Vancomycin Injection 1g (Vancomycin Hydrochloride)

Adult dosage

Adults: As vancomycin, administer intravenously either 500mg (potency) every 6 hours or 1g (potency) every 12 hours. For oral administration: Administer 500-2000mg divided into 3-4 doses over 7-10 days. Total daily dosage must not exceed 2g.

Children's dosage

Pediatric: Administer 10mg (potency) per kg of body weight intravenously every 6 hours. Infants: Administer 10-15mg (potency) per kg of body weight intravenously every 12 hours. Infants, newborns: Initial dosing is 10mg per kg of body weight.

This drug should not be used in patients who have previously experienced shock from this drug. Additionally, patients who have shown allergic reactions to this drug or peptide or aminoglycoside antibiotics should not be administered this drug. It should generally not be administered to patients with hearing impairment or those who have experienced hearing loss from such antibiotics; however, it may be used cautiously when absolutely necessary. Patients with rapidly declining kidney function should be cautious with administration as this drug can accumulate in the body, requiring frequent monitoring of serum concentrations. Patients with impaired liver function require caution due to the risk of exacerbating liver function. Elderly patients and those who are premature or newborn may have decreased kidney function, requiring more careful monitoring during administration. Patients with vestibular or auditory damage should also exercise caution when using this drug. When administering this drug, severe allergic reactions such as shock or anaphylaxis can occur rarely, so symptoms should be closely monitored and if abnormalities occur, administration should be discontinued immediately and treated. Gastrointestinal side effects like loose stools, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain may occur infrequently. Blood cell counts may temporarily decrease, so regular blood tests are necessary. Symptoms may arise in the central nervous system, such as dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing loss, hence, it is important to include hearing tests in monitoring. Regular liver and kidney function tests should be performed, and if abnormal findings are observed, appropriate actions must be taken. Severe skin reactions such as rash, vesicles, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome may occur, so caution is warranted. Rapid injection of this drug may cause rash or pain in the face, neck, and torso, as well as muscle cramps, so it should be administered slowly over more than 60 minutes. Long-term use may lead to the development of resistant bacteria, thus the sensitivity of the infecting bacteria should be checked and it should only be used for the necessary duration. Furthermore, pseudomembranous colitis due to Clostridium difficile can occur; hence, if symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, or fever do not improve, administration should be immediately discontinued. This drug may enhance the risk of side effects when used with other nephrotoxic or neurotoxic medications, so caution is needed when combined. The risk of bleeding may increase when used with anticoagulants, and blood coagulation status needs to be frequently monitored. During pregnancy, the safety for the fetus has not been fully established, so it should only be used under a physician’s judgment when the benefits outweigh the risks, and serum concentrations should be carefully monitored during administration. In lactating periods, this drug may be transmitted into breast milk, so it is advisable to cease breastfeeding or avoid administration if possible. Children, especially premature infants and newborns, may have immature kidney function, which may lead to elevated drug levels, requiring cautious administration. Elderly patients typically exhibit reduced kidney function, hence renal tests should be done before and during administration, adjusting dosage as necessary. In cases of overdose, serious side effects such as acute renal failure or hearing loss can occur, requiring immediate appropriate treatment, and special methods may be necessary since this drug is not well removed by dialysis. This drug must be administered intravenously, caution is needed to prevent tissue damage or necrosis from intramuscular injections or careless injections. Rapid injection of a high concentration poses risks of thrombophlebitis, hypotension, or cardiac arrest, so it should be diluted and administered slowly. This drug may precipitate when mixed with other medications, so it is best not to use it with alkaline solutions or beta-lactam antibiotics. Finally, it is crucial to conduct regular blood tests and liver and kidney function tests while using this drug to detect adverse reactions early and take appropriate measures.

Serious side effects

Hives, severe swelling (edema), chest tightness, difficulty breathing, cold sweat, pallor, severe rash with high fever, blisters, skin peeling, pain in oral/ocular mucous membranes, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, respiratory symptoms accompanied by cough + fever, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), extreme lethargy, sudden and severe headache, lightning headache, seizures, consciousness confusion, vision changes, paralysis, urination changes.

Mild side effects

• Loose stools
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• red blood cell decrease
• white blood cell decrease
• platelet decrease
• eosinophilia
• dizziness

This drug should be stored in a sealed container to protect it from air contact, ideally at room temperature between 1 and 30 degrees Celsius. Proper storage can maintain the drug's efficacy for a longer period.

Appearance

A colorless transparent vial containing a white to light yellowish brown freeze-dried powder injection.

Package unit

10 vials/box [1g potency/vial]