Vancomycin Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 30, 2023.

Applies to vancomycin: intravenous powder for solution, intravenous solution.

Other dosage forms:

• oral capsule, oral powder for solution, oral powder for suspension

Precautions

Your doctor will check your or your child's progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause a rare but serious type of an allergic reaction called an infusion reaction. This can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child starts to have cough, difficulty with swallowing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, trouble with breathing, chest tightness, swelling in your face or hands, fever, chills, itching or hives, or lightheadedness or faintness while you are receiving this medicine.

Tell your doctor right away if you or your child have confusion, dizziness, headache, decrease in how much or how often you urinate, rapid weight gain, swelling of your hands, ankles, or feet after receiving this medicine. This may be symptom of a serious kidney problem.

Hearing loss may occur while you are receiving this medicine. Tell your doctor if you or your child have ringing or buzzing in the ears, dizziness, feeling of fullness in the ears, or loss of balance after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you stop using this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. If you have any questions or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

This medicine may cause severe tenderness and pain at the injection site. Contact your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects at the injection site: bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of vancomycin

Along with its needed effects, vancomycin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking vancomycin:

See also:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to vancomycin: compounding powder, intravenous powder for injection, intravenous solution, oral capsule, oral powder for reconstitution, oral solution.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, and hypokalemia.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 17%), abdominal pain (up to 15%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Mild gastrointestinal tract disturbances
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pseudomembranous enterocolitis/colitis
• Frequency not reported: Chemical peritonitis, constipation, indigestion, stomachache^[Ref]

Chemical peritonitis occurred with intraperitoneal administration.

Mild gastrointestinal tract disturbances occurred with oral administration.^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Hypokalemia (up to 13%)^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Exanthema, pruritus, vancomycin infusion reaction, redness of the face/upper arms, urticaria
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Erythema, itch
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Exfoliative dermatitis, linear IgA bullous dermatosis, Lyell's syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome
• Frequency not reported: Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), erythematous macular rash with intense pruritus over face/neck/upper body, rash, red neck^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Decrease in blood pressure, flushing of the upper body, peripheral edema, phlebitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Thrombophlebitis
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Vasculitis
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Cardiac arrest
• Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, cardiogenic shock, generalized flushing, hypotension, palpitations, substernal pressure, tachycardia
• Postmarketing reports: Chest pain^[Ref]

Hypotension, bradycardia, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest have occurred with rapid bolus administration.^[Ref]

Renal

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased serum creatinine, increased serum urea, nephrotoxicity, renal insufficiency
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Acute renal failure, interstitial nephritis
• Frequency not reported: Acute kidney injury, Acute tubular necrosis, azotemia, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations increased, uremia, transient increased urea^[Ref]

Renal failure was most commonly characterized by increased serum creatinine levels or BUN concentrations.

Azotemia usually resolved upon discontinuation of treatment.^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, mucosal inflammation, pyrexia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills, fever, pain, permanent hearing loss, transient hearing loss
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Drug fever, ototoxicity, rigors, shivering, tinnitus^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Dyspnea, stridor
• Frequency not reported: Wheezing^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Back and chest muscle pain and spasm^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Dizziness, vertigo^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection
• Frequency not reported: Granular urinary casts^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Eosinophilia,
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Agranulocytosis, leukopenia, pancytopenia, reversible agranulocytosis, reversible neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
• Frequency not reported: Anemia^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anaphylactic reactions, anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions
• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactoid reaction^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Superinfection
• Frequency not reported: Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), non-susceptible organism overgrowth^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Injection site inflammation, injection site pruritus, necrosis, tissue irritation^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis (HORV), permanent vision loss^[Ref]

HORV occurred in patients given this drug via intracameral or intravitreal route during/after cataract surgery.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Depression, insomnia^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Transaminase elevations^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• Can you drink alcohol while taking vancomycin?
• What is the difference between Firvanq and the CutisPharma FIRST-Vancomycin Compounding Kit?

Further information

Vancomycin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer