IV infusion with vancomycin

Posted by retirement75 @retirement75, May 23, 2023

I have recently undergone surgery for removal of lumbar hardware and washout due to osteomyelitis in spine. Wondering if anyone has been treated with vancomycin and if you’ve experienced side effects
@jenniferhunter

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Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | May 23, 2023

Hi @retirement75, I’ve had many vancomycin IV treatments while undergoing treatment for leukemia. It was part of a prophylactic antibiotic course to keep me from having serious infections while undergoing months of chemo. I didn’t have any side effects that I could attribute directly to the Vancomycin but I knew when it was being infused. Even if I was sleeping it woke me because it felt ‘warm’. But then the feeling dissipated. There were no longterm side effects.
IV antibiotics are tolerated much better than when taken orally and there’s usually fewer gut disruptions with IV application.

Are you already on the drug? Are you having side effects?

vic83 | @vic83 | May 24, 2023

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @retirement75, I’ve had many vancomycin IV treatments while undergoing treatment for leukemia. It was part..." + (show)

"IV antibiotics are tolerated much better than when taken orally and there’s usually fewer gut disruptions with IV application."
Very true. I had text-book case of C--difficile from oral Amoxicillin given to me by dentist. 7 days later I was recovered in hospital for one week. They gave me Vancomycin to cure it. I was also prescribed 10 days of Vancomycin when discharged. Since tablets are VERY VERY expensive, they gave me compound medication of Vancomycin (uses IV form I understand) - for ten days that was only $170 back in 2011. I have not taken an oral broadband antibiotic since. Afraid of return of C-difficile. I had no side effects from Vancomycin

retirement75 | @retirement75 | May 24, 2023

In reply to @vic83 ""IV antibiotics are tolerated much better than when taken orally and there’s usually fewer gut disruptions..." + (show)

Thanks for reply

retirement75 | @retirement75 | May 24, 2023

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @retirement75, I’ve had many vancomycin IV treatments while undergoing treatment for leukemia. It was part..." + (show)

Yes, I’ve searched for side effects and I’ve had several. I am on a lower dose. Hopefully, It will only be a 6 week treatment.

genebean | @genebean | 1 day ago

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @retirement75, I’ve had many vancomycin IV treatments while undergoing treatment for leukemia. It was part..." + (show)

Yes well i've been given it in the hospital over four day period for mersa
and now strange things are happening.So i'm wondering if it's because of the vancomycin

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | 1 day ago

In reply to @genebean "Yes well i've been given it in the hospital over four day period for mersa and..." + (show)

Hi @genebean. Sorry to read that you’re dealing with a MRSA infection. Hopefully the antibiotics are getting the infection under control.
When you say strange things are happening, what is occurring? Are you still in the hospital? Have you mentioned the changes with your medical team?

retirement75 | @retirement75 | 1 day ago

In reply to @genebean "Yes well i've been given it in the hospital over four day period for mersa and..." + (show)

I developed a bad rash going up my arm. Allergic reaction

menholiday | @menholiday | 19 hours ago

I had 12 days in hospital of Vancomycin and a month at home with intravenous Vancomycin. I felt very few side effects tolerated it well--however after the treatments noted a change in taste and some degree of lethargy which over several weeks cleared up. I was changed to Levofloxicin 500 mg daily orally for lifelong treatment after infective endocarditis. Slowly I feel myself returning to normal, and blood tests are confirming.

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