Answer
Jul 10, 2026 - 09:06 AM
While taking vancomycin:
- Do not skip doses, stop early or double a missed dose. Complete the prescribed course unless your clinician tells you to stop.
- Do not start painkillers, antibiotics or supplements without checking first. Some medications can increase kidney or hearing damage. This includes certain antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs and potentially regular/high-dose NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Do not stop existing prescriptions without medical advice.
- Do not miss blood tests or kidney-function monitoring if receiving IV vancomycin.
- Do not allow IV vancomycin to run faster than prescribed. Rapid infusion can cause intense flushing, itching, low blood pressure or breathing problems; administration should be handled by a healthcare professional.
- Do not become dehydrated. Drink appropriate fluids unless you have been placed on fluid restriction.
- If taking oral vancomycin for C. difficile, do not take loperamide/Imodium or another diarrhea-stopping medicine unless your clinician specifically approves it.
- Avoid heavy alcohol use; there is no standard direct food or alcohol interaction, but alcohol can worsen dehydration, dizziness or stomach symptoms.
Seek urgent medical help for difficulty breathing, facial swelling, blistering or peeling rash, significantly reduced urination, new ringing in the ears, hearing loss, severe dizziness or intense flushing during an infusion. Kidney and hearing toxicity can be serious.
