Vancomycin and Nausea: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• October 11, 2011

For Bacterial Infection "I have been battling a C. diff infection for a couple of months now. I tried a 10-day (500mg x3) course of Flagyl, which didn't seem to help much. The Flagyl seemed to increase my nausea while only slightly reducing the waves of stomach pain and didn't seem to improve the diarrhea much at all. A couple of days after ending the Flagyl, I was experiencing the worst symptoms of C. diff. I immediately went on Vancomycin. I just finished a 14-day course (500mg x4) of Vancomycin yesterday, which seems to have cleared up the symptoms. Vancomycin is extremely expensive (my portion was nearly $2k after insurance picked up the bulk of the cost), but after Flagyl failed, I was glad that Vancomycin seems to have worked with no noticeable side effects."

• Tib...
• May 22, 2011

For Pneumonia "I was diagnosed with MRSA pneumonia, and the hospital tried five different types of IV antibiotics on me before they tried the vancomycin. After two weeks in the hospital, I was sent home with IVs administered twice a day for 14 days. It's been three weeks since I stopped the IVs, and I'm still experiencing dizziness and nausea, but my lungs are clear of the pneumonia. I also have pain in my legs at times. I am experiencing stage 4 kidney failure, but the creatinine levels are decreasing. Nonetheless, I am glad the vancomycin worked."

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

For Clostridioides difficile Infection "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."

• Anonymous
• February 28, 2011

For Bacterial Infection "I got this medication through my IV while in the hospital for an infection in my lymph nodes in my neck. My white count was down, and I felt a lot better after about 3 days! The only side effects I got were nausea and HORRIBLE heartburn (Pepto-Bismol cured this), but it was worth it!"

• Jcs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2023

For Bacterial Infection "Been on vancomycin for a couple of days to treat chronic bacterial diarrhea caused by multiple uses of antibiotics for different ailments. Within an hour of taking it, I had to run to the toilet as it seemed to aggravate my gut, worsening my diarrhea. This continued during the night and into the next day. I've persisted with it as it's worth trying for a few days, but I don't think I can stomach much more. I will give it 2 more days and then speak to my GP. I have also had nausea and lower back pain. Everyone is different, though, as the other side effects listed in the info pack haven't affected me at all, but it has aggravated pre-existing conditions that I have."

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

For Clostridioides difficile Infection "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!"