Vancomycin injection

What is vancomycin injection?
VANCOMYCIN is an antibiotic. Injected into a vein it treats certain heart, bone, joint, lung (respiratory tract), skin, blood, or urinary tract infections. Vancomycin injection can prevent heart infection (endocarditis) in penicillin-allergic patients who are having dental work or surgery. Generic vancomycin injection is available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
�dehydration
�inflammatory bowel disease
�kidney disease
�other chronic illness
�an unusual or allergic reaction to vancomycin
�pregnant or trying to get pregnant
�breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?
Vancomycin injection is for infusion into a vein. Finish the full course of medicine prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional even if you feel better. Do not stop using except on your prescriber's advice.

What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, use only that dose. Do not use double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with vancomycin?
�amphoteracin B
�aspirin and aspirin-like medicines
�bacitracin
�capreomycin
�carmustine
�cisplatin
�cyclosporine
�ethacrynic acid
�furosemide
�pamidronate
�paromomycin
�polymyxin B
�streptozocin
�zoledronic acid

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from receiving vancomycin?
Elderly patients are more likely to get serious side effects from vancomycin.
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
�breathing difficulty
�dizziness, fainting spells, loss of balance
�hearing loss
�fever or chills
�flushing of the face and neck (reddening)
�increased thirst
�lower back pain
�pain or difficulty passing urine
�skin rash, itching
�reduced amount of urine
�unusual muscle weakness or tiredness

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
�nausea, vomiting
�pain at the injection site

What should I watch for while taking vancomycin?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not improve in a few days.

Call your prescriber or health care professional if you get diarrhea. Do not treat yourself. Some diarrhea medicine will make your diarrhea worse.

Drink several glasses of water a day. This will help to reduce possible kidney problems.

Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

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