VANCOMYCIN DOSING 

Vancomycin is a drug that is indicated to be used in case of serious or some severe infections caused by the susceptible strains of beta-lactam or methicillin resistant bacteria known by the name staphylococci. It is indicated for patients who have developed an allergy for penicillin, for patients who cannot respond to other drugs or receive any other drugs including cephalosporin and penicillin. It is also indicated for patients having infections developed by the vancomycin susceptible micro-organisms and for those who have developed an advanced resilience towards other antimicrobial drugs. When methicillin resistant staphylococci are suspected vancomycin is indicated as an initial therapy. But soon after the data regarding susceptibility is found, a suitable vancomycin dosage is used accordingly. Vancomycin hydrochloride is used with other drugs to reduce the infection in affected patients.

Vancomycin Dosage in case of intravenous administrations: Concentrations of no more than 5 mg/mL and rates of no more than 10 mg/min are recommended for an adult. You should be well aware of age-specific recommendations while administering the dose. A higher dosage could result in some infusion related issues. Caution should be taken regarding intravenous dosage.

In Patients with Normal Renal Function: In adults, the usual daily intravenous dose is 2 g divided either as 500 mg between every six hours or 1 g every 12 hours. Each dose should be administered at not more than 10 mg/min, or over a period of at least 60 minutes, whichever is longer. Other factors, such as obesity and age, should be considered and a suitable modification in the usual daily dose can be made as such, depending on the circumstances.

Pediatric Patients: The usual dosage for them is 10 mg/kg per dose, given every face tingling six hours. Each dose has to be administered over a period of at least 60 minutes and no risk should be taken in altering the dose.

Infants and Neonates: An initial dose of 15 mg/kg is suggested for infants and neonates alike, this is followed by 10 mg/kg every 12 hours for neonates in the first week of life and every eight hours thereafter up to the age of one month. Each dose should be administered over 60 minutes. Close monitoring of serum concentrations of vancomycin may be required in these patients. For patients with impaired renal function: You can refer the Vancomycin dosage chart, for a suitable administration. If creatinine clearance can be measured or estimated accurately, the dosage for most patients with renal impairment can be calculated using the Vancomycin dosage chart. The dosage of vancomycin per day in mg is about 15 times the glomerular filtration rate in mL/min. Even for patients with mild or moderate renal insufficiency, the initial dose should be no less than 15 mg/kg.

For Oral Administration: Usual adult daily dosage is 500 mg to 2 g given in 3 to 4 divided doses for a period of 7 to 10 days. Total daily dosage in pediatric patients is 40 mg/kg of body weight in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days. The total daily dosage must not exceed 2g. Appropriate dose may be diluted in 1 oz of water and given to the patient to drink. Common syrups to enhance flavor may be added to the solution to improve the taste for oral administration. The diluted solution may be administered via a nasogastric tube.