Vancomycin BNM

Vancomycin BNM

Active ingredient(s): vancomycin hydrochloride

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Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Vancomycin BNM. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Vancomycin BNM.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I taking Vancomycin BNM?
2. What should I know before I take Vancomycin BNM?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I take Vancomycin BNM?
5. What should I know while taking Vancomycin BNM?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I taking VANCOMYCIN BNM?

Vancomycin BNM contains the active ingredient vancomycin hydrochloride. Vancomycin BNM is an antibiotic.

Vancomycin BNM is used to treat serious infections involving the bowel. It works by killing or stopping the growth of the bacteria causing your infection.

2. What should I know before I take VANCOMYCIN BNM?

Warnings

Do not take Vancomycin BNM if:

• You are allergic to Vancomycin and similar antibiotics e.g. teicoplanin., or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
  Signs of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty in breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or any other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Check with your doctor if you:

• have any of the following medical conditions:
  – kidney or liver disease
  – a special sensory impairment (e.g. blindness)
  – pre-existing hearing loss
  – inflammatory bowel disorders.
• take any medicines for any other condition
• are allergic to any other medicines or any foods, dyes or preservatives.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

It is not recommended for use while breastfeeding as it is found in breast milk.

Use in elderly or patients with pre-existing kidney disease

• Elderly patients or those with a pre-existing kidney condition may be more sensitive to the effects or side effects of this medicine.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Vancomycin BNM. These include:

• some other medicines used to treat infections, such as amikacin, amphotericin, colistin, gentamicin, neomycin, tobramycin and piperacillin/tazobactam.
• cisplatin, an anticancer medicine
• some fluid tablets (diuretics), such as etacrynic acid and furosemide (frusemide)
• anaesthetic agents
• colestyramine, a powder taken to lower cholesterol levels

These medicines may be affected by Vancomycin BNM or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or to avoid while taking Vancomycin BNM capsules.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Vancomycin BNM.

4. How do I take VANCOMYCIN BNM?

How much to take

• Follow the instructions provided when Vancomycin BNM was prescribed, including the number of days it should be taken.
• If you are elderly or have a pre-existing kidney condition, you may need to take fewer capsules.
• The total dose for children should not exceed 2 grams per day.

When to take Vancomycin BNM

• Vancomycin BNM should be used as advised by your doctor. This will depend on the type of infection. The dose varies from patient to patient.
• Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water.
• Vancomycin BNM capsules can be taken with or without food.
• It is important to complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you do not, the bacteria causing your infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.

If you forget to take Vancomycin BNM

Vancomycin BNM should be taken regularly at the same time each day. If you miss your dose at the usual time, and there is still a long time to go before your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your capsules as you would normally.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you have trouble remembering to take your tablets, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much Vancomycin BNM

If you think that you have taken too much Vancomycin BNM, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre
  (by calling 13 11 26), or
• contact your doctor, or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while taking VANCOMYCIN BNM?

Things you should do

• Tell your doctor if the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days or if they become worse.
• Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Vancomycin BNM capsules.

Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking Vancomycin BNM.

Things you should not do

• Do not stop taking this medicine or change the dosage without first checking with your doctor. If you stop taking it, your condition may worsen.
• Do not take Vancomycin BNM capsules to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
• Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
• Do not take Vancomycin BNM capsules if the expiry date on the pack has passed.
• Do not take Vancomycin BNM capsules if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Vancomycin BNM affects you.

Vancomycin BNM may cause dizziness in some people.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Looking after your medicine

Keep your capsules in the blister pack until it is time to take them.

• If you take your capsules out of the blister pack they may not keep as well.
• Keep your medicine in a place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effects	What to do
Digestive system-related: indigestion stomach-ache nausea diarrhoea vomiting General disorders chills	Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects

What to do

Skin related: itchy rash Bleeding related: bleeding bruising more easily than normal Infections related: frequent infections or symptoms of infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers Head and neurology related: vertigo dizziness tinnitus (ringing in the ears) loss of appetite fatigue Cardiac related: irregular or fast heartbeat Allergy related: skin blister bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals high fever and rash redness of the upper body or pain and muscle spasm of the chest and back chest tightness, wheezing or breathlessness

Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

These are serious side effects of Vancomycin BNM capsules. You may need urgent medical attention.

Serious side effects are rare.

Hearing loss has occurred in some patients taking Vancomycin BNM capsules. Most of these have occurred in patients who have pre-existing conditions such as kidney disease or partial hearing loss.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Vancomycin BNM capsules:

• severe stomach cramps or pain
• severe, watery or bloody diarrhoea
• fever, in combination with one of the above.

These are rare but serious side effects. You may have a serious condition affecting your bowel and may need urgent medical attention.

Do not take any diarrhoea medicine without first checking with your doctor.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What Vancomycin BNM contains

Active ingredient (main ingredient)	Vancomycin HCl
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients)	macrogol 6000, gelatin, titanium dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, brilliant blue FCF, iron oxide yellow (250 mg capsules only), tartrazine (125 mg capsules only), carnauba wax, white shellac and glyceryl monooleate.

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Vancomycin BNM looks like

Vancomycin BNM Capsule 125 mg:
Size 2 capsules with a blue cap and yellow body, imprinted with “OP64” on the cap and the body in white ink.
(Aust R 375011).

Vancomycin BNM Capsules 250 mg:
Size 0 capsules with a blue cap and dark-yellow body, imprinted with “OP65” on the cap and the body in white ink.
(Aust R 375010).

Who distributes Vancomycin BNM

Boucher & Muir Pty Ltd
t/a ADVANZ PHARMA (Australia)
Level 9, 76 Berry Street
North Sydney NSW 2060

Ph: 1800 627 680

This leaflet was prepared in June 2022.