Vancocin, or vancomycin, is a prescription antibiotic medication. It is used for the treatment of serious bacterial infections, including sepsis, pneumonia and endocarditis. This medication prevents the cell wall of the bacteria from forming correctly, which eventually leads to destruction of the cell. Vancocin is well-tolerated, but may produce side effects in some patients.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common gastrointestinal side effects that may occur with the use of the oral form of Vancocin. More than 10 percent of patients on this medication may develop these adverse reactions, reports the "Drug Information Handbook." Food does not affect the effectiveness of the medication; therefore, the patient may take the oral form of the medication with meals to help with these side effects.
Abnormal Taste and Inflammation
Oral Vancocin may produce an abnormal, bitter taste in the mouth in more than 10 percent of users. The patient may chew gum or suck on hard candy to help with this. Stomatitis, which is inflammation of the mouth and lips, may also occur. If the patient experiences swelling, he should report it to a physician right away.
"Red Man" Syndrome
The intravenous form of Vancocin may produce "red man" syndrome. This can occur when the medication is infused too rapidly, and may produce flushing of the skin and a rash on the face and upper body, causing the patient to appear red. The patient may also experience a drop in the blood pressure, chills and fever. Prolonging the infusion time to one or two hours, or increasing the time between doses, can prevent this adverse event, explains "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology." As red man syndrome may be confused with an allergic reaction, it is important to monitor the patient during the administration of the drug to appropriately distinguish between an allergy and this syndrome.
Local Site Reactions
Intravenous Vancocin may produce local site reactions, such as irritation, redness and itchiness, at the site of injection. Phlebitis, which is inflammation or swelling of the vein, may result from the irritation to the local tissue, according to "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology."
Toxicity of the Kidneys and Ears
Vancomycin can rarely lead to renal failure in patients receiving large doses. However, patients who have preexisting kidney dysfunction, or who are receiving aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin and tobramycin, are at increased risk of developing kidney toxicity, states RxList.com. Hearing loss may also occur in users of Vancocin. Patients with kidney dysfunction and preexisting hearing loss are more likely to develop this side effect. Patients who receive medications that are also toxic to the ears, such as aminoglycosides, furosemide and meloxicam, have reported hearing loss.
References
- "Drug Information Handbook"; Charles F. Lacy, Lora L. Armstrong, et al.; 2009
- "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology"; Bertram G. Katzung; 2007
- RxList: Vancomycin Hydrochloride
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