PMS-Vancomycin 500 mg: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What is pms-VANCOMYCIN used for?

Vancomycin is used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body such as:

• Heart
• Bone
• Lung
• Blood
• Skin and muscle

Vancomycin is typically used for serious infections for which other medicines may not work.

Antibacterial drugs like pms-VANCOMYCIN, treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, pms-VANCOMYCIN should be used exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of pms-VANCOMYCIN could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by pms-VANCOMYCIN (resistance). This means that pms-VANCOMYCIN may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.

How does pms-VANCOMYCIN work?

Vancomycin hydrochloride is in a family of medications called glycopeptide antibiotics. It works by preventing the growth of certain types of bacteria.

What are the ingredients in pms-VANCOMYCIN?

Medical ingredients: vancomycin hydrochloride

Non-medical ingredients: None

pms-VANCOMYCIN comes in the following dosage forms:

pms-VANCOMYCIN comes as a vial sterile of lyophilized powder for injection. Each vial may contain:

• 0.5 g of vancomycin (as vancomycin hydrochloride)
• 1 g of vancomycin (as vancomycin hydrochloride)

Do not use pms-VANCOMYCIN if:

• You are allergic to vancomycin hydrochloride.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take pms-VANCOMYCIN. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• Have kidney problems
• Have hearing problems

• Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant

• Are breast feeding

Other warnings you should know about pms-VANCOMYCIN:

While you are using pms-VANCOMYCIN

• Elderly: pms-VANCOMYCIN may cause damage to your hearing and kidneys (see the “Serious side effects and what to do about them” table below). These side effects may be more likely to occur in elderly patients. During your treatment your healthcare professional may require that you do blood, kidneys and hearing tests.
• If you are going to have surgery, including dental surgery, tell your healthcare professional that you are receiving vancomycin. Vancomycin may affect other medicines used during surgery.
• If you develop severe diarrhea (very loose or watery stool), tell your healthcare professional right away. Diarrhea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel (colitis). You may need urgent medical care. Do not try to treat loose stools without first checking with your healthcare professional (see the “Serious side effects and what to do about them” table below).
• Stop taking vancomycin at the first sign of a skin rash and call your healthcare professional. Skin rash may be a sign of a more serious reaction to vancomycin (see the “Serious side effects and what to do about them” table below).

• Driving and using machines: This medicine may cause dizziness in some people. If this occurs, do not drive, use machines or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with pms-VANCOMYCIN:

• Other medications in the antibiotics family such as:

  • aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, paromomycin, tobramycin etc.
  • cephaloridine (not marketed in Canada)
  • polymixin B
  • colistin
  • viomycin (not marketed in Canada)
• Cisplatin, a medicine used to treat cancer
• Medications given during surgery to relax the muscles (neuromuscular blocking agents)

Always keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare professional when you get a new medicine. It is important that your healthcare professional reviews all medications and supplements you are taking before prescribing pms-VANCOMYCIN.

How to take pms-VANCOMYCIN:

• pms-VANCOMYCIN is usually injected slowly into the vein over a period of at least 60 minutes. You may receive it at the hospital, or clinic.
• Under certain circumstances, pms-VANCOMYCIN may also be given orally to treat colitis (inflammation of the intestine caused by certain bacteria) that may occur after antibiotic treatment.

Usual dose:

• Your healthcare professional will work out the right amount (dose) of medicine for you. The dose will depend on:

  • the medical problem for which you are using vancomycin
  • your weight, age
  • how well your kidneys are working and other factors.
• Your healthcare professional will explain to you the dosing instructions for pms-VANCOMYCIN (amount of medicine to take, number of doses to take each day, the time allowed between doses, and how long you need take this medicine).
• Ask your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the dosing instructions.

Overdose:

Your healthcare professional is trained to recognize the symptoms of an overdosage, and deal with its symptoms.

If you think you have taken too much pms-VANCOMYCIN, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose:

If you have missed a dose of medication, call your healthcare professional to find out what to do.

What are possible side effects from using pms-VANCOMYCIN?

These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking pms-VANCOMYCIN. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

See also the “To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use…” section.

Check with your healthcare professional if any of these side effects persist or become troublesome:

• Headache.
• Shortness of breath.
• Sick to stomach.
• Rash
• Tiredness.
• Vomiting.
• Fever.
• Diarrhea.

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to

Health Canada by:

• Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
• Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

Storage

• Dry Powder: Store at room temperature (15°-30°C). Protect from light.
• Solutions: Reconstituted solutions and further diluted infusion mixtures should be used within 24 hours if kept at room temperature or 72 hours when refrigerated.
• Most of the time, pms-VANCOMYCIN will be given in a hospital.
• Keep out of reach and sight of children.

If you want more information about pms-VANCOMYCIN:

• Talk to your healthcare professional

• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website www.pharmascience.com, or by calling 1-888-550-6060.

  Pharmascience Inc.

  Montréal Canada

  H4P 2T4

www.pharmascience.com

Last revised: March 8, 2018