A review of the safety profile of teicoplanin.

Safety of teicoplanin has been assessed in 3377 patients treated in Europe up to the end of June 1990. One or more adverse events were experienced by 10% of patients. Age and teicoplanin dose had no significant effect on the incidence or type of adverse event. In comparative trials the incidence and profile of adverse events to teicoplanin have been similar to those seen with beta-lactam therapy. Impaired renal function occurred consistently more frequently with vancomycin therapy than with teicoplanin therapy, particularly when these drugs were co-administered with aminoglycosides. Severe skin reactions have not been reported with teicoplanin, which, unlike vancomycin, does not cause infusion rate-related release of histamine. These data provide further evidence that teicoplanin is safer than vancomycin and does not have dose-related adverse effects in the dose range 3-10 mg/kg.