Vancomycin for Clostridioides difficile Infection User Reviews

• jhi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2013

"Diagnosed with C. Diff and prescribed Flagyl. Worst week of my life. Terrible side effects including dizziness, insomnia, weepiness, irritability, nightmares, tingling, and numbness in feet and legs. I even felt as if my personality changed! My doctor (who I will no longer see) refused to change my medicine to vancomycin but told me to 'tough it out'. I painstakingly took 6 days of Flagyl but couldn't take any more. I went to a different doctor, and she immediately prescribed Vancomycin. My C. Diff symptoms disappeared almost immediately, no side effects but maybe an occasional headache. I can't say how happy I am with this medicine. I can take the full course of 10 days with no problems, and C. Diff symptoms have not returned yet. Can't believe the difference."

• AWW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2024

"I received a positive C. diff test three months ago after having daily bouts of diarrhea and feeling overall unwell. My doctor prescribed Vancomycin 500mg 2X daily for two weeks for me. I was really nervous when I was prescribed this medication because it is known to be such a strong antibiotic. I also have chronic stomach issues and just KNEW that this antibiotic would destroy my gut even more. However, within 24 hours of starting, all symptoms of C. diff had gone away. I had no side effects of the medication, and I am 9 weeks out from completing my full course of medication, and it has somehow also helped my IBS-D. Don’t read the horror stories of C. diff. It will drive you crazy and make you anxious, as it did me. Take your meds as prescribed, clean with bleach, take all the probiotics, and drink kefir. I wish there had been a review out there that was more positive when I got diagnosed. I hope this encourages you that you WILL get better. Stay the course!"

• rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2019

"Vancomycin seemed to kill the Clostridial bacteria infection-and everything else in my gut! Those with IBS-D who are sensitive to antibiotics may want to proceed with caution when choosing this drug to treat C. diff; my side effects were sore bowels and intractable nausea, which did not subside until a full week after I was done with the course."

• mik...
• June 26, 2011

"Cured the C. difficile infection great, however, I have to take this for 14 days in liquid form. When I finished taking it, I now have had unbearable heartburn and reflux that will not go away. It's been well over a week now. I have tried Pepto-Bismol, Tums, Nexium 40 mg, and everything else over the counter and prescription for heartburn, but the severe heartburn still is not resolving or going away."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2022

"I got C. diff after I was given clindamycin for a tooth infection. They put me on Flagyl while the doctor was waiting for the lab result (it gave me temporary relief). Once known it was C. diff, he prescribed me liquid vancomycin for 14 days (4 times a day). I finished it. But C. diff came back again after a week. This time the doctor put me on vancomycin 125 mg for 21 days (capsules instead of the liquid form). It's been 8 months since I finished the medicine, no C. diff. Thank God. The only side effect, my liver enzymes are still slightly elevated. The pill form of vancomycin is expensive, but it was effective for me. The liquid formula was inconvenient if you take it 4 times a day since it has to be refrigerated. While taking this med, I avoided sugar and added prebiotic to my diet."

• Cla...
• December 16, 2021

"Underwent three 10-day dosages that were spaced too far apart. Second dosage should have been sooner after the first and should have been continued for at least 2 weeks, if not longer. Testing should have been done before vancomycin was discontinued. Still have diarrhea. No closer to a cure. Need another antibiotic, but what?"

• Dea...
• May 8, 2017

"I can't rate the actual medication because I can't afford it. I've been on over 14 weeks of Flagyl total, and I am on disability, and vancomycin is over 50% of my income, so I can either die starving and homeless or die a slow, painful death of C. diff - which is how I currently feel. Right now, it's a coin toss."

• jef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2023

"First time I've ever rated a drug. Had no side effects at all, and it cured my infection and irritable bowel in 4 days, so I give it a 10. Thank you to whoever figured out it would work against this bacteria."

• Fat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2015

"I have given this to my mother, 2 courses (2x15 days) after a C. diff infection. Besides it being so expensive (C$540), it made the diarrhea symptoms go away for the duration of the course, then they came back again! So disappointed, Dr. Now indicated that the third course may be on the way."

• 08s...
• December 12, 2016

"Second time around for this drug in the last 5 months. Was diagnosed with clostridial infection after hospital stay in June. Now after this dose, I expect to have fecal implant surgery to clear up all issues."

• Spi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2023

"I had a nasty reaction to this medication. I experienced strong pain down the left side of my body, bad sores along my gums and the roof of my mouth, dry skin that was peeling, nausea, and diarrhea. My potassium level was also significantly low. My doctor did not believe that these side effects were related to the medication and left me on it for two more days. I have stopped taking it now, and within 24 hours, the side effects subsided, and my lab numbers improved."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2024

"I was prescribed 125 mg of vancomycin for C. diff. It was misdiagnosed at first, although it would’ve helped if the doctor had tested me. Switched doctors, tested right away. First day, it slowed my diarrhea down, plus I just felt better. Afterwards, it all went downhill. Lots of gas and diarrhea, pain and tenderness in the abdomen. I’m in the bathroom nonstop. I have had two days where it’s tolerable. I have 3.5 days left, and I pray these antibiotic side effects go away and the infection is gone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2017

"Nausea, tiredness, bladder infection, ringing in my ears, muscle pain, constipation, numbness in the fingers, cramps in the stomach, itching. Medicine should heal you, not cause so many side effects!"

• Unf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2018

"Side effects: gas and watery stool."

• Hay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2023

"At first, I seemed to be really tired, but now I have insomnia. Also, ringing in my ears and occasional belly ache. Only halfway through my course of 10 days. Has stopped my diarrhea, though."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2024

"I was on vancomycin for C. diff for 10 days, 125 mg four times a day, and it worked wonders for me. My diarrhea disappeared overnight. This medicine's a miracle worker."