oritavancin
Brand names: Orbactiv
KIMYRSA is an antibiotic medicine. It is used to treat serious skin infections caused by certain bacteria.
What it does
KIMYRSA treats acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adults.
Common side effects
Headache, Nausea, Vomiting
Key warnings
You should not take KIMYRSA if you are using intravenous heparin.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
KIMYRSA is given as a single dose of 1,200 mg. It is administered directly into your vein through an IV. The IV infusion will take 1 hour to complete. Make sure to follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
Since KIMYRSA is given as a single dose by a healthcare provider, you don't have to worry about missing a dose.
Storage
KIMYRSA vials should be stored at room temperature, between 68ºF and 77ºF.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 947 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 896 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2014–2025.
Total Reports
896
Death-Related Reports
30
Hospitalization Reports
161
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 173 |
| 2 | PRURITUS | 162 |
| 3 | URTICARIA | 105 |
| 4 | RASH | 84 |
| 5 | CHILLS | 83 |
| 6 | BACK PAIN | 81 |
| 7 | DYSPNOEA | 74 |
| 8 | NAUSEA | 67 |
| 9 | INFUSION RELATED REACTION | 60 |
| 10 | ERYTHEMA | 58 |
| 11 | CHEST PAIN | 54 |
| 12 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 48 |
| 13 | FLUSHING | 41 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 41 |
| 15 | HEADACHE | 39 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
A drug-drug interaction study that assessed the interaction potential of a single 1,200 mg dose of oritavancin on the pharmacokinetics of S-warfarin (CYP2C9 probe substrate) showed no effect of oritavancin on S-warfarin C max or AUC. Patients should be closely monitored for signs of toxicity or lack of efficacy if they have been given KIMYRSA while on a potentially affected compound (e.g., patients should be monitored for bleeding if concomitantly receiving KIMYRSA and warfarin).
Mechanism: Even though oritavancin does not change the amount of warfarin in your blood, taking them together might still increase the risk of side effects.
What to do: Your doctor should watch you closely for any signs of bleeding or bruising while you are taking both drugs.
In addition, oritavancin does not affect tests that are used for diagnosis of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT).
Mechanism: Oritavancin does not interfere with the blood tests used to find a specific type of heparin allergy.
What to do: Your healthcare provider can continue to use standard tests to monitor your health while you are on these medications.
Common Questions
What if I am allergic to similar antibiotics?
Can KIMYRSA affect my blood tests?
What should I do if I get diarrhea while taking KIMYRSA?
Can I take KIMYRSA if I have kidney problems?
Can I take KIMYRSA if I have liver problems?
Will KIMYRSA interact with other medications I am taking?
What if I experience side effects from KIMYRSA?
How long does KIMYRSA stay in my system?
Can KIMYRSA cause infusion-related reactions?
What if I think I have osteomyelitis?
What are the common side effects of oritavancin?
Does oritavancin interact with other medications?
What drug class is oritavancin?
Is oritavancin safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near oritavancin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
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amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
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amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
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ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
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azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
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What the FDA Data Shows for oritavancin
The FDA label for oritavancin (sold under brand names such as Orbactiv) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotic class. KIMYRSA treats acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adults. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Nausea, Vomiting.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 947 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: December 18, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages