Cleocin
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal ovule is an antibiotic suppository that treats bacterial vaginosis (BV), a type of vaginal infection. This medication can be prescribed for adults or adolescent females who've started their menstrual periods. But it's not approved for people who are pregnant. Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository is inserted vaginally once daily, typically at bedtime, for 3 days. Side effects aren't common, but can include vaginal discomfort, such as irritation and pain.
What is Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository?
What is Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository used for?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) - vaginal bacterial infection
How Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository works
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository is a lincosamide antibiotic. It treats infections by stopping bacteria from making proteins, which prevents the bacteria from growing and spreading.
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What are the side effects of Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository?
Common Side Effects
- Vaginal irritation (3%)
- Vaginal pain (2%)
- Vaginal yeast infection (2%)
Other Side Effects
- Vaginal discharge
- Fungal infection
- Discomfort or pain when urinating
- Headache
- Swelling
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash
Serious Side Effects
- Severe diarrhea: stomach cramps, blood in your stool, watery diarrhea that doesn't go away, fever
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach cramps, pain, or tenderness
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
blood in the urine or stools
blurred vision
chills
clay-colored stools
cloudy urine
confusion
cough or hoarseness
dark urine
decrease in the amount of urine
diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
fast heartbeat
fever with or without chills
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
headache
heart stops
hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
increased thirst
itching of the vagina or genital area
joint or muscle pain
loss of appetite
lower back or side pain
nausea or vomiting
no breathing
no pulse or blood pressure
pain during sexual intercourse
pain in the lower back or side
pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
painful or difficult urination
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
rash
rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
redness of the skin
shortness of breath
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
swollen glands
thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
thirst
tightness in the chest
unconscious
unpleasant breath odor
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusual weight loss
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository
Pros
Only used once a day
Typically only used for 3 days
Applicator can be washed and reused for each insertion
Can be inserted without using an applicator
Cons
Vaginal application can be uncomfortable for some people
Might cause vaginal yeast infections
Can't use condoms, diaphragms, or tampons during and up to 3 days after treatment
Recommended to use at bedtime to prevent medication from leaking
Pharmacist tips for Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository
Use Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository exactly as directed by your healthcare team, even if you're feeling better before the 3-day course is finished. Not completing treatment means the infection can come back.
Once the Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository is inside the vagina, it will melt. It's best to use the medication at bedtime, so that you can lie down right after application. This will keep the medication from leaking out. Some of the medication might still leak, so it's a good idea to wear a panty liner while using it.
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository can weaken barrier contraceptives, such as condoms or vaginal diaphragms, which means they won't work as well in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. Don't use these barrier methods during and for 3 days after you finish treatment. It's best to avoid having sex until the BV is fully treated.
Your healthcare team might also test you for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other STIs if you tested positive for BV. Having BV can raise your risk for other STIs as well.
Using Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository can raise your risk of getting a vaginal yeast infection. Please talk with your gynecologist if you notice your vagina is red and itchy, you have thick white vaginal fluid, or if you experience pain or burning when you urinate.
To lower your risk of getting BV in the future, limit the number of sexual partners, use condoms every time you have sex, or avoid douching (washing inside of vagina with water and other liquids).
Store Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository at room temperature and dry environment. If this medication gets too hot or too humid (e.g., bathroom cabinet), it might not work as well and the suppositories could melt.
More tips on how to use Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository:
Before using Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository, read the instruction guide to better understand how to use it properly. Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository should be inserted and applied vaginally while lying on your back with your knees bent or in any comfortable position.
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository comes with a single, reusable applicator. You don't need to use the applicator if you'd prefer not to. Just be sure to wash your hands before and after inserting the suppository.
If you choose to use the vaginal applicator, make sure to clean the applicator after each use. Pull the two pieces of the applicator apart, and wash them with soap and warm water. Rinse the parts well, and allow them to dry. Then, put the two pieces back together, and store the applicator in a clean, dry place.
Frequently asked questions about Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository
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What are the risks and warnings for Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository?
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe diarrhea
Risk factors: History of Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea | Crohn's disease | Ulcerative colitis
Even though Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository is inserted vaginally, some of the medication can get absorbed into the bloodstream and cause side effects in other parts of the body. One rare, but serious side effect that it can cause is inflammation of the colon from an overgrowth of gut bacteria, typically Clostridioides difficile (commonly called C. diff). Symptoms include stomach pain and diarrhea.
If you have diarrhea after starting Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository, drink water and electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated. Also, let your healthcare team know about your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild, they'll ask you to stop the medication. But in moderate or serious cases, you'll need more medical attention.
Contact your care team right away if you experience watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, or fatigue. Symptoms of C. diff diarrhea can happen during or even after treatment.
Vaginal yeast infections
Using Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository can raise your risk for vaginal yeast infections. This is because the medication can also affect the good bacteria in your vagina that usually keep fungi from overgrowing. When fungi overgrow in your vagina, it can sometimes result in a yeast infection. Let your gynecologist know if you have itching, redness, or burning around your vagina, or if you have thick, white vaginal discharge. These could be signs of a vaginal yeast infection, and you might need treatment for it.
Damage to vaginal contraceptives
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository can cause condoms and vaginal diaphragms to weaken and break during treatment and for at least 3 days after. This puts you at risk for an unwanted pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In general, it's best to avoid having vaginal sex until your infection is cleared up, as sex can irritate your vagina even more and make your symptoms worse. In addition, don't use any vaginal products, such as tampons or douches, during treatment.
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100mg | 3 suppositories | $188.34 | $62.78 |
Typical dosing for Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository
Each suppository or ovule contains 100 mg of clindamycin.
Adults and adolescents who've started their periods: The typical dose is to unwrap and insert 1 suppository into the vagina once daily (preferably at bedtime) for 3 days.
Interactions between Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Erythromycin
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Atracurium
- Metocurine
- Tubocurarine
How much does Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository cost?
Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository contraindications
History of certain stomach or gut problems (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, antibiotic-associated colitis)
What are alternatives to Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository?
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) - vaginal bacterial infection
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) (a vaginal bacterial infection)
Trichomoniasis or Trich (a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI))
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Cleocin (clindamycin) vaginal suppository images
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References
Best studies we foundAmerican Chemical Society. (2022). Clindamycin.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Bacterial vaginosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). About bacterial vaginosis (BV).
InformedHealth.org. (2022). Bacterial vaginosis: Learn more – Which treatments are effective in bacterial vaginosis? Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Regional enteritis.
Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC. (2024). Cleocin- clindamycin phosphate suppository [package insert]. DailyMed.
Sobel, J., et al. (2001). Efficacy of clindamycin vaginal ovule (3-day treatment) vs. clindamycin vaginal cream (7-day treatment) in bacterial vaginosis. Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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