Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to vancomycin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Certain side effects may occur if your body absorbs vancomycin through the intestinal walls. Call your doctor at once if you have:
increased diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
hearing loss, ringing in your ears;
kidney problems - swelling, rapid weight gain, pain in your side or lower back, little or no urination; or
low potassium level - leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling.
Side effects on the kidneys may be more likely in older adults taking this medicine.
Common vancomycin side effects may include:
low potassium;
nausea; or
stomach pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
 Vancomycin side effects (more detail)
