Vancolife Caution For Usage

This medicine is irritating to tissue and pain, tenderness, and necrosis occur with intramuscular injection of vancomycin or inadvertent extravasation. Therefore, this medicine must be given by a secure intravenous route of administration.
If administered in higher concentrations, there is the possibility of thrombophlebitis. The frequency and severity of thrombophlebitis can be minimized by administering the drug slowly as a dilute solution (2.5 to 5 g/L) and by rotating the sites of infusion.
Rapid bolus administration (e.g., over several minutes) may be associated with hypotension and, rarely, cardiac arrest. Vancomycin should be administered over a period of not less than 60 minutes to avoid rapid-infusion-related reactions.
Stopping the infusion usually results in prompt cessation of these reactions.
The safety and efficacy of this drug administration by the intrathecal (intralumbar or intraventricular) routes have not been assessed.
Vancomycin hydrochloride solutions have a low pH and may cause chemical or physical instability when mixed with other compounds. This medical product must not be mixed with alkaline solution.
Mixtures of solution of vancomycin and beta-lactam antibiotics have been shown to be physically incompatible. The likelihood of precipitation increases with higher concentrations of vancomycin. It is recommended to dilute to adequately flush the intravenous lines between the administration of these antibiotics. It is also recommended to dilute solutions of vancomycin to 5 mg/mL or less.
Although intravitreal injection is not an approved route of administration for vancomycin, precipitation has been reported after intravitreal injection of vancomycin and ceftazidime for endophthalmitis using different syringes and needles. The precipitates dissolved gradually, with complete clearing of the vitreous cavity over two months and with improvement of visual acuity.
Prior to administration, parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution or container permits.