Here’s the detailed profile for Vancomycin Capsule 125 mg 👇
💊 Vancomycin Capsule 125 mg
📘 Description:
- Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic.
- Oral vancomycin is poorly absorbed from the GI tract → hence acts locally in the intestines.
- Mechanism: Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding firmly to D-Ala-D-Ala termini of cell wall precursors → bactericidal against susceptible organisms.
📄 Prescription / Indications:
- Primarily used orally for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI):
- Initial episode (non-severe or severe)
- Recurrent CDI (first or multiple recurrences)
- Alternative for staphylococcal enterocolitis
👉 Note: Oral vancomycin is not effective for systemic infections, because it is not absorbed into bloodstream. For systemic infections, IV vancomycin is required.
🌿 Nature / Drug Class:
- Glycopeptide antibiotic
- Bactericidal against Gram-positive organisms
✅ Advantages:
- Highly effective against C. difficile (superior to metronidazole in severe disease)
- Minimal systemic absorption → low risk of systemic toxicity
- Preferred therapy for recurrent or severe CDI
⚠️ Precautions:
Contraindications:
- Known hypersensitivity to vancomycin
Use with caution in:
- Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (↑ systemic absorption possible)
- Prolonged use → risk of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) colonization
Adverse effects: (rare with oral form, more with IV)
- GI: nausea, abdominal pain
- Rare: systemic toxicity if absorbed (ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity)
- Overgrowth of resistant organisms with prolonged use
💊 Dosage (Adults):
- Clostridioides difficile colitis:
- 125 mg orally every 6 hours for 10 days (first-line regimen)
- Higher doses (250–500 mg q6h) may be used in severe/fulminant cases
- Pediatric: 10 mg/kg/dose orally every 6 hours (max 125 mg per dose)
📦 Common Packaging:
- Capsules 125 mg (also available as 250 mg)
- Sometimes available as oral solution/suspension (reconstituted from IV powder) for pediatrics
❄️ Storage Conditions:
- Store below 25°C, protected from moisture
- Keep out of reach of children