Firvanq

Firvanq is a prescription medication used to treat Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and entercolitis (inflammation of the colon) caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Firvanq belongs to a group of drugs called glycopeptide antibiotics. These work by killing the bacteria that cause infections.

This medication comes in an oral solution form and is taken 3 to 4 times a day for 7 to 10 days.

Common side effects of Firvanq include nausea, abdominal pain, and low potassium levels. 

Firvanq is a prescription medication used to treat Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and entercolitis (inflammation of the colon) caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Firvanq. See the “Firvanq Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Firvanq include the following:

• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Low potassium levels

This is not a complete list of Firvanq side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been studied by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with Firvanq including the following:

• Hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
• Potential for overgrowth of other bacteria. Tell your healthcare provider about signs or symptoms of new infection, such as fever or white spots on the tongue, inner cheeks, or roof of the mouth.
• Development of drug-resistant bacteria. Using Firvanq without the presence of a bacterial infection increases the risk of bacteria developing resistance to Firvanq. This means that future use of Firvanq may not get rid of bacteria effectively.

Also tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of a severe reaction to vancomycin:

• redness of the skin above the waist
• pain and muscle tightness of the chest and back
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• fainting
• dizziness
• blurred vision
• ringing in the ears

Do not take Firvanq if you are allergic to Firvanq or to any of its ingredients.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Firvanq, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Firvanq, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Firvanq or to any of its ingredients
• have or have had kidney disease
• have or have had vertigo, hearing loss, or ringing in the ears
• have or have had inflammatory bowel disease
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Firvanq falls into category B. There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Firvanq. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Firvanq has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Firvanq, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take Firvanq exactly as prescribed.

Firvanq comes in an oral solution form and is taken 3 to 4 times a day for 7 to 10 days. 

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Firvanq at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• how you respond to this medication

For adults, the recommended dose of Firvanq for treating C. difficile-associated diarrhea is 125 mg administered orally 4 times daily for 10 days. The recommended dose of Firvanq for treating Staphylococcal enterocolitis is 500 mg to 2 g administered orally in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days.

For pediatric patients (less than 18 years old), the usual daily dose of Firvanq for both C. difficile-associated diarrhea and Staphylococcal enterocolitis is 40 mg/kg administered orally in 3 or 4 divided doses for 7 to 10 days. The total daily dosage should not exceed 2 grams. 

If you take too much Firvanq, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store Firvanq in the refrigerator. Discard Firvanq after 14 days, or if the solution appears hazy or has particles. 

• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.