Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection USP (Sterimax): Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

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?

Medicinal ingredients: Vancomycin hydrochloride

Non-medicinal ingredients: Sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid

Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection USP comes in the following dosage forms:

Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection USP comes as a sterile powder. 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 to 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, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection USP, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada's toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or 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.

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a 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

Storage:

• Store Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection USP powder between 15ºC and

  25ºC.

• Reconstituted solutions and further diluted infusion mixtures should be used within 24 hours if kept at room temperature or within 72 hours if stored under refrigeration (5 °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); the manufacturer’s website www.sterimaxinc.com, or by calling 1-800-881-3550.

SteriMax Inc.

Oakville, Ontario

L6H 6R4

Last revised: JUL 24, 2026