Key takeaways
Clindamycin (Cleocin) and metronidazole (Flagyl) are both antibiotics used to treat various infections, but they belong to different medication classes. Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic, while metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic. Both medications can treat skin infections and lower respiratory tract infections, but metronidazole is also used for parasitic infections like amebiasis and trichomoniasis, which clindamycin does not treat. Clindamycin is available in oral capsules, liquid, and injection forms, while metronidazole is available in oral tablets and capsules. Clindamycin is typically taken three to four times a day, whereas metronidazole is usually taken three times a day, with some variations depending on the infection. Both medications are available as lower-cost generics. Common side effects of clindamycin include diarrhea, nausea, and rash, while metronidazole can cause headaches, nausea, and a metallic taste. You should avoid alcohol with both medications, but metronidazole has a more severe interaction with alcohol, requiring you to avoid it for at least three days after stopping the medication.
