Clindamycin (oral/injection)
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Clindamycin (oral/injection) Overview
Clindamycin is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections. Clindamycin belongs to a group of drugs called lincosamide antibiotics, which slow or stop the growth of bacteria.
This medication comes in a capsule and solution for oral (mouth) forms, and is taken up to four times a day, with or without food. This medication also comes in injection form (IV) and is injected by a healthcare professional when needed.
Common side effects of clindamycin include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and rash.
Uses of Clindamycin (oral/injection)
Clindamycin is a prescription medication used to treat bacterial infections.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Clindamycin (oral/injection)
Serious side effects have been reported with clindamycin. See “Drug Precautions” section.
Common side effects of clindamycin include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and rash.
This is not a complete list of clindamycin side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Clindamycin (oral/injection) Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- erythromycin (EEC, Erythrocin)
- neuromuscular blocking agents, such as doxacurium (Nuromax) and vecuronium (Norcuron)
This is not a complete list of clindamycin drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Clindamycin (oral/injection) Precautions
Serious side effects have been reported with clindamycin including:
- Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea: Clindamycin and other antibiotics can kill the “good” bacteria in the colon leading to a growth of C. difficile bacteria. C. difficile is “bad” bacteria that can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems.
- Extra caution for this side effect is advised in the elderly population.
- Since clindamycin is not able to get into cerebrospinal (brain and spinal cord) fluid, the drug should not be used in the treatment of meningitis.
- Superinfection: This type of infection may occur with the use/long-term use of clindamycin.
Do not take clindamycin if you:
- are allergic to clindamycin (Cleocin), lincomycin (Lincocin), tartrazine (dye ingredient) or other lincosamide antibiotics
- have a history of digestive problems, such as enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine) or colitis (inflammation of the large intestine, or colon)
Clindamycin (oral/injection) Food Interactions
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of clindamycin, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving clindamycin.
Inform MD
Before taking clindamycin, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:
- are allergic to clindamycin (Cleocin), lincomycin (Lincocin), or other lincosamide antibiotics
- have had an allergic skin reaction in the past to other medications
- have a history of digestive problems, such as enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine) or colitis (inflammation of the large intestine, or colon)
- have or have had liver problems
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Clindamycin (oral/injection) and Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.
Clindamycin falls into category B. Studies in animals have failed to demonstrate a risk to the unborn baby and there are no well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
It is not known if clindamycin will harm your unborn baby.
Clindamycin (oral/injection) and Lactation
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
The active ingredient in clindamycin is excreted in human breast milk. The effect of clindamycin on the nursing infant is not known. Clindamycin can cause stomach upset and other effects in infants.
Clindamycin (oral/injection) Usage
Take clindamycin exactly as prescribed.
This medication comes in a capsule and solution for oral (mouth) forms, and is taken up to four times a day, with or without food.
This medication also comes in injection form (IV) and is injected by a healthcare professional when needed.
Continue to take this medication even if you feel well. Do not stop taking clindamycin without talking to your doctor.
If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of clindamycin at the same time.
Clindamycin (oral/injection) Dosage
Take clindamycin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.
- Adults, capsule form:
- Serious infections: 150 to 300 mg every 6 hours
- More severe infections: 300 to 450 mg every 6 hours
- Children, capsule form:
- Serious infections: 8 to 16 mg/kg/day (4 to 8 mg/lb/day) divided into three or four equal doses
- More severe infections: 16 to 20 mg/kg/day (8 to 10 mg/lb/day) divided into three or four equal doses
- Adults, injection form:
- 600 to 2700 mg/day in 2, 3 or 4 equal doses
- More severe infections: up to 4800 mg/day
- Single IM (injection into muscle) of greater than 600 mg are not recommended
- Neonates (less than 1month old), injection form:
- 15 to 20 mg/kg/day in three to four equal doses (neonates)
- Children (1 month to 16 years old), injection form:
- 20 to 40 mg/kg/day in 3 or 4 equal doses, or 350 mg/m2/day for serious infections and 450 mg/m2/day for more severe infections
Clindamycin (oral/injection) Overdose
If you take too much clindamycin, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Forms of Clindamycin (oral/injection)
- Capsules: 75, 150, and 300 mg
- Injection solution: 300 mg/2 mL in 2, 4, 6, and 60 mL vials
- Intravenous (IV) solution: 300 mg/50 mL, 600 mg/50 mL, 900 mg/50 mL, 300 mg/2 mL, 600 mg/4 mL, 900 mg/6 mL
- Oral (by mouth) solution: 75 mg/5 mL
Active ingredient: clindamycin
Inactive ingredients: vary by manufacturer
Other Requirements
Store clindamycin capsule, injection, intravenous, and oral (by mouth) solution at room temperature.
The oral (by mouth) solution is stable for 2 weeks at room temperature.
Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Clindamycin (oral/injection) FDA Warning
Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including clindamycin, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile. Because clindamycin therapy has been associated with severe colitis which may end fatally, it should be reserved for serious infections where less toxic antimicrobial agents are inappropriate, as described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section. It should not be used in patients with nonbacterial infections such as most upper respiratory tract infections. C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.
If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibiotic treatment of C. difficile, and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.