Drug interactions
Contrast media + Vancomycin
Severity: Moderate
Contrast media and Vancomycin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Intravenous vancomycin and iodinated contrast agents can each injure the kidney, and together they raise the risk of acute kidney injury, especially in patients with existing renal impairment or dehydration. Reduced renal clearance can in turn lead to higher vancomycin exposure and a greater risk of toxicity.
What this interaction means in plain words
Contrast media and Vancomycin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive nephrotoxicity from contrast-induced tubular injury and vasoconstriction plus vancomycin tubular toxicity.
What to do
Ensure adequate hydration and monitor serum creatinine after contrast exposure. Check vancomycin trough or AUC-guided levels and adjust the dose if renal function declines.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Contrast media and Vancomycin, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Vancomycin
- Amikacin + Vancomycin Major
- Bacitracin + Vancomycin Major
- Capreomycin + Vancomycin Major
- Cephaloridine + Vancomycin Major
- Cidofovir + Vancomycin Major
- Cisplatin + Vancomycin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Contrast media with Vancomycin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Contrast media and Vancomycin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Intravenous vancomycin and iodinated contrast agents can each injure the kidney, and together they raise the risk of acute kidney injury, especially in patients with existing renal impairment or dehydration. Reduced renal clearance can in turn lead to higher vancomycin exposure and a greater risk of toxicity.
How serious is the interaction between Contrast media and Vancomycin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Ensure adequate hydration and monitor serum creatinine after contrast exposure. Check vancomycin trough or AUC-guided levels and adjust the dose if renal function declines.
What other medicines interact with Vancomycin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Vancomycin with, for example, Amikacin, Bacitracin, Capreomycin. The full list is on the Vancomycin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
