Teicoplanin
Pronunciation: tye-koe-PLAN-in.
- Generic name
- teicoplanin
- Drug class
- Glycopeptide antibiotic (same class as vancomycin)
- Form
- Powder for solution for injection/infusion (100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg)
- Route
- Intravenous or intramuscular injection/infusion; oral (for Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea/colitis specifically)
- Legal status
- Prescription-only; hospital/specialist-administered
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United Kingdom · Australia · New Zealand
Australia: Targocid (5), Teicoplanin Medicianz / Teicoplanin Sandoz / Teicoplanin Demogen (generics) (5) · Full directory
What teicoplanin is and how it works
Teicoplanin is an antibiotic in the same family as vancomycin (a glycopeptide), given by injection or infusion to treat serious bacterial infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, and given by mouth specifically for infection-related diarrhoea and colitis caused by Clostridioides difficile. (2)
Teicoplanin can affect the kidneys and, less commonly, hearing -- both real, dose-related risks that your care team monitors for with blood tests and, where appropriate, hearing checks, especially if you have existing kidney problems or are on a higher-dose regimen. It is given in a hospital or closely supervised setting, and your dose will be adjusted based on your kidney function.
Mechanism of action: how teicoplanin works
Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis by binding to the D-alanyl-D-alanine terminus of peptidoglycan precursors, in the same general mechanism class as vancomycin, but with a substantially longer half-life allowing once-daily maintenance dosing after an initial loading phase. (2)
What teicoplanin is used for
Serious Gram-positive bacterial infections
Used by injection or infusion to treat serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including infections of bone and joints, heart valves (endocarditis), lungs (pneumonia), skin and soft tissue, and bloodstream infections. (2) (5)
Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhoea and colitis
Given by mouth specifically to treat diarrhoea and colitis caused by C. difficile infection. (2)
Before taking teicoplanin
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Do not receive teicoplanin if you have a known hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to it. (all countries) (2)
- Teicoplanin must never be given by the intraventricular route (directly into the fluid-filled spaces of the brain) -- this carries a risk of seizures. (all countries) (6)
Tell your clinician about
- Any history of allergic reaction to vancomycin or other glycopeptide antibiotics -- partial cross-reactivity with teicoplanin can occur, though a prior 'red man syndrome' reaction to vancomycin alone does not automatically rule out teicoplanin.
- Any kidney problems, since teicoplanin is mainly cleared by the kidneys and your dose will be adjusted based on kidney function.
- Any hearing problems, since ototoxicity (hearing loss or tinnitus) has been reported, particularly with higher-dose regimens or in people with reduced kidney function.
- All other medicines, especially other medicines that can affect the kidneys or hearing (such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, amphotericin B, cisplatin, or furosemide).
How to take teicoplanin
- Given by a healthcare professional as an injection or infusion into a vein or muscle, or (for C. difficile-associated diarrhoea/colitis specifically) taken by mouth.
- Your kidney function will be checked before and during treatment, since your dose depends on it.
- If you are on a higher-dose ('loading dose') regimen, or already have reduced kidney function, your care team may also arrange hearing tests during treatment.
- Do not attempt to adjust your own dose -- teicoplanin dosing is calculated and adjusted by your care team based on your infection, weight, and kidney function.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Missed dose
Because teicoplanin is given by a healthcare professional in a hospital or closely supervised setting, a missed dose is managed by your care team directly rather than something to self-manage at home.
Overdose
Because teicoplanin is administered by a healthcare professional, any concern about an incorrect dose is identified and managed by the treating team. If you have concerns about a dose you received, raise them with your care team promptly. (2)
Side effects
Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.
Injection-site reactions (pain, redness).
What to notice: Injection-site reactions (pain, redness).
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)
Rash.
What to notice: Rash.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)
Fever.
What to notice: Fever.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)
Changes in blood test results, including liver enzymes and blood cell counts.
What to notice: Changes in blood test results, including liver enzymes and blood cell counts.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)
Serious warnings
Signs of kidney injury — high caution
Symptoms: Reduced urination, swelling in the legs/ankles, unusual tiredness, or confusion.
Action: Your care team monitors kidney function with regular blood tests during treatment, since nephrotoxicity and renal failure have been reported, and the risk increases with high-dose regimens. Report any new symptoms promptly. (2)
Signs of hearing changes (ototoxicity) — high caution
Symptoms: New hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or dizziness/balance problems.
Action: Tell your care team promptly -- ototoxicity has been reported with teicoplanin, particularly in people with reduced kidney function, on high-dose regimens, or taking other medicines that can also affect hearing. (2)
Signs of a serious allergic reaction — emergency
Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing; widespread rash or hives.
Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. Tell your care team about any past reaction to vancomycin or other glycopeptide antibiotics before treatment starts. (2)
Seizure risk if given by the wrong route — high caution
Symptoms: Not applicable -- this reflects a route-of-administration restriction rather than a spontaneous symptom.
Action: Teicoplanin must never be given by the intraventricular route, due to a specific seizure risk with that route. (6)
Interactions
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as gentamicin) are physically incompatible with teicoplanin for direct mixing or co-administration in the same infusion line, and combining them increases the risk of kidney and hearing effects. (2)
- Other medicines that can affect the kidneys or hearing (such as amphotericin B, cisplatin, or furosemide) increase the risk of nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity when combined with teicoplanin. (2)
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Pregnancy
No comprehensive regulator-reviewed pregnancy safety data were identified in the sources reviewed for this dossier; use in pregnancy should be a decision made with your specialist, weighing the seriousness of the infection being treated. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Breastfeeding
No comprehensive regulator-reviewed breastfeeding safety data were identified in the sources reviewed; discuss with your care team. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Children
Used in children under specialist supervision, with dosing adjusted by the treating team; specific pediatric dosing detail was not comprehensively captured in the sources reviewed for this dossier. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Elderly
No separate dose adjustment based on age alone is described beyond the standard kidney-function-based adjustment, but older adults often have reduced kidney function, which affects dosing. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Renal Impairment
Dose is adjusted from around day 4 of treatment based on creatinine clearance; teicoplanin is not removed by haemodialysis. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Baseline kidney function (creatinine clearance)
- Baseline hearing assessment if a high-dose regimen or existing renal impairment is anticipated
- Review of other medicines for nephrotoxic/ototoxic interactions
During treatment
- Regular kidney function tests, particularly with higher-dose regimens or longer courses.
- Hearing assessments in patients with renal insufficiency, on high loading-dose regimens, or taking other nephrotoxic/ototoxic medicines.
- Monitoring for signs of hypersensitivity, especially in patients with a history of reaction to vancomycin or other glycopeptides.
Storage
Stored and prepared by pharmacy/hospital staff according to the product's specific storage and reconstitution requirements; not typically self-stored by patients at home.
Study the drug class: Glycopeptides
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only, sourced from the current UK SmPC and New Zealand data sheet for teicoplanin; verify against the current full label before prescribing.
United Kingdom / European Union / Australia / New Zealand
Indication: Serious Gram-positive infections
Dose summary: Loading dose 6 mg/kg IV/IM every 12 hours for 3 doses, then 6 mg/kg once daily maintenance (12 mg/kg loading/maintenance for severe infections such as endocarditis or bone/joint infections); maintenance dose reduced from day 4 based on renal function.
Renal context: Halve maintenance dose for CrCl 30-80 mL/min; reduce to one-third for CrCl <30 mL/min or dialysis; not removed by haemodialysis. (2) (6)
Hepatic guidance
No specific regulator-reviewed hepatic-impairment dose adjustment was identified in the sources reviewed for this dossier.
Overdose note
No specific antidote; manage supportively, with particular attention to renal function and hearing. (2)
Frequently asked questions
Is teicoplanin the same as vancomycin?
No, but they are related. Teicoplanin and vancomycin are both glycopeptide antibiotics that work in a similar way, but they are different molecules. Teicoplanin can usually be given once daily after an initial loading period (an advantage over standard vancomycin dosing), and a prior reaction to vancomycin (including 'red man syndrome') does not automatically rule out teicoplanin, though partial allergic cross-reactivity between the two is possible. (2)
Is teicoplanin available in the United States?
No. Teicoplanin has never been approved by the FDA and is not marketed in the United States -- a live search of DailyMed, the official US drug label database, returns zero results for teicoplanin, despite the medicine being used extensively in the UK, the rest of Europe, and elsewhere since the late 1980s. (1)
Is teicoplanin available in Canada?
This review could not find evidence that it is. Teicoplanin does not appear in an extensive international brand-name database covering roughly 80+ countries (a database that does explicitly include Australia and New Zealand), and an independent clinical source states directly that teicoplanin is not available in Canada, naming fidaxomicin, linezolid, daptomycin, and telavancin as the alternatives used there instead. This finding rests on consistent secondary sources rather than a directly read negative Health Canada database result, and is disclosed as such. (4)
What are the main risks with teicoplanin?
The two main, well-documented risks are kidney injury (nephrotoxicity) and hearing loss/tinnitus (ototoxicity), both of which are more likely with higher-dose regimens, in people with existing kidney problems, or when combined with other medicines that can affect the kidneys or hearing. Your care team monitors for both with blood tests and, where appropriate, hearing checks. (2)
What is the mechanism of action of teicoplanin?
Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell-wall synthesis by binding to the D-alanyl-D-alanine terminus of peptidoglycan precursors, in the same general mechanism class as vancomycin, but with a substantially longer half-life allowing once-daily maintenance dosing after an initial loading phase. (2)
References
- DailyMed search: teicoplanin (0 results)DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) search results, confirming absence of any US FDA-approved teicoplanin label · United States · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 1
- Targocid 400mg powder for solution for injection/infusion -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- Sanofi · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 2
- Targocid and associated names (teicoplanin) -- EU referral for harmonisation of prescribing information; list of nationally authorised medicinal productsEuropean Medicines Agency (EMA) -- Article 30 referral/harmonisation procedure and national-authorisation listings for Targocid and associated names (teicoplanin) · European Union · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 3
- Teicoplanin international availability listing (Drugs.com) and vancomycin-alternatives guidance noting teicoplanin's absence from CanadaInternational drug-brand database (Drugs.com international listings, ~80+ countries) and an independent clinical/pharmacy secondary source discussing vancomycin/teicoplanin alternatives · Canada · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 4
- TARGOCID and TEICOPLANIN MEDICIANZ/Sandoz/Demogen -- ARTG registrationsTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia -- Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) entries · Australia · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 5
- Targocid and Teicoplanin Medsurge -- New Zealand Data SheetsMedsafe (New Zealand regulator) -- New Zealand Data Sheets · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-30 · source 6
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient teicoplanin names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United Kingdom
- Targocid (2)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg · Sanofi
Australia
New Zealand
View brands in additional countries.
European Union
Targocid / Targosid / Teicomid (national brand names) (3)