Vancocin (Vancomycin)

What is Vancocin?

Vancocin is an antibiotic. It is used to fight the bacteria in the body that can cause serious infections. It is important to note that the medicine is active only against bacterial infections of the intestines and does not fight viral infections or other bacterial infections.

Vancocin is an antibiotic that eliminates bacterial infection in the intestines.

What is Vancocin used for?

Vancocin, is used in the treatment of a severe intestinal condition known as Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. This condition generally occurs after use of another antibiotic that allows growth of resistant bacteria in the intestines and thus leads to severe diarrhea.

Vancocin is prescribed to patients suffering from severe intestinal infections like Clostridium, a condition wherein the intestine becomes the breeding ground for resistant bacteria resulting in chronic diarrhea. However, the medicine does not treat viral infections.

How does Vancocin work?

Vancocin works by remaining in the intestines and preventing the growth of the bacteria, which cause this kind of condition.

Vancocin works by inhibiting the growth of resistant bacteria in the intestines and therefore, successfully treating the chronic diarrhea caused by them. It works only on bacterial infections and not on viral conditions.

How to use Vancocin

Vancocin is taken orally, with a full glass of water. You can take the tablet either on an empty or full stomach. The medicine is to be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Do not discontinue the use of this medication before the stipulated time even if you feel better within a couple of days.

Vancocin should be used in the manner prescribed by a doctor. Taking a higher dose than prescribed may prove to be harmful. The dosage of Vancocin depends on your medical condition and response to treatment.

Vancocin is usually taken 4 times a day for a week or 10 days (as directed by the doctor). 

Cholestyramine and colestipol may sometimes reduce the effectiveness of this drug when taken together. Hence it is advised that you take Vancocin at a time gap of at least 3 to 4 hours.

This medicine is most effective when its level in the intestine is kept at a constant level. Hence, this medicine should be taken at equal time intervals.

Vancocin warnings and precautions

Vancocin is not administered to patients who are allergic to it. If you have any kidney or intestinal disorder or any hearing problems, it is advisable that you discuss your condition with your doctor before taking this medicine, as the dosage and intensity might change, if you have any of the above conditions.

Vancocin can be harmful to the unborn baby. Therefore, if you are pregnant, discuss with your doctor before you take this medicine. The medication can pass into breast milk but its effects on a nursing infant are not known. Therefore lactating women are advised to consult their doctors on whether to take this drug or not.

Do not take the medication if you were previously suffering from diarrhea. Also, the drug is not recommended for those patients, who are allergic to Vancocin.

Neither should you take this medicine in larger amounts than prescribed, nor should you take it for a longer duration. Increased dosage will only result in reduced efficacy.

Prior to using the medication, give your doctor your medical history of any allergies to drugs, problems associated with kidney or hearing, intestinal disorders, or ulcerative colitis.

Do not miss any of your regular medical check-up trips to the doctor. This will ensure that Vancocin is not posing any serious side-effects on the patient, especially to his or her hearing.

If you are planning to conceive, are pregnant or are a lactating mother, consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

What do I do if I have missed a Vancocin dose?

If you have missed a Vancocin dose, take it as soon as you remember. If, however, it is almost time for the next dose, the missed dose can be skipped. Do not take an extra dose.

If you have missed your Vancocin dose, you should take it as soon as you remember, but do not take it if it’s already time for the next one.

What do I do if I have taken a Vancocin overdose?

If you have taken a Vancocin overdose, you should immediately seek consultation from your doctor.

In case of an overdose of this drug, medical attention is required immediately. Symptoms of Vancocin overdose are not yet fully known.

Vancocin interactions

There are various drugs that can interact with Vancocin, like Amikin, Garamycin, Kantrex, Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, Neo-Tab, Nebcin and Tobi. Do not take these medicines along with Vancocin, without consulting your doctor.

Inform your doctor beforehand, if you are taking any other over-the-counter pills, any herbal products, vitamins, or mineral supplements. Do not take these medicines in concurrence with Vancocin before prior consultation with the doctor.

Taking drugs like Methotrexate and Aminoglycosides with Vancocin is harmful as it can result in increased toxicity.

The following drugs may react with Vancocin: Amikacin, kanamycin, tobramycin, streptomycin, gentamicin or neomycin and other antibiotics or live bacterial vaccines. Hence, discuss with your doctor, if you are taking any of these medicines before taking this drug.

You should not start taking any new medicine, without consulting your doctor.

Vancocin side effects

If the consumption of this medicine results in any kind of allergy, like, hives, breathing trouble, swelling on face or lips, then consult the doctor, without delay.

There can be certain serious side-effects of Vancocin, like hearing impairment or ringing in ears, improper urination, fever, chills or other flu symptoms, body aches, dizziness, fainting, skin rash, redness, bruising, numbness, pain, weakness in muscles, severe tingling, severe stomach ache, or diarrhea. One must call the doctor, if such signs are witnessed.

There can be some minor side-effects from Vancocin as well, like nausea, back pain, and muscle tightness. Call your doctor to seek help in case such signs persist for long.

Side effects from Vancocin include allergic reactions especially swelling of the facial organs, hearing loss, urinating less or not at all, severe diarrhea with watery or bloody stools, fever, shakiness, loss of consciousness, bruising, severe tingling, flu symptoms, aching of various body parts, numbness of the skin, muscle weakness and severe pain. In such situations it is advised that you stop taking the drug and consult your doctor immediately.

Along with the above symptoms dizziness, nausea and muscle and back pain are some common and less serious side effects of Vancocin.