VANCOMYCIN

Brand & Generic Names

Vancocin

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antibiotic

Uses

• Treats colitis when caused by clostridium infections.
• Treats some forms of severe diarrhea.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Capsules--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, open capsule and take with liquid or food. Instructions to take on empty stomach mean 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.
Oral solution--Use the calibrated measuring device. Swallow with other liquid to prevent nausea.
There is also an injectable form. This information applies to the oral form only.

When to take:
According to doctor's instructions. Usually every 6 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Kills bacterial cells.

Time lapse before drug works:
None. Works right away. This medicine is not absorbed to a great extent through the intestinal tract.

Don't take with:
Any other medicines (including over-the-counter drugs such as cough and cold medicines, laxatives, antacids, diet pills, caffeine, nose drops or vitamins) without consulting your doctor.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None expected.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

Bitter taste.

Infrequent:

Nausea or vomiting.

Rare:

Hearing loss, ears ringing or buzzing.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to vancomycin.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have hearing problems.
• If you have severe kidney disease.
• If you have intestinal obstruction.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. You may need smaller doses for shorter periods of time.

Pregnancy:
Safety not established. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
No special problems expected. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
No special problems expected.

Prolonged use:
Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check hearing acuity, kidney function, vancomycin serum concentration and urinalyses.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
No special problems expected.

Others:

• Advise any doctor or dentist whom you consult that you take this medicine.
• May affect results in some medical tests.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Aminoglycosides*	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Amphotericin B by	Increased chance of hearing loss or
injection	kidney damage.
Bacitracin by injection	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Bumetanide by injection	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Capreomycin	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Cholestyramine	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage. Decreased
	therapeutic effect of vancomycin.
Cisplatin	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Colestipol	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage. Decreased
	therapeutic effect of vancomycin.
Cyclosporine	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Ethacrynic acid by	Increased chance of hearing loss or
injection	kidney damage.
Furosemide by injection	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Paromomycin	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Polymyxins*	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Streptozocin	Increased chance of hearing loss or
	kidney damage.
Tiopronin	Increased risk of toxicity to
	kidneys.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	No special problems expected.
Beverages:	No special problems expected.
Cocaine:	No special problems expected.
Foods:	No special problems expected.
Marijuana:	No special problems expected.
Tobacco:	No special problems expected.