%)

Reporting Trend by Year

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

Reactions in Death Reports

Top reactions reported in 248 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.

Reaction Reports
DEATH 69
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION 45
DIARRHOEA 29
SEPTIC SHOCK 28
SEPSIS 25
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 24
DYSPNOEA 20
DRUG INEFFECTIVE 19
ANAEMIA 18
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE COLITIS 18
HYPOXIA 18
MELAENA 18
OFF LABEL USE 18
PYREXIA 18
MALAISE 17
CHEST PAIN 16
CHILLS 16
GASTROENTERITIS 16
PATHOGEN RESISTANCE 16
DRUG RESISTANCE 14

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

Top reactions in 699 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.

Reaction Reports
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION 191
DIARRHOEA 123
DRUG INEFFECTIVE 111
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE COLITIS 82
PYREXIA 55
NAUSEA 53
DISEASE RECURRENCE 51
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 41
OFF LABEL USE 37
VOMITING 37
SEPSIS 36
SEPTIC SHOCK 34
ANAEMIA 33
DYSPNOEA 33
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 33
ABDOMINAL PAIN 31
MALAISE 30
FATIGUE 28
CLOSTRIDIUM TEST POSITIVE 27
PANCYTOPENIA 24

Nearby — Related Medications

Compare fidaxomicin vs amikacin →

What the FAERS Data Reveals About fidaxomicin Side Effects

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 2,273 voluntary reports linked to fidaxomicin and its brand equivalents (Dificid), spanning 2011 through 2025. Of those, 248 (10.9%) listed death as an outcome and 699 (30.8%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Clostridium Difficile Infection.

Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 60% were female and 36% male; age distribution skews toward 75+, with 422 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is clostridium difficile infection with 461 submissions, followed by drug ineffective and diarrhoea.

FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.