Having Trouble Finding Daptomycin? You're Not Alone

When you're dealing with a serious bacterial infection like MRSA or a complicated skin infection, the last thing you need is a pharmacy telling you they don't have your medication. Unfortunately, that's the reality many patients face when trying to fill a prescription for Daptomycin (brand name Cubicin).

Daptomycin is an intravenous antibiotic, which means it's not stocked at most retail pharmacies. Combined with intermittent supply shortages, finding this drug can feel overwhelming. But there are practical steps you can take — and tools that can help.

If you're wondering why Daptomycin is so hard to find, we've covered that in detail. This guide focuses on how to actually locate it.

Tip 1: Use Medfinder to Search for Daptomycin Availability

The fastest way to find Daptomycin in stock is to use Medfinder. Medfinder is a free tool that lets you search for medications — including those in shortage — and shows you which pharmacies near you currently have them available.

Here's how it works:

1. Go to medfinder.com
2. Search for "Daptomycin" or "Cubicin"
3. Enter your location
4. See a list of pharmacies with current availability

This is especially helpful for IV medications like Daptomycin, where you need to find a specialty pharmacy or infusion center rather than a typical drugstore.

Tip 2: Contact Specialty and Home Infusion Pharmacies Directly

Because Daptomycin is administered intravenously, your best sources are:

• Hospital outpatient pharmacies — These often have the largest stock of IV antibiotics
• Home infusion pharmacies — If you're receiving Daptomycin at home through an IV, these services manage the medication supply and delivery
• Specialty pharmacies — Pharmacies that focus on complex or injectable medications are more likely to carry Daptomycin than retail chains

Ask your doctor or hospital discharge coordinator for a referral to a home infusion pharmacy. Many patients receiving Daptomycin for conditions like MRSA bacteremia complete their treatment course at home, making home infusion services an essential resource.

Questions to Ask the Pharmacy

When calling around, ask these specific questions:

• Do you currently have Daptomycin 500 mg vials in stock?
• Can you order it, and how long would that take?
• Do you accept my insurance for specialty or IV medications?
• Do you offer home infusion services?

Tip 3: Time Your Search Strategically

Pharmacies receive shipments on regular schedules — typically early in the week. If you're calling specialty pharmacies to check availability:

• Try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings when new stock is most likely to have arrived
• Avoid calling late Friday or over the weekend when inventory is lower and staff may be limited
• If one pharmacy is out, ask when they expect their next shipment

For hospital pharmacies, medication supply is often managed centrally. Your doctor or pharmacist can check hospital system-wide inventory, which may reveal stock at a different location within the same health system.

What If You Still Can't Find Daptomycin?

If you've tried the steps above and still can't locate Daptomycin, here are additional options:

Ask Your Doctor About Alternatives

There are several other antibiotics that may be appropriate depending on your infection. Alternatives include Vancomycin, Linezolid, Telavancin, and Oritavancin. Your infectious disease doctor can determine which option is best for your specific situation. Read more in our guide on alternatives to Daptomycin.

Contact the Manufacturer

Merck, which manufactures brand-name Cubicin, may be able to provide information on current supply status. Their patient assistance program at merckhelps.com can also help qualifying patients access medications at no cost.

Ask Your Hospital's Pharmacy Team

If you're being discharged from the hospital and need Daptomycin for outpatient completion of your treatment, the hospital pharmacy team can often coordinate with home infusion pharmacies to ensure a smooth transition and secure your medication supply before you leave.

Check for the Premixed Formulation

Daptomycin is available in both lyophilized (powder) vials and premixed IV bags. If one formulation is out of stock, the other may be available. Ask your pharmacist about premixed Daptomycin solutions (350 mg/50 mL, 500 mg/50 mL, or 700 mg/100 mL) as an alternative to the standard vial.

Understanding the Cost Factor

Even when you find Daptomycin in stock, cost can be a barrier. Generic Daptomycin runs approximately $29 per 500 mg vial, but a full treatment course of 4-6 weeks can cost $400 to $700 or more. Brand-name Cubicin is significantly more expensive.

We've put together a detailed guide on how to save money on Daptomycin that covers discount programs, patient assistance, and insurance tips.

Final Thoughts

Finding Daptomycin requires a bit more effort than picking up a typical prescription at your local pharmacy. Because it's an IV medication used for serious infections, you'll need to work with specialty pharmacies, home infusion services, or hospital pharmacies.

Start with Medfinder to check real-time availability, and don't hesitate to lean on your healthcare team for help. Your infectious disease specialist and hospital pharmacist are your best allies in securing this critical medication.

For the latest on Daptomycin supply, read our Daptomycin shortage update for 2026.