Key takeaways
Cleocin (clindamycin) and Sivextro (tedizolid) are both antibiotics used to treat infections, but they belong to different medication classes and treat different types of infections. Cleocin (clindamycin) is a lincosamide antibiotic used as a vaginal suppository to treat bacterial vaginosis (BV) in females who have started their menstrual periods. It is not approved for use during pregnancy. Sivextro (tedizolid), on the other hand, is an oxazolidinone antibiotic used to treat certain skin infections in adults and children aged 12 years and older. Sivextro is not well studied in pregnancy. Cleocin is typically used once daily for 3 days, while Sivextro is taken once daily for 6 days. Cleocin is available as a generic medication, whereas Sivextro is only available as a brand-name medication. Common side effects of Cleocin include vaginal discomfort and yeast infections, while Sivextro may cause nausea, headache, and diarrhea. Both medications can cause serious diarrhea related to *Clostridioides difficile* infection, but Cleocin is more likely to cause vaginal yeast infections. Cleocin is inserted vaginally, while Sivextro is taken orally or via IV.
