clindamycin
Clindamycin (Cleocin) is a lincosamide antibiotic that's used to treat many different serious bacterial infections, such as strep throat and skin infections. This antibiotic is approved for use in both adults and children. Clindamycin (Cleocin) is available as a capsule and liquid that are taken 3 or 4 times per day, depending on your age and your infection. It's also available as an injection that's given by a healthcare professional. Side effects include stomach upset, itching, and rash.
What is Clindamycin (Cleocin)?
What is Clindamycin (Cleocin) used for?
Skin infections (e.g., cellulitis)
Lower respiratory tract infections (e.g., pneumonia, bronchitis)
Pelvic and genital tract infections
Bloodstream infections
Bone and joint infections - injection form only
How Clindamycin (Cleocin) works
Clindamycin (Cleocin) is a lincosamide antibiotic. It works by stopping bacteria from making their own proteins. This prevents the bacteria from growing and spreading.
Drug Facts
More on Clindamycin (Cleocin) essentials
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What are the side effects of Clindamycin (Cleocin)?
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Skin rash
- Itching
Other Side Effects
- Metallic taste
- Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Joint pain
Serious Side Effects
- Serious allergic reaction or skin reaction: hives, rash, blisters, skin reddening, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing
- Infectious diarrhea (C. difficile-related diarrhea): rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day)
Source:Â DailyMed
More on Clindamycin (Cleocin) side effects
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 Clindamycin (Cleocin)
Pros
Can treat many different infections throughout the body
Available as lower-cost generic capsule, liquid, and injection
Can take if you have a penicillin allergy
Cons
Might need to take three or four times per day
Must take capsules with a full glass of water to prevent irritation to your esophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach)
Pharmacist tips for Clindamycin (Cleocin)
You might notice an unpleasant or metallic taste after you start taking clindamycin (Cleocin). It isn't harmful and it should go away after you finish treatment.
Take clindamycin (Cleocin) exactly as prescribed. Make sure to finish your treatment course, even if you feel better. Stopping the medication earlier than prescribed can make your infection come back and become harder to treat.
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration if you have diarrhea, a common side effect, while you're taking clindamycin (Cleocin). But get medical help as soon as possible if you have watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps during treatment or after stopping the antibiotic. These could be signs of Clostridium difficile (C. diff)-related diarrhea, which needs to be treated right away.
Ask your prescriber whether it's safe and appropriate for you to take a probiotic. Probiotics might help lessen the risk of rare, but serious diarrhea from a C. diff bacterial infection. Make sure to separate the probiotic from clindamycin (Cleocin) by at least 2 hours to prevent the antibiotic from killing the "good" bacteria in the probiotic.
Tell your healthcare team and pharmacist about all the medications you're taking. Clindamycin (Cleocin) interacts with some medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin) and amiodarone (Pacerone). These interactions can be harmful. A member of your healthcare team can check for drug interactions and make sure your medications are safe for you to take together.
Tips for the clindamycin (Cleocin) capsules:
Make sure to take the clindamycin (Cleocin) capsules with a full glass of water. This helps prevent possible irritation in your esophagus.
Swallow the capsules whole. Ask your prescriber about switching you to the oral liquid form of the antibiotic if you're having trouble swallowing the capsules.
Tips for the clindamycin (Cleocin) liquid:
Store the clindamycin (Cleocin) liquid at room temperature. After 14 days (2 weeks), throw away the bottle, even if there's still some medication left. Your pharmacist typically writes this date on the bottle to help remind you when to throw it away.
Make sure to only use an oral dosing syringe from the pharmacy to measure out your dose. Don't use household spoons; they aren't accurate and using them might cause you to take the wrong dose.
Frequently asked questions about Clindamycin (Cleocin)
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What are the risks and warnings for Clindamycin (Cleocin)?
Clindamycin (Cleocin) 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 allergic reactions and skin reactions
Severe allergic reactions to clindamycin (Cleocin) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat). Additionally, although rare, clindamycin (Cleocin) can also cause serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome.
Let your prescriber know if you have an allergy to antibiotics. Stop taking the antibiotic and get medical help right away if you notice hives, rash, blisters, skin peeling, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
Antibiotics, including clindamycin (Cleocin), raise your risk of getting infected with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Antibiotics change the amount of normal bacteria in your stomach and intestines. This can cause C. diff to overgrow in your gut, lead to an infection, and cause diarrhea that can sometimes be life-threatening.
This type of infectious diarrhea is different from diarrhea as a possible side effect of clindamycin (Cleocin). C. diff-related diarrhea can cause rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, bloody stools, or frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day). It's considered a medical emergency. So get medical attention right away if you have symptoms of C. diff infection. You'll get tested for C. diff and get treatment, if needed.
Development of drug-resistant bacteria
Your prescriber will make sure that you're taking clindamycin (Cleocin) for the appropriate infection and amount of time. Using clindamycin (Cleocin) for any shorter or longer periods of time or taking the antibiotic for other illnesses can raise your risk for developing infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. This raises your risk for severe and life-threatening infections that might be difficult to treat.
Clindamycin (Cleocin) dosage forms
Typical dosing for Clindamycin (Cleocin)
Age 17 years and older:
Serious infections: The typical dose is 150 mg to 300 mg by mouth every 6 hours.
Severe infections: The typical dose is 300 mg to 450 mg by mouth every 6 hours.
Age 16 years and under who can swallow capsules:
Serious infections: The typical dose is 8 mg/kg to 16 mg/kg of body weight by mouth per day, divided into three or four equal doses throughout the day.
Severe infections: The typical dose is 16 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg of body weight by mouth per day, divided into three or four equal doses throughout the day.
Age 16 years and under:
Serious infections: The typical dose is 8 mg/kg to 12 mg/kg of body weight by mouth per day, divided into three or four equal doses throughout the day.
Severe infections: The typical dose is 13 mg/kg to 25 mg/kg of body weight by mouth per day, divided into three or four equal doses throughout the day.
Clindamycin (Cleocin) is also available as an injection that's given through the veins (IV) or into the muscle (IM) by a healthcare professional (HCP) in the hospital. The HCP will select the appropriate dose for your age and infection.
Interactions between Clindamycin (Cleocin) and other drugs
More on Clindamycin (Cleocin) interactions
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 Clindamycin (Cleocin) cost?
What are alternatives to Clindamycin (Cleocin)?
Skin infections (e.g., cellulitis)
Lower respiratory tract infections (e.g., pneumonia, bronchitis)
Pelvic and genital tract infections
Bloodstream infections
Bone and joint infections - injection form only
Sudden worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from a bacterial infection
Skin infections (e.g., cellulitis)
Urethra or cervix infections
Ear infections (ages 6 months and older)
Pneumonia (ages 6 months and older)
Strep throat (ages 2 years and older)
Tonsil infections (ages 2 years and older)
Upper respiratory tract infections (ear, nose, and throat infections)
Lower respiratory tract infections (e.g., pneumonia, bronchitis)
Skin infections (e.g., cellulitis)
Helicobacter pylori infection (adults only)
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References
Best studies we foundAmneal Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2023). Clindamycin palmitate hydrochloride (pediatric)- clindamycin palmitate hydrochloride powder, for solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About pneumococcal disease.
Chartwell RC, LLC. (2024). Clindamycin hydrochloride- clindamycin hydrochloride capsule [package insert]. DailyMed.
Colston, J., et al. (2018). Bone and joint infection. Clinical Medicine.
Dilly, M., et al. (2021). Immediate and Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions to Antibiotics: Aminoglycosides, Clindamycin, Linezolid, and Metronidazole. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology.
Gupta, K., et al. (2011). International Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis and pyelonephritis in women: A 2010 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the European Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Lopez, N., et al. (2011). A comprehensive review of abdominal infections. World Journal of Emergency Surgery.
Sagent Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Clindamycin- clindamycin phosphate injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
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