Vancomycin

(van koe MY sin)
Lyphocin, Vancocin HCl, Vancocin HCl Pulvules, Vancoled, Vancomycin HCl

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What is the most important information I should know about vancomycin?

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Take all of the vancomycin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated.

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If you are injecting vancomycin at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions on how and where to inject the medication. If you do not understand these directions, do not attempt to inject the medication. Contact your healthcare provider for further instructions.

What is vancomycin?

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Vancomycin is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body.

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Orally administered vancomycin is used to treat infections of the intestines. Intravenous vancomycin is used to treat severe or serious bacterial infections.

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Vancomycin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking vancomycin?

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Before taking vancomycin, tell your doctor if you have

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kidney disease,

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hearing loss,

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a low level of white blood cells, or

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inflammatory bowel disease.

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You may not be able to take vancomycin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Vancomycin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether vancomycin will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take vancomycin without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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Vancomycin passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take vancomycin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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If you are older than 65 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from vancomycin. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment.

How should I take vancomycin?

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Take vancomycin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Vancomycin is available as oral capsules, an oral solution, and as an intravenous injection. Your doctor or healthcare provider will administer intravenous vancomycin.

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Take each oral dose with a full glass of water.

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Vancomycin should be taken at evenly spaced intervals.

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To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the oral solution with a dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

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A dose of the oral solution can be taken poured directly from the bottle, or mixed with 1 oz of water and the mixture ingested promptly.

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If you are injecting vancomycin at home, your healthcare provider will give you detailed instructions on how and where to inject the medication. If you do not understand these directions, do not attempt to inject the medication. Contact your healthcare provider for further instructions.

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Do not use any vancomycin that is discolored, has particles in it, or looks different from your previous doses. Throw away any unused vancomycin after the amount of time determined by your pharmacist or doctor.

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Take all of the vancomycin that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.

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Store the capsules at room temperature.

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Store the oral solution in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Throw away any unused liquid after this amount of time.

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Dispose of used needles and syringes in a puncture resistant container out of the reach of children.

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Your healthcare provider will store injectable vancomycin as directed by the manufacturer or give you detailed storage instructions if you are storing the medication at home.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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Symptoms of an vancomycin overdose are not known.

What should I avoid while taking vancomycin?

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There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking vancomycin unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of vancomycin?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking vancomycin and seek emergency medical attention:

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an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of the throat; hives; swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; rash; or fainting);

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little or no urine;

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decreased hearing or ringing in the ears; or

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severe watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take vancomycin and talk to your doctor if you experience

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nausea;

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dizziness;

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chills; or

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a rash.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect vancomycin?

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Other drugs, especially those that affect the kidneys, can interact with vancomycin resulting in dangerous side effects and/or decreased effectiveness. Do not take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, without first talking to your doctor during treatment with vancomycin.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about vancomycin written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2005 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 8/18/05.

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