What Vancomycin Hydrochloride Powder for Concentrate for Infusion is and what it is used for
Vancomycin Hydrochloride Powder for Concentrate for Infusion is an antibiotic (a medicine used to treat infections caused by bacteria) in the form of a powder for solution for infusion (a powder which is made into a solution which can be given as a slow injection via a drip).
This medicine is presented in glass containers called vials. Each 500 mg vial contain of vancomycin j 500 mg (as vancomycin hydrochloride) equivalent to 500,000 IU vancomycin activity. Each 1 g vial contain of vancomycin 1 g (as vancomycin hydrochloride) equivalent to 1,000,000 IU vancomycin activity. It is! available in single packs.
Vancomycin is used to treat serious infections such as MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus). It is a bacteria which is resistant to many antibiotics. Vancomycin can be used to treat infections of lining of the heart, lungs and blood. It can also be used to prevent infections of the lining of the heart in dental and surgical procedures.
Before Vancomycin Hydrochloride Powder for Concentrate for Infusion is used
Vancomycin Hydrochloride should not be used:
- if you have shown signs of hypersensitivity (severe) allergy to vancomycin on previous occasions
- if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Special care will be taken:
- if you have kidney problems
- if you are elderly
- if you have hearing difficulties
- if you are to have a general anaesthetic
- if you are taking certain other medicines, such as:
- other antibiotics that can affect your kidneys e.g. streptomycin, neomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, amikacin, tobramycin, polymyxin B and colistin
- water tablets e.g. ethacrynic acid and frusemide
- cholestyramine (a medicine used to treat high levels of fat in the blood or diarrhoea in inflammatory diseases of the gut)
Please tell your doctor if you are taking, or have recently taken, any other medicines, including ones that are not prescribed for you.
Do not drive or use machines:
- if you experience any effect which may impair your ability to drive or use machines
How Vancomycin Hydrochloride Powder for Concentrate for Infusion is used
The dose of medicine given to you will depend on your age, the infection you have, how well your kidneys are working, if you have poor hearing and any other medicines you may be taking.
The usual adult dose is 500 mg every six hours or 1 g every twelve hours. Before it is given to you, this medicine will initially be dissolved in Water for Injections and further diluted in e.g. 0.9% sodium chloride. It will then be given as a slow injection via a drip into a vein. Each injection will usually be given over 20 – 60 minutes depending on the dose, but it may also be given continuously over 24 hours. The next dose may be changed depending on the results of blood tests.
Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines, vancomycin can have side effects.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately:
- severe allergic reaction – you may experience a sudden itchy rash (hives), swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, mouth or throat (which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing), and you may feel you are going to faint
This is a very rare but serious side effect. You may need urgent medical attention. If you experience any of the following tell your doctor as soon as possible:
- ringing in your ears or loss of hearing
- dizziness
- feeling faint, palpitations (increase in your heartbeat) and breathlessness
- pain, swelling, redness or itching at the injection site
- skin rash with itching on the face, neck and upper body
- skin disorders including blisters and scaling of the skin. If you experience either of these, it may be necessary to stop the medicine and carry out a specialist skin assessment
- unpleasant taste if given by mouth, feeling sick, vomiting, or diarrhoea
- abnormal increase or decrease in some types of cells within your blood
- release of a chemical called histamine into the blood, which may result in you experiencing chills and shivering, sickness and vomiting, skin rashes, and fever symptoms
- pain and muscle spasm of the chest and back
- kidney inflammation – which may cause a change in the amount or colour of urine, or in fluid retention If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Storing Vancomycin Hydrochloride Powder for Concentrate for Infusion
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
The vials should not be stored above 25°C.
The vials should be kept in the outer carton to protect from light.
This medicine should not be used after the expiry date printed on the vial label and carton.