Vancomycin (oral)

What is vancomycin?

Vancomycin is a type of medicine called an antibiotic. When given by mouth (orally), vancomycin is used to treat or prevent certain types of bacterial infections occurring in the stomach or intestine. You may hear vancomycin called by its brand name, Vancocin®. Oral vancomycin comes as capsules, as a liquid (suspension) and as an injectable solution.

Before giving vancomycin to your child

Tell your child’s doctor if your child has an allergy to vancomycin.

How should you give your child vancomycin?

Oral vancomycin is available as capsules, special pharmacy-prepared suspension (liquid) or injectable solution. Each formulation has advantages and disadvantages:

• Capsules cannot be given via feeding tube because they can thicken water or feeds and cause tube blockages.
• The pharmacy-prepared suspension is flavoured and suitable for oral administration. It may not be suitable for patients who have sugar or carbohydrate restrictions such as a prescribed ketogenic diet or short bowel syndrome.
• Vancomycin injectable solution may be given orally or through a feeding tube.

Follow these instructions when giving your child vancomycin:

• Give vancomycin exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better. Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving vancomycin for any reason.
• Give vancomycin at the same times every day. Pick times that are easy for you so that you do not miss any doses.
• Vancomycin may be given with or without food.
• If your child is prescribed vancomycin capsules, the capsules must be swallowed whole. Do not crush, chew or open the capsules.
• If your child is prescribed vancomycin oral suspension (liquid), shake the bottle well, and use the special measuring spoon or oral syringe provided by the pharmacist to measure the prescribed dose.
• If your child is prescribed vancomycin injection (liquid) to be given orally or through a feeding tube, please see Vancomycin: Preparing a liquid formulation.

What should you do if your child misses a dose?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of oral vancomycin?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take oral vancomycin.

Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away or if they bother your child:

• abdominal pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to the Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• difficulty breathing
• severe rash or hives

What safety measures should you take when your child is using vancomycin?

Check with your child’s doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal or natural products).

If your child is on the ketogenic diet or has short bowel syndrome, the compounded suspension may not be appropriate because it contains sugar. Instead, your doctor may instruct you to use the injectable solution to be given orally.

What other important information should you know about vancomycin?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child’s medicine with others, and do not give anyone else’s medicine to your child.
• Keep vancomycin capsules at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Keep pharmacy-prepared vancomycin suspensions (liquid) in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. It is important that you return the bottle to the refrigerator immediately after each use.
• Please refer to Vancomycin: Preparing a liquid formulation for information on how to store vancomycin injectable solution for oral use.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.

Keep vancomycin out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much vancomycin, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.