vancomycin
Brand names: Vancocin
Vancomycin is a strong antibiotic. It fights serious infections caused by certain bacteria.
Drug Shortage Alert
vancomycin is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$2.75/unit
Generic Available
Yes (37 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Vancomycin treats serious infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to some other antibiotics.
Common side effects
Flushing of the upper body ('red neck'), Pain or muscle spasm in the chest and back, Inflammation at the injection site
Key warnings
Rapid infusions of vancomycin can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, wheezing, trouble breathing, hives, or itching.
How It Works
Vancomycin works by stopping bacteria from building their cell walls. Without a cell wall, the bacteria cannot survive. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
Vancomycin is given through a vein (IV). A healthcare provider will give you this medicine. The usual dose for adults is 2 grams per day, divided into either 500 mg every 6 hours or 1 gram every 12 hours. Each dose should be given slowly over at least 60 minutes.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is not known if vancomycin will harm an unborn baby. Vancomycin passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you need to take this medicine.
Missed Dose
Since a healthcare provider gives vancomycin, you are not likely to miss a dose. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor.
Storage
Before mixing, store vancomycin vials at room temperature (68° to 77°F).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 30,153 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 55,549 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
55,549
Death-Related Reports
11,029
Hospitalization Reports
30,109
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 6,107 |
| 2 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 4,178 |
| 3 | OFF LABEL USE | 3,966 |
| 4 | PYREXIA | 3,514 |
| 5 | DRUG REACTION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS | 2,311 |
| 6 | RENAL FAILURE | 2,198 |
| 7 | SEPSIS | 2,062 |
| 8 | DIARRHOEA | 2,034 |
| 9 | PNEUMONIA | 1,906 |
| 10 | HYPOTENSION | 1,882 |
| 11 | RASH | 1,821 |
| 12 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 1,807 |
| 13 | DYSPNOEA | 1,605 |
| 14 | SEPTIC SHOCK | 1,557 |
| 15 | NAUSEA | 1,534 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Rapid infusions of vancomycin can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, wheezing, trouble breathing, hives, or itching. Severe skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis have also been reported.
Known Drug Interactions
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Both drugs can harm the kidneys. Taking them at the same time increases the risk of serious kidney damage.
What to do: Do not take these two medicines together. Your doctor should use a different treatment to protect your kidneys.
Monitor renal function in patients receiving vancomycin and concurrent and/or sequential systemic or topical use of other potentially, neurotoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs, such as amphotericin B, aminoglycosides, bacitracin, polymyxin B, colistin, viomycin, or cisplatin.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs can be harmful to the kidneys, and using them at the same time increases the risk of kidney damage.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your kidney function closely while you are receiving these medications.
Monitor renal function in patients receiving vancomycin and concurrent and/or sequential systemic or topical use of other potentially, neurotoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs, such as amphotericin B, aminoglycosides, bacitracin, polymyxin B, colistin, viomycin, or cisplatin.
Mechanism: Both of these medicines can be harmful to the kidneys when used at the same time.
What to do: Your doctor should check your kidney health often while you are using these drugs.
( 7.2 ) • Co-administration of ZOSYN with vancomycin may increase the incidence of acute kidney injury. Monitor kidney function in patients receiving ZOSYN and vancomycin. 7.3 Vancomycin Studies have detected an increased incidence of acute kidney injury in patients concomitantly administered piperacillin and tazobactam and vancomycin as compared to vancomycin alone [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] .
Mechanism: Taking these two antibiotics together can increase the risk of sudden damage to your kidneys.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor your kidney function closely while you are receiving both of these medications.
[See Clinical Pharmacology (12.4).] 7.2 Cationic Drugs Although drug interactions for metformin with cationic drugs (e.g., amiloride, digoxin, morphine, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, ranitidine, triamterene, trimethoprim, and vancomycin) remain theoretical (except for cimetidine), careful patient monitoring and dose adjustment of AVANDAMET and/or the interfering drug is recommended in patients who are taking cationic medications that are excreted via the proximal renal tubular secretory system.
Mechanism: These medications compete for the same disposal path in the kidneys, which could potentially affect how they are cleared from your body.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should watch you carefully and might adjust your dosage if necessary.
Common Questions
What if I am allergic to vancomycin?
Can vancomycin affect my kidneys?
Can vancomycin affect my hearing?
What should I tell my doctor before taking vancomycin?
Can vancomycin cause diarrhea?
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to vancomycin?
How will my doctor monitor me while I'm taking vancomycin?
Can I take vancomycin orally?
What should I do if I experience side effects while taking vancomycin?
Are there any long-term side effects of vancomycin?
What are the common side effects of vancomycin?
Does vancomycin interact with other medications?
What drug class is vancomycin?
Is vancomycin safe during pregnancy?
Has vancomycin been recalled?
Is vancomycin currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
Superpotent Drug: semi-automated IV bag filling system can malfunction and provide a double dose of drug product to IV bags.
Denver Solutions, LLC DBA Leiters Health
Superpotent Drug: semi-automated IV bag filling system can malfunction and provide a double dose of drug product to IV bags.
Denver Solutions, LLC DBA Leiters Health
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Apollo Care, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Apollo Care, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Apollo Care, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Apollo Care, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
Apollo Care, LLC
Lack of Assurance of Sterility; All lots of sterile products compounded by the pharmacy within expiry are subject to this recall. This recall is initiated due to concerns associated with quality control procedures observed during a recent FDA inspection.
Franck's Lab Inc dba Trinity Care Solutions
Lack of Assurance of Sterility; All lots of sterile products compounded by the pharmacy within expiry are subject to this recall. This recall is initiated due to concerns associated with quality control procedures observed during a recent FDA inspection.
Franck's Lab Inc dba Trinity Care Solutions
Lack of Assurance of Sterility; All lots of sterile products compounded by the pharmacy within expiry are subject to this recall. This recall is initiated due to concerns associated with quality control procedures observed during a recent FDA inspection.
Franck's Lab Inc dba Trinity Care Solutions
Related Medications in Glycopeptide Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near vancomycin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with vancomycin →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with vancomycin →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with vancomycin →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with vancomycin →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with vancomycin →
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What the FDA Data Shows for vancomycin
The FDA label for vancomycin (sold under brand names such as Vancocin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Glycopeptide Antibiotic class. Vancomycin treats serious infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to some other antibiotics. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Flushing of the upper body ('red neck'), Pain or muscle spasm in the chest and back, Inflammation at the injection site.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 30,153 voluntary reports. The database also lists 6 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $2.75.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 10 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 30, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages