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Vancomycin

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic given by IV for serious bloodstream, heart valve, skin, bone and lung infections, and taken by mouth for C. difficile diarrhea and staphylococcal enterocolitis (a staph infection of the intestine).

Brand names FirvanqTyzavan
Drug class Glycopeptide Antibacterial
Rx Forms 3
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 55 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

Other forms & routes:
Injection
Vancomycin at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Vancomycin is an antibiotic that kills bacteria by stopping them from building their cell walls, given by IV for serious bloodstream and heart valve infections and by mouth for C. difficile diarrhea; around since about 1958 and available generically, it remains a mainstay against resistant staph. Swallowed, it stays mostly in the gut, so nausea, stomach pain or gas are typical; the IV form is the bigger worry for kidneys and hearing. Report hearing changes, less urine, rash or severe diarrhea promptly. Its boxed warning covers one injection formulation with the added ingredients PEG 400 and NADA, which should be avoided in the first or second trimester of pregnancy.

Clinical pearls

  • Flushing or itching of the face and neck during an infusion often means it is running too fast, so speak up.
  • Expect blood draws for kidney function and often vancomycin levels, timed around doses, so do not skip scheduled labs.
  • If you are also on piperacillin/tazobactam or an aminoglycoside, kidney checks matter even more, since together they raise injury risk.
  • Oral vancomycin will not treat infections outside the gut, and IV vancomycin does not work for C. difficile diarrhea.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
⚠️ FDA Boxed Warning — the FDA’s strongest safety alert ▾

Some vancomycin injection formulations contain the added ingredients PEG 400 and NADA and should not be used in the first or second trimester of pregnancy if another formulation is available. In animal studies, these ingredients caused fetal malformations at exposures several times higher than human doses.

If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, tell your doctor before treatment. Your doctor can choose a different vancomycin formulation without these ingredients. This warning applies to that specific injection formulation, not to every vancomycin product.

Read the full warning on DailyMed →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asInjection, Capsule, Oral solution
Earliest FDA record1958
Companies listing it with the FDA37
FDA label last updatedAug 19, 2026
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)Yes, read the warning

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Vancomycin, written from its FDA label.

What Vancomycin is used for

▾

Vancomycin treats certain bacterial infections, and the approved uses depend on the product and route.

  • IV vancomycin (including Tyzavan): septicemia (bloodstream infection)
  • IV vancomycin: infective endocarditis (heart valve infection)
  • IV vancomycin: skin and skin structure infections
  • IV vancomycin: bone infections
  • IV vancomycin: lower respiratory tract infections
  • Oral vancomycin (Vancocin and other capsules, oral solution): C. difficile-associated diarrhea
  • Oral vancomycin: enterocolitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains

IV vancomycin is not effective for C. difficile diarrhea, and oral vancomycin is not effective for other infections.

How Vancomycin works

▾

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic. It kills bacteria mostly by stopping them from building their cell walls. It also changes the permeability of the bacterial cell membrane and affects RNA synthesis.

It works against many gram-positive bacteria. It has no cross-resistance with other antibiotics, but is not active against gram-negative bacilli, mycobacteria or fungi.

Vancomycin dosage

▾

Dosing depends on the product, so follow your prescriber and the label.

  • IV forms are given by infusion, slowly, over at least 60 minutes, usually several times a day. Doses are adjusted for kidney function and age.
  • Oral capsules and oral solution are swallowed, usually 3 or 4 times a day for about 7 to 10 days.
  • Oral solution is mixed with water and can be kept in the refrigerator for two weeks.

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Vancomycin prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Adults with normal renal function (intravenous)
    • The usual daily intravenous dose is 2 g divided either as 500 mg every 6 hours or 1 g every 12 hours
    • Each dose should be administered at no more than 10 mg/min or over a period of at least 60 minutes, whichever is longer
    • Other patient factors, such as age or obesity, may call for modification of the usual intravenous daily dose.
  • Pediatric patients (intravenous)
    • 10 mg/kg per dose given every 6 hours, administered over a period of at least 60 minutes
    • Close monitoring of serum concentrations of vancomycin may be warranted.
  • Neonates (intravenous)
    • Initial dose of 15 mg/kg, followed by 10 mg/kg every 12 hours in the 1st week of life and every 8 hours thereafter up to the age of 1 month
    • Each dose should be administered over 60 minutes
    • Longer dosing intervals may be necessary in premature infants; close monitoring of serum concentrations is recommended.
  • Patients with impaired renal function and elderly patients (intravenous)
    • Dosage of vancomycin per day in mg is about 15 times the glomerular filtration rate in mL/min (e.g. creatinine clearance 100 mL/min: 1,545 mg/24 h
    • 50 mL/min: 770 mg/24 h
    • 10 mL/min: 155 mg/24 h)
    • The initial dose should be no less than 15 mg/kg
    • Dosage adjustment must be made; greater dosage reductions than expected may be necessary in premature infants and the elderly.
  • Functionally anephric patients (intravenous)
    • Initial dose of 15 mg/kg of body weight
    • Dose required to maintain stable concentrations is 1.9 mg/kg/24 hr
    • The renal impairment table is not valid for these patients.
  • Patients with marked renal impairment / anuria (intravenous)
    • Maintenance doses of 250 to 1,000 mg once every several days
    • In anuria, 1,000 mg every 7 to 10 days has been recommended
    • May be more convenient than daily administration.
  • Adults (18 years or older), C. difficile-associated diarrhea (oral)
    • 125 mg administered orally 4 times daily for 10 days
  • Adults (18 years or older), staphylococcal enterocolitis (oral)
    • 500 mg to 2 grams administered orally in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days
  • Pediatric patients less than 18 years, C. difficile-associated diarrhea and staphylococcal enterocolitis (oral)
    • 40 mg/kg in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 days to 10 days
    • Maximum: The total daily dosage should not exceed 2 g
Read the label’s full dosing text

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Pharmacy Bulk Package. Not for direct intravenous infusion See full prescribing information for important information on intravenous and oral administration, preparation and storage instructions ( 2.1 , 2.5 , 2.8 ). Recommended Dosage and Administration Intravenous Use: o Administer Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection in a diluted solution by intravenous infusion over 60 minutes or greater to reduce the risk of infusion reactions. o Adult Patients: 2 grams (g) divided either as 0.5 g every 6 hours or 1 g every 12 hours ( 2.2 ) o Pediatric Patients (1 month and older): 10 mg/kg per dose given every 6 hours ( 2.2 ) o Pediatric Patients (younger than 1 month of age): See full prescribing information for recommended dosage ( 2.2 ) o Patients with Renal Impairment: See full prescribing information for recommended dosage in patients with renal impairment ( 2.4 ) Oral use: Adult Patients (18 years of age or greater): o C. difficile Associated Diarrhea: 125 mg administered orally 4 times daily for 10 days ( 2.3 ). o Staphylococcal enterocolitis: 500 mg to 2 grams administered orally in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days ( 2.3 ) Pediatric Patients (less than 18 years of age): o For both C. difficile -associated diarrhea and staphylococcal enterocolitis: 40 mg/kg in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 days to 10 days. The total daily dosage should not exceed 2 g ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Important Administration Instructions for Intravenous Use Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection is supplied in pharmacy bulk packages. A pharmacy bulk package is a sterile dosage form containing many single doses. The contents of Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection pharmacy bulk package are intended for use by a pharmacy admixture service for addition to suitable parenteral fluids in the preparation of admixtures for intravenous infusion. The Pharmacy Bulk Package is NOT for direct infusion. Further dilution is required before use [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.4 )] . To reduce the risk of infusion related adverse reactions, administer diluted Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection by intravenous infusion over 60 minutes or greater [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 ) and Adverse Reactions ( 6.1 )] . Diluted Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection concentrations of no more than 5 mg/mL are recommended in adults [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 )] .

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Vancomycin side effects

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Common side effects, especially with oral vancomycin, include:

Common side effects

  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Low potassium (hypokalemia)
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Gas (flatulence)
  • Fever
  • Headache

When to get medical help

  • Call your doctor if you notice less urine, swelling, or other signs of kidney problems. Vancomycin can cause acute kidney injury.
  • Get help for ringing in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness or vertigo. These can be signs of ototoxicity (ear damage), which may be permanent.
  • Stop and get medical help right away for a skin rash, mouth or mucosal sores, or blisters. These can be severe skin reactions.
  • Tell your care team about flushing, itching or redness of the face, neck or upper body, low blood pressure, wheezing, trouble breathing or chest pain during an IV infusion.
  • Report diarrhea that is severe or persistent, even weeks or months after antibiotics. It could be C. difficile.
  • Pain, redness or swelling at the IV site should be reported. This can be phlebitis (vein inflammation).
  • Unusual infections or fever can be signs of low white blood cells (neutropenia).

Vancomycin warnings and precautions

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  • Kidney injury can occur with IV or oral use. The risk is higher in people over 65 and with other kidney-affecting drugs.
  • Hearing damage (tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo) may be temporary or permanent.
  • Severe skin reactions have been reported. Stop treatment at the first sign of rash, mouth sores or blisters.
  • Low white blood cell counts can occur and may need blood count checks.
  • Rapid IV infusion can cause low blood pressure, flushing, wheezing and chest pain.
  • IV vancomycin can irritate veins and cause phlebitis. It should not be injected into muscle.
  • C. difficile diarrhea can develop with antibiotics, even weeks after use.
  • Some patients absorb meaningful amounts of oral vancomycin, especially those with inflamed intestines.

Vancomycin interactions

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These combinations need extra care:

  • Piperacillin/tazobactam: higher chance of kidney injury.
  • Aminoglycosides and other kidney- or ear-damaging drugs: more monitoring is needed.
  • Anesthetic agents: can cause flushing and redness.

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Vancomycin prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Anesthetic agents: Concomitant administration with vancomycin has been associated with erythema and histamine-like flushing. Administer diluted vancomycin prior to intravenous anesthetic agents to reduce the risk of infusion related adverse reactions.
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam: Studies have detected an increased incidence of acute kidney injury with concomitant use compared to vancomycin alone; no pharmacokinetic interactions have been noted. Monitor kidney function in patients receiving concomitant piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin.
  • Other potentially neurotoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs (ototoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs): Concurrent and/or sequential systemic or topical use with vancomycin requires more frequent monitoring of renal function. More frequent monitoring of renal function.
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Anesthetic Agents: Concomitant administration of vancomycin and anesthetic agents has been associated with erythema and histamine-like flushing. ( 2.1 , 7.1 ) • Piperacillin/Tazobactam: Increased incidence of acute kidney injury in patients receiving concomitant piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin as compared to vancomycin alone. Monitor kidney function in patients. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Anesthetic Agents Concomitant administration of vancomycin and anesthetic agents has been associated with erythema and histamine-like flushing [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Use in Specific Populations (8.4) ]. 7.2 Piperacillin-Tazobactam Studies have detected an increased incidence of acute kidney injury in patients administered concomitant piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin as compared to vancomycin alone. Monitor kidney function in patients receiving concomitant piperacillin/tazobactam and Vancomycin Injection. No pharmacokinetic interactions have been noted between piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin. 7.3 Ototoxic and/or Nephrotoxic Drugs Concurrent and/or sequential systemic or topical use of other potentially neurotoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs with Vancomycin Injection requires more frequent monitoring of renal function.

Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿50 supplements and herbs with documented Vancomycin interactions, ranked by severity Check Vancomycin against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Vancomycin

▾
  • Do not use if allergic to vancomycin.
  • Dextrose-containing solutions may not suit people with a corn allergy.
  • Tell your doctor about kidney problems or hearing loss.
  • Older adults are more likely to have reduced kidney function, so dosing and monitoring matter.
  • Children may have more severe infusion reactions.
  • Certain vancomycin injections with PEG 400 and NADA should be avoided in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. A pregnancy test is advised before prescribing that formulation.
  • Breastfeeding data are limited. Discuss with your doctor.

Vancomycin overdose

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The label advises supportive care and maintaining kidney filtration. Dialysis removes vancomycin poorly. Contact your Regional Poison Control Center for current guidance.

What Vancomycin does in the body

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In animal studies, vancomycin's activity against certain bacteria, including MRSA, appears linked to the ratio of drug exposure to the amount needed to stop bacterial growth. The best measure of clinical cure has not been established in clinical trials.

How your body processes Vancomycin

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Vancomycin is poorly absorbed from the gut, so oral doses act mainly in the intestine and leave high stool levels. IV vancomycin is cleared mostly by the kidneys, with about 75% in urine in the first 24 hours. Half-life is about 4 to 6 hours with normal kidney function and much longer with kidney failure. It is not meaningfully metabolized and is not removed well by dialysis.

How to store Vancomycin

▾

Store below 25°C (77ºF), in original package.

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

50

Supplements & herbs that interact with Vancomycin

50 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Vancomycin in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 3
  • Moderate · 36
  • Minor · 11
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major ASARABACCA Major SIBERIAN COCKLEBUR Major ARISTOLOCHIA Moderate BACILLUS COAGULANS Moderate Bacillus Subtilis Moderate BIFIDOBACTERIUM ANIMALIS SUBSP. LACTIS Moderate BIFIDOBACTERIUM BIFIDUM Moderate +42 more
Every supplement checked against Vancomycin — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 3 major · 36 moderate · 11 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Vancomycin against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

7

Nutrient depletion considerations

Vancomycin has been associated with lower levels of 7 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

Evidence & significance mix
  • Higher significance · 6
  • Moderate · 1
BIOTIN Insignificant Depletion FOLIC ACID Insignificant Depletion RIBOFLAVIN Insignificant Depletion THIAMINE Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN B12 Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN B6 Insignificant Depletion VITAMIN K Moderate Depletion
See the full Vancomycin nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Vancomycin: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Vancomycin — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

What is vancomycin for?

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It is an antibiotic. By IV, it treats serious infections like bloodstream, heart valve, bone, skin and lung infections. By mouth, it treats C. difficile diarrhea and staph infections of the intestine. Which form you get depends on the infection.

How do I take it?

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Oral capsules or liquid are usually taken 3 or 4 times a day for about 7 to 10 days. IV doses are given slowly by a healthcare team. Follow your prescriber's directions and finish the course as directed.

What side effects should I expect?

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With oral vancomycin, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and low potassium are most common. Call your doctor promptly for hearing changes, ringing in the ears, rash or blisters, less urine, or severe diarrhea.

Can it affect my kidneys or hearing?

▾
Yes. It can cause kidney injury and hearing problems, especially with higher levels, older age, kidney disease, or other drugs that affect these organs. Your care team may check kidney function, blood levels and hearing.

Is it safe in pregnancy?

▾
Some IV vancomycin injections contain PEG 400 and NADA, which caused fetal malformations in animal studies. They should be avoided in the first or second trimester if another formulation is available. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant.

Why can an IV infusion make me flushed or itchy?

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Giving IV vancomycin too fast can cause flushing, itching, low blood pressure or chest tightness. That is why it is infused slowly over at least an hour. Tell your nurse right away if you feel any of this, as slowing or stopping usually helps.

Is Vancomycin available over the counter?

▾
No. Vancomycin is a prescription medicine: every Vancomycin product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Vancomycin first available?

▾
The earliest FDA record we hold for Vancomycin is from 1958: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Vancomycin was first used.

Who makes Vancomycin?

▾
37 companies currently list Vancomycin products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Mylan Institutional LLC, Xellia Pharmaceuticals USA LLC. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Vancomycin on HelloPharmacist

📊Vancomycin supplement interactions50 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerVancomycin vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Vancomycin NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Vancomycin Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Vancomycin forms and strengths (how it comes)

Vancomycin is available in 3 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Injection

By mouth · In the eye · Into a vein
Brands Tyzavan
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Tyzavan is given by IV for septicemia, infective endocarditis, skin and skin structure infections, bone infections and lower respiratory tract infections.
  • Some vancomycin hydrochloride for injection products can also be given by mouth for C. difficile diarrhea and staphylococcal enterocolitis.
Important instructions
  • Tyzavan is for intravenous use only and must not be taken by mouth.
  • Tyzavan is infused over 60 minutes or longer to reduce the risk of infusion reactions.
  • Tyzavan is not recommended if the needed dose does not match its available dose amounts. Another vancomycin formulation may be used instead.
  • Vancomycin by intravitreal route has not been shown to be safe and effective, and eye vessel inflammation with vision loss has been reported.
Available strengths 35 strengths
500 mg 500 mg/5 mL 500 mg/10 mL 500 mg/100 mL 513 mg/mg 750 mg
Show 29 more strengths Show fewer strengths
750 mg/15 mL 750 mg/20 mL 750 mg/150 mL 769 mg/mg 1 g 1 g/20 mL 1 g/200 mL 1025 mg/mg 1.25 g 1.25 g/25 mL 1.25 g/30 mL 1.25 g/250 mL 1280 mg/mg 1.5 g 1.5 g/30 mL 1.5 g/300 mL 1540 mg/mg 1.75 g/35 mL 1.75 g/350 mL 2 g/40 mL 2 g/400 mL 5 g 5 g/100 mL 5.13 g/g 10 g 10 g/95 mL 10 g/100 mL 10.25 g/g 100 g
235 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Capsule

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Vancocin capsules treat Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea.
  • Vancocin capsules also treat staphylococcal enterocolitis, including methicillin-resistant strains, in adults and children under 18.
Important instructions
  • Vancocin capsules must be taken by mouth for these infections. IV vancomycin does not work for them.
  • Vancocin capsules are generally taken 3 or 4 times daily for about 7 to 10 days, as your prescriber directs.
  • Vancocin capsules do not work for other types of infection.
Available strengths 2 strengths
125 mg 250 mg
29 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral solution

By mouth
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Vancomycin Hydrochloride oral solution treats staphylococcal enterocolitis and antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. difficile.
Important instructions
  • Vancomycin Hydrochloride for oral solution is mixed with water as directed on the label.
  • The mixed Vancomycin Hydrochloride oral solution can be kept in a refrigerator for two weeks.
  • It is usually taken in 3 or 4 divided doses daily for 7 to 10 days, as your prescriber directs.
Available strengths 1 strength
250 mg/5 mL
17 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Vancomycin on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Vancomycin appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

37 companies list 153 Vancomycin product records with the FDA, mostly as injection, capsule, oral solution; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1958. Brand names on the directory include Firvanq, Tyzavan; the rest are generics.

3
Dose forms ⓘ
37
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
6
Brand names
153
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1958
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Kit (32) · Powder (21) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.14%
Mylan Institutional LLC6%
Xellia Pharmaceuticals USA LLC6%
Baxter Healthcare Corporation5%
Bryant Ranch Prepack5%
Gland Pharma Limited5%
Other makers59%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Vancomycin is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Vancomycin is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Vancomycin is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

145,157
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$14.9M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Vancomycin prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Vancomycin ranks #440 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 73% of them.

Where Vancomycin ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #440 of 1,601
#435 Secukinumab Injection 149,840 Rx #436 Magnesium Sulfate 148,724 Rx #437 Cannabidiol 148,283 Rx #438 Ketorolac Ophthalmic 148,176 Rx #439 Famotidine Injection 146,638 Rx #440 Vancomycin 145,157 Rx #441 Levodopa and Carbidopa 143,727 Rx #442 Roflumilast 143,447 Rx #443 Scopolamine Transderma... 143,028 Rx #444 Somatropin 142,879 Rx #445 Indomethacin 142,731 Rx

Utilization by Vancomycin product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 1000 mg injection is the most-dispensed Vancomycin product — about 32% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

vancomycin 1000 MG Injection Most dispensed

46,890 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 32% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $6.4M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $136 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 13 of 55 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1807513

vancomycin 125 MG Oral Capsule

27,646 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 19% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $1.7M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $61 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 30 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 313570

vancomycin 100 MG/ML Injectable Solution

21,223 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 15% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $2.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $101 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 10 of 22 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 239209

200 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML Injection

10,842 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 7% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $93 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1807508

vancomycin 50 MG/ML Injectable Solution

9,039 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 6% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $715,447 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $79 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 18 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 313572

vancomycin 500 MG Injection

8,244 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 6% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $657,676 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $80 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 52 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1807516

250 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML Injection

4,143 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 3% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $387,529 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $94 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 5 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2387078

300 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML Injection

3,398 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 2% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $350,114 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $103 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 5 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2118448

vancomycin 250 MG Oral Capsule

2,408 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 2% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $343,116 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $142 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 4 of 31 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 313571

vancomycin 50 MG/ML Oral Solution

2,364 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 2% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $323,380 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $137 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 23 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2000134

150 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML Injection

2,128 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $128,677 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $60 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1807510

vancomycin 750 MG Injection

1,713 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $88,082 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $51 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 6 of 22 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1807518

vancomycin 1250 MG Injection

1,463 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $170,889 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $117 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 5 of 16 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2049888

vancomycin 1500 MG Injection

1,199 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $256,877 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $214 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 4 of 18 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2049890

100 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML Injection

688 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $29,699 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $43 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 3 of 8 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1807511

vancomycin 25 MG/ML Oral Solution

686 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $75,135 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $110 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 6 of 7 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2000127

350 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML Injection

608 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $69,780 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $115 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2387079

400 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML Injection

425 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $32,855 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $77 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2118449

vancomycin 1750 MG Injection

33 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $9,373 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $284 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2688632

vancomycin 2000 MG Injection

17 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Vancomycin prescriptions shown $4,601 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $271 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2688634

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Vancomycin, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 97 of 340 listed Vancomycin NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Vancomycin products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Vancomycin — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 104 of 153 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 153 Vancomycin NDCs →

Vancomycin side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)

After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Vancomycin — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.

The effects most often named in FDA reports that mention Vancomycin are acute kidney injury, pyrexia, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms; about 92% of the reports were classed as serious. These are voluntary reports, so they show what people report, not how often it happens.

65,527
Reports mentioning it
92%
Reported as serious
12
Distinct effects shown
Most reported effects
Acute Kidney Injury
4,892
Pyrexia
4,049
Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia And Systemic Symptoms
2,695
Renal Failure
2,468
Diarrhoea
2,393
Sepsis
2,385
Pneumonia
2,241
Rash
2,198
Condition Aggravated
2,168
Hypotension
2,166
Age groups
Adult · 4,320Elderly · 2,570Child · 601Neonate · 412Adolescent · 347Infant · 290

Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Vancomycin in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Vancomycin FDA approval history

How Vancomycin went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.

Vancomycin was first approved by the FDA in 1958; the first generic version was approved in 1964. It remains available in U.S. pharmacies today.

1958
First FDA approval
1964
First generic approved
Lower-cost ANDA competition begins
2026
Available today
Active in U.S. pharmacies

Source: Drugs@FDA.

Vancomycin recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list 4 Vancomycin recalls since July 2021, covering 5 product listings. One of them is still ongoing and is listed first. A recall names specific lots from one company, so check the lot number on your own bottle rather than assuming every product is affected; your pharmacist can check whether your supply came from an affected lot.

Ongoing Class II Aug 6, 2026 · Baxter Healthcare Corporation
CGMP Deviations
  • Vancomycin Injection, USP, in 0.9% Sodium Chloride, 1g per 200 mL (5 mg/mL) in GALAXY Single-Dose Container, Rx only, Sterile Nonpyrogenic, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, 60015 USA, ND… Lots: Lot # NC193894, Exp Date: 04/25/2027. FDA record D-0820-2026 →
  • Vancomycin Injection, USP in 5% Dextrose, 1 g per 200mL (5 mg/mL), in GALAXY Single-Dose Container, Rx only, Sterile Nonpyrogenic, Iso-osmotic, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, 60015 USA… Lots: Lot # NC188678, Exp Date: 12/1/2026; Lot # NC188814, Exp Date: 12/5/2026; Lot # NC188944, Exp Date: 12/8/2026; Lot # NC193610, Exp Date: 4/21/2027, Lot # NC193665, Exp Date: 4/23/2027. FDA record D-0805-2026 →
Class I Mar 21, 2024 · Terminated · Amneal Pharmaceuticals of New York, LLC
Superpotent Drug: Due to overfilling of drug powder
  • Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Oral Solution, USP, 250 mg per 5 mL, packaged as (a) 80 mL bottle, NDC 69238-2261-3; (b) 150 mL bottle, NDC 69238-2261-7; (c)300 mL bottle, NDC 69238-2261-5; Rx only, Dis… Lots: Lot # (a) 22613003A, Exp. date 09/30/2025; (b) 22613004A, 22613005A, Exp. date 09/30/2025; (c) 22613005B, Exp. date 09/30/2025 FDA record D-0442-2024 →
Class I Dec 22, 2022 · Terminated · Pfizer Inc.
Presence of Particulate Matter: Glass particulate matter detected in injectable.
  • Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Injection, USP, 1.5 g/vial, Sterile powder, Single-dose Fliptop Vial, 10 vials per carton, Rx only, Distributed by: Hospira, Inc., Lake Forest, IL 60045. NDC Vial 0409-35… Lots: Lot: 33045BA, EXP 1SEP2023 FDA record D-0184-2023 →
Class I Aug 24, 2021 · Terminated · Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Product Mix-up: Incorrect diluent component included in the kit.
  • Firvanq (vancomycin hydrochloride for oral solution), Vancomycin 50 mg/mL Kit, Each Kit Includes: 1 bottle containing 7.7 g Vancomycin Hydrochloride USP, powder for oral solution and 1 bottle contain… Lots: Lot # 21035, Exp 7/31/2022 FDA record D-0003-2022 →

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Vancomycin RxCUI 11124 4 dose forms · 21 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Injectable Solution RxCUI 375983 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 50 MG/ML RxCUI 313572 100 MG/ML RxCUI 239209
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Injection RxCUI 1807507 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 100 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML RxCUI 1807511 150 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML RxCUI 1807510 200 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML RxCUI 1807508 250 MG RxCUI 2049891 250 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML RxCUI 2387078 300 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML RxCUI 2118448 350 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML RxCUI 2387079 400 ML vancomycin 5 MG/ML RxCUI 2118449 500 MG RxCUI 1807516 750 MG RxCUI 1807518 1000 MG RxCUI 1807513 1250 MG RxCUI 2049888 1500 MG RxCUI 2049890 1750 MG RxCUI 2688632 2000 MG RxCUI 2688634
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Capsule RxCUI 374281 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 125 MG RxCUI 313570 250 MG RxCUI 313571
  4. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 374282 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 25 MG/ML RxCUI 2000127 50 MG/ML RxCUI 2000134

Look up RxCUI 11124 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

Vancomycin supply and shortage status

Whether Vancomycin is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.

Vancomycin is not in shortage right now; the FDA has 1 past shortage record for it.

✅No current shortage of Vancomycin on record
To be discontinued Vancomycin Hydrochloride, Injection, 10 g Vial NovaPlus (NDC 0409-5017-01)
Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company · Since 11/14/2025 · Updated 11/14/2025

Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.

💵 What Vancomycin costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Capsule · Oral 125 mg $1.33 per capsule NDC details & price history
Capsule · Oral 250 mg $2.60 per capsule NDC details & price history
Powder, For Solution · Oral 250 mg/5 mL $0.702–$2.91 per mL NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Vancomycin brand names

Vancomycin is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Firvanq, Tyzavan. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Firvanq Tyzavan

Who makes Vancomycin: manufacturers and labelers

37 companies list Vancomycin products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Mylan Institutional LLC, Xellia Pharmaceuticals USA LLC. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. 21 Mylan Institutional LLC 9 Xellia Pharmaceuticals USA LLC 9 Baxter Healthcare Corporation 8 Bryant Ranch Prepack 8 Gland Pharma Limited 7 Sagent Pharmaceuticals 7 Eugia US LLC 6 Hospira, Inc. 6 ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 5 Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., Usa 5 Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. 5 Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc 4 Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. 4 Slate Run Pharmaceuticals, LLC 4 Wilshire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 4 Avenacy, LLC 3 Civica, Inc 3 Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC 3 Steriscience Specialties Private Limited 3 Ascend Laboratories, LLC 2 Aurobindo Pharma Limited 2 BluePoint Laboratories 2 Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2

…and 13 more on the FDA NDC directory.

Vancomycin drug class (RxNorm)

Vancomycin belongs to the Glycopeptide Antibacterial class.

Pharmacologic class Glycopeptide Antibacterial
Drug family (ATC) Antibiotics, Glycopeptide antibacterials, Antibiotics

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Vancomycin page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Aug 19, 2026
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Vancomycin.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Vancomycin after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
55
Finished products in the current FDA directory
153
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
37
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
39
Linked representative label ⓘ
Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.
Linked label effective
Aug 19, 2026
Composite sections available
25
Linked SPL Set ID
72e9c5e2-07cc-4a8b-ba64-b2e7619ea560
Linked SPL Document ID
7bddeff1-1858-437c-b772-b063a7e7c6f8
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →