VANCOMYCIN (Systemic)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
In Canada?
Generic name product may be available in the U.S. and Canada.
Category
Description
Vancomycin (van-koe-MYE-sin) belongs to the familyof medicines called antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines used in the treatmentof infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing bacteria or preventingtheir growth. Vancomycin will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
Vancomycin is used to treat infections in many different parts of the body.It is sometimes given with other antibiotics. Vancomycin also is used in patientswith heart valve disease (e.g., rheumatic fever) or prosthetic (artificial)heart valves who are allergic to penicillin. Under certain circumstances,this medicine also may be used to prevent endocarditis (inflammation of thelining of the heart) in these patients who are having dental work done orsurgery on the upper respiratory tract (for example, nose or throat). Vancomycinalso may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Vancomycin given by injection is used mainly for serious infections forwhich other medicines may not work. However, this medicine may cause someserious side effects, including damage to your hearing and kidneys. Theseside effects may be more likely to occur in elderly patients. You and yourdoctor should talk about the good this medicine will do as well as the risksassociated with receiving it.
Vancomycin is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the followingdosage form:
Parenteral- Injection (U.S. and Canada)
Before Receiving This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must beweighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctorwill make. For vancomycin, the following should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to vancomycin. Also tell your health care professional ifyou are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, ordyes.
Pregnancy?Vancomycin has not been reported to cause hearingloss or kidney damage in the infants of women given vancomycin during theirsecond or third trimester of pregnancy.
Breast-feeding?Vancomycin passes into breast milk. However, thismedicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children?Vancomycin can cause serious side effects in anypatient. Therefore, it is especially important that you discuss with the child'sdoctor the good that this medicine will do as well as the risks of using it.
Older adults?Elderly people may be especially sensitive to theeffects of vancomycin. This may increase the chance of hearing loss or kidneydamage.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receivingvancomycin, it is especially important that your health care professionalknow if you are taking any of the following:
- Aminoglycosides by injection (amikacin [e.g., Amikin], gentamicin[e.g., Garamycin], kanamycin [e.g., Kantrex], netilmicin [e.g., Netromycin],streptomycin, tobramycin [e.g., Nebcin]) or
- Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
- Bacitracin by injection or
- Bumetanide by injection (e.g., Bumex) or
- Capreomycin (e.g., Capastat) or
- Cisplatin (e.g., Platinol) or
- Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
- Ethacrynic acid by injection (e.g., Edecrin) or
- Furosemide by injection (e.g., Lasix) or
- Paromomycin (e.g., Humatin) or
- Polymyxins, especially colistimethate (e.g., Coly-Mycin M) and polymyxinB (e.g., Aerosporin) or
- Streptozocin (e.g., Zanosar) or
- Vecuronium (e.g., Norcuron)?Use of these medicines with vancomycinmay increase the chance of side effects
- Dexamethasone (e.g., Dalalone L.A., Decadrol, Decadron)?Useof dexamethasone with vancomycin may keep vancomycin from working properly
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of vancomycin. Make sure you tell your doctorif you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Kidney disease or
- Loss of hearing, or deafness, history of?Patients with kidneydisease or a history of hearing loss or deafness may have an increased chanceof side effects
Proper Use of This Medicine
Some medicinesgiven by injection may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not needto be in the hospital for the full time of treatment. If you are receivingthis medicine at home, make sure you clearly understandand carefully follow your doctor's instructions.
To help clear up your infection completely, vancomycinmust be given for the full time of treatment, even if you begin tofeel better after a few days. Also, this medicine works best when there isa constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, vancomycinmust be given on a regular schedule.
Dosing?The dose of vancomycin will be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage doses of vancomycin. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
- For injection dosage form:
- For treatment of bacterial infections:
- Adults and teenagers?7.5 mg per kg (3.4 mg per pound) of bodyweight, or 500 mg, injected into a vein every six hours; or 15 mg per kg (6.8mg per pound) of body weight, or 1 gram, injected into a vein every twelvehours.
- Children 1 month to 12 years of age?10 mg per kg (4.5 mg perpound) of body weight injected into a vein every six hours; or 20 mg per kg(9.1 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein every twelve hours.
- Infants 1 week to 1 month of age?15 mg per kg (6.8 mg per pound)of body weight injected into a vein at first, then 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg perpound) of body weight injected into a vein every eight hours.
- Newborns up to 1 week of age?15 mg per kg (6.8 mg per pound)of body weight injected into a vein at first, then 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg perpound) of body weight injected into a vein every twelve hours.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along withits needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although notall of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medicalattention.
Check with your health care professional immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Rare
Abdominal tenderness; abnormal bleeding or bruising; largeblisters on arms, legs, hands, feet, or upper body; loss of hearing; ringing or buzzing or a feelingof fullness in the ears; severe abdominal or stomachcramps and pain; watery and severe diarrhea, whichmay also be bloody
Note: | Some of the above side effects also may occur up to several weeksafter you stop receiving this medicine. |
Symptoms of ?red man syndrome??Less common
Chillsor fever; fainting; fastheartbeat; hives; itching; low blood pressure; nauseaor vomiting; rash or redness of the face, base ofneck, upper body, back, and arms
Note: | Symptoms of the ?red man syndrome? are more common whenvancomycin is given by direct or rapid injection. |
The above side effects, except the ?red man syndrome,?are more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive tothe effects of vancomycin.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ifyou notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Revised: 06/15/1999
