Vancomycin: Antibiotic Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects (original) (raw)
What is oral vancomycin, and what is it used for?
Oral vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is used for the treatment of Clostridium difficile diarrhea and staphylococcal enterocolitis. Vancomycin is a bactericidal antibiotic (it kills bacteria) that exerts its effects by preventing bacteria from forming cell walls, which they need to survive. Vancomycin is only effective against gram-positive bacteria.
Oral vancomycin is poorly absorbed, and ingestion does not result in significant levels of drug in the body. Therefore, oral vancomycin is limited to the treatment of infections that are limited to the gastrointestinal tract such as diarrhea that is associated with the overgrowth of C. difficile.
Warnings
- Severe dermatologic reactions such as toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), and linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) have been reported in association with the use of vancomycin.
- Cutaneous signs or symptoms reported include skin rashes, mucosal lesions, and blisters. Discontinue use at the first appearance of signs and symptoms of TEN, SJS, DRESS, AGEP, or LABD.
What are the side effects of oral vancomycin?
The most common side effects associated with oral vancomycin treatment are
- nausea,
- stomach pain, and
- low potassium levels in the blood.
Less common side effects are:
- peripheral edema (swelling of the feet and/or legs),
- tiredness,
- fever,
- headache,
- diarrhea,
- gas,
- vomiting,
- urinary tract infection, and
- back pain.
Rare but serious side effects are
- kidney failure,
- a decrease in platelets,
- hearing problems, and
- vasculitis.
What is the dosage for oral vancomycin?
C. difficile-associated diarrhea
Adult Patients (18 years of age and older): 125 mg orally 4 times daily for 10 days.
Pediatric Patients (younger than 18 years of age): 40 mg/kg in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days. The total daily dosage should not exceed 2 g.
Staphylococcal enterocolitis
Adult Patients (18 years of age and older): 500 mg to 2 g orally in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days.
Pediatric Patients (younger than 18 years of age): 40 mg/kg in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days. The total daily dosage should not exceed 2 g.
Which drugs interact with oral vancomycin?
No drug interaction studies have been conducted for oral vancomycin.
QUESTION Bowel regularity means a bowel movement every day. See Answer
Is oral vancomycin safe to take if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Use of vancomycin in pregnancy has not been adequately evaluated. Due to the lack of safety data, vancomycin should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed. Oral vancomycin is classified as FDA pregnancy risk category B. This designation indicates animal studies have shown no harm to the fetus, but adequate safety studies on pregnant women do not exist.
Vancomycin is excreted in human milk after intravenous administration. However, oral administration of vancomycin does not result in significant levels of drug in the blood, and it is not known if vancomycin is excreted in breast milk after oral administration. Due to the lack of safety data, oral vancomycin should be used cautiously in nursing mothers.
What else should I know about oral vancomycin?
What preparations of vancomycin-oral are available?
Capsules: 125 and 250 mg. Oral powder: 25 and 50 mg compounding kit.
How should I keep vancomycin-oral stored?
Tablets should be stored at room temperature, from 15 C to 30 C (59 F to 86 F).
Health News
Summary
Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat cases of Clostridium difficile (C. Diff) and staphylococcal enterocolitis, both of which are intestinal infections that cause diarrhea. The most common side effects associated with oral vancomycin treatment are nausea, stomach pain, and low potassium levels in the blood.
Related Disease Conditions
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Diarrhea Diarrhea is a change in the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea are cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency. Causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasite infection, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and drugs. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea. -
Sepsis (Blood Poisoning) Sepsis (blood poisoning) is a potentially deadly infection with signs and symptoms that include elevated heart rate, low or high temperature, rapid breathing and/or a white blood cell count that is too high or too low and has more than 10% band cells. Most cases of sepsis are caused by bacterial infections, and some cases are caused by fungal infections. Treatment requires hospitalization, IV antibiotics, and therapy to treat any organ dysfunction. -
Colitis Colitis refers to inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Symptoms of the inflammation of the colon lining include diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are several causes of colitis, including infection, ischemia of the colon, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, infectious colitis like C. difficile, or microscopic colitis). Treatment depends on the cause of the colitis. -
MRSA Infection MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria causes skin infections with the following signs and symptoms: cellulitis, abscesses, carbuncles, impetigo, styes, and boils. Normal skin tissue doesn't usually allow MRSA infection to develop. Individuals with depressed immune systems and people with cuts, abrasions, or chronic skin disease are more susceptible to MRSA infection. -
Is C. diff (Clostridium difficile) Contagious? C. diff, or Clostridium difficile, is a bacteria that infects the colon. C. diff bacteria can be found on furniture, bathroom floors, telephones, fingernails, jewelry, toilet seats, and other places. Symptoms of C. diff infection are fever, abdominal pain, and cramps; however, not all people infected with C. diff have symptoms. Treatments for C. diff are antibiotics and surgery in some cases. -
Clostridium Difficile Colitis Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium, and is one of the most common causes of infection of the colon. C. difficile spores are found frequently in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and nurseries for newborn infants. -
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is the most common type of infection acquired by patients while hospitalized. VRE are enterococci that have become resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin. There are only a few antibiotics that are able to treat VRE infections. However, newer antibiotics are being developed. -
Antibiotic Resistance Antibiotics are medications used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria and some fungi. The definition of antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to change (mutate) and grow in the presence of a drug (an antibiotic) that would normally slow its growth or kill it. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi become harder to treat. Antibiotic-resistant infections can lead to longer hospital stays, higher treatment costs, and more deaths.
Treatment & Diagnosis
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Medically Reviewed on 1/24/2024
References
FDA Prescribing Information