Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP (Hikma Canada)
What is Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP 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 Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection USP, treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP should be used exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP (resistance). This means that Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection USP may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.
How does Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP 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 Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP?
Medical ingredients: vancomycin hydrochloride
Non-medical ingredients: None
Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP comes in the following dosage forms:
Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP comes as a sterile lyophilized powder for solution. It is supplied in vial. Each vial may contain:
- 500 mg of vancomycin (as vancomycin hydrochloride)
- 1 g of vancomycin (as vancomycin hydrochloride)
- 5 g of vancomycin (as vancomycin hydrochloride)
- 10 g of vancomycin (as vancomycin hydrochloride)
Do not use Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP if:
- You are allergic to vancomycin hydrochloride.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP. 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 Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP:
While you are using Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP
- Elderly: Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP 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 Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP:
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 Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP.
How to take Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP:
- Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP 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, Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP 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 Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP (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.
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 Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP. 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, irritation, pain, redness or swelling where the shot is given.
- Tiredness.
- Vomiting.
- Fever.
- Diarrhea.
If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Unknown frequency | |||
Reactions that may occur during your infusion or soon after your infusion is completed:
| ✓ | ||
Serious life-threatening skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, Drug Reaction/Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)):
| ✓ | ||
| Rare | |||
Allergic reactions:
| ✓ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Kidney problems:
| ✓ | ||
Hearing problems:
| ✓ | ||
Blood problems (neutropenia, agranulocytosis) (usually found when your doctor orders tests)
| ✓ | ||
Bowel infection (Clostridium difficile colitis): May happen 2 or more months after your treatment
| ✓ | ||
Vasculitis (inflammation of your blood vessels):
| ✓ |
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.
Storage
- Store Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP between 15 °C and 25 °C.
- Most of the time, Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP will be given in a hospital.
- Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP:
- 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) or by calling 1-800-656-0793.
Hikma Canada Limited
5995 Avebury Road, Suite 804
Mississauga, ON
L5R 3P9, Canada
Last revised: December 18, 2023
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.