To recipes helpdesk

Question

Posted on: April 10 2017

Can oral capsules be prepared from vancomycin powder for injection?

The dose of the capsules is 250mg and the powder for injection contains-according to the package leaflet-only freeze-dried vancomycin HCl (equivalent to 500 000 IU).

Answer

500,000 IU corresponds to 500 mg vancomycin. Correctly? So with 1 vial you can prepare two capsules. I only see 1 problem and this is the hygroscopic nature of the powder given we have to do with a freeze-dried product.   In addition, I read in the package leaflet that there is apparently also hydrochloric acid in the powder. This powder is of course intended to be dissolved and therefore the hydrochloric acid does not interfere. But in capsules? I would not know?? In any case I would use as filler starch for a good absorption of humidity. Pack into a well-balanced vial and add a dry stop.