What is Clindamycin?
- Clindamycin is an antibiotic. It prevents bacteria from growing.
- Clindamycin is prescribed by physicians to treat bacterial infections and is available in different forms.
- It is used for treating acne and bacterial infections of the vagina.
- Doctors prescribe clindamycin to treat infections in people who are allergic to penicillin.
- Clindamycin is not suitable for everyone and can cause a range of serious side effects.
- Clindamycin is an antibiotic. People use antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics, including clindamycin, do not work against virus-related infections.
- Clindamycin belongs to the lincosamide family. These antibiotics work by disrupting the way bacteria make proteins.
- Depending on the type of infection and the dosage of clindamycin, the medicine can kill or stop the growth of bacteria.
Clindamycin is prescribed for?
- Clindamycin is prescribed for treating severe infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria.
- Clindamycin is also indicated to treat serious infections caused by susceptible strains of streptococci, pneumococci, and staphylococci.
- Antibiotics such as clindamycin do not work for colds, influenza, or other virus infections. The use of antibiotics when they are not required increases your risk of getting a later infection that is resistant to antibiotic treatment.
How is clindamycin used?
- Take clindamycin exactly the way your doctor prescribed it. Follow all the instructions on the label of your prescription and read all the medication guides and instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
- Oral clindamycin is taken as an oral medication. Clindamycin injection is either injected into a muscle or injected into a vein. A health care professional will give you your first dose and teach you how to use the medication properly by yourself.
- Take the capsule with a full glass of water to prevent it from irritating your throat.
- Carefully measure liquid medicine. Use the supplied dosing syringe or use a dose-measuring device.
- Use this medication for as long as prescribed, even if your symptoms improve quickly.
- Skipping doses may increase your risk for drug-resistant infection.
- Clindamycin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a cold.
What are the uses of clindamycin?
- Clindamycin is also sometimes used to treat acne and is used with other medicines to treat anthrax and malaria.
- Clindamycin is also sometimes used to treat ear infections, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, and toxoplasmosis when these conditions cannot be treated with other medicines.
- Clindamycin is used in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis and also used to prevent endocarditis in some people who are at risk of developing this infection after dental procedures.
- Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medicine for your condition.
Interactions
- Drug interactions can affect how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects.
- Keep a list of all the products you use and share it with your doctor.
- Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine without your doctor's approval.
Common Clindamycin Side Effects
- Nausea
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Joint pains
- Pain when swallowing
- Heartburn
- White spots on the mouth
- Thick, white vaginal discharge
- Abdominal pain
- Irritation of the esophagus
- Allergic skin reactions
- Inflammation of the vagina
- Impaired liver function
- Impaired kidney function
- Arthritis
Serious Clindamycin Side Effects
- Blistering Skin
- Eruption
- Itchiness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Less urination
Dosage
This prescribing information is for the clindamycin oral capsule. All possible strengths and forms of medication may not be included here. Your dosage, the form of the medicine and how often you take it will depend on:
- Your Age
- The condition being treated
- The severity of your condition
- If you are using any other medications currently
| Infections | Usual Adult Dose | Usual Pediatric Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Severe infections | 150 to 300 mg every 6 hours | 300 to 450 mg every 6 hours |
| More severe infections | 8 to 16 mg divided into 3-4 equal doses | 16 to 20 mg divided into three or 4 equal doses |
If you stop taking the medicine
If you do not take this medicine, your infection will not get better. It can even get worse.
If you forget to take doses or if you do not take the medicine on time: your medicine may not work as well or stop working completely.
For this medicine to work well, a certain amount must be present in your body at all times.
Overdosing
You may have dangerous levels of drugs in your body. Symptoms of overdose can include:
- Diarrhea
- Seizures (sudden movements caused by tightening of the muscles)
- Temporary paralysis (loss of the ability to move)
- Low blood pressure
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, call your physician or seek a medical emergency. If your symptoms are severe, go to the nearest emergency hospital immediately.
Miss dose
- Take your dose as soon as you remember it. But if you remember just a few hours before your next.
- Scheduled dose, only take one dose.
- Never try to make up for it by taking two doses at the same time. That could cause dangerous side effects.
Clindamycin Storage
Keep at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Protect the injectable medication from high heat.
Do not store oral liquid in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused oral fluids after 2 weeks
