CLINDAMYCIN

Brand & Generic Names

Cleocin
Cleocin Pediatric
Dalacin C
Dalacin C Palmitate
Dalacin C Phosphate

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Antibiotic (lincomycin)

Uses

Treatment of bacterial infections that are susceptible to clindamycin.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Capsule or liquid--Swallow with liquid. Take with a full glass of water or a meal to avoid gastric irritation.

When to take:
At the same times each day.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Destroys susceptible bacteria. Does not kill viruses.

Time lapse before drug works:
3 to 5 days.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Hives, wheezing, Seek emergency faintness, itching, treatment coma. immediately.

Common:

Bloating.

Infrequent:

• Unusual thirst; vomiting; stomach cramps; severe and watery diarrhea with blood or mucus; weight loss, painful, swollen joints; fever; jaundice; tiredness; weakness; weight loss.
• White patches in mouth; rash, itch around groin, rectum or armpits; vaginal discharge, itching.

Rare:

None expected.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to lincomycins.
• You have had ulcerative colitis.
• Prescribed for infant under 1 month old.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had yeast infections of mouth, skin or vagina.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.
• If you have kidney or liver disease.
• If you have allergies of any kind.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Don't give to infants younger than 1 month. Use for children only under medical supervision.

Prolonged use:

• Severe colitis with diarrhea and bleeding.
• You may become more susceptible to infections caused by germs not responsive to clindamycin.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check stool exams and perform proctosigmoidoscopy.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Others:
May interfere with the accuracy of some medical tests.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Antidiarrheal	Decreased
preparations*	clindamycin effect.
Cefixime	Decreased antibiotic effect of
	cefixime.
Chloramphenicol	Decreased clindamycin effect.
Diphenoxylate	May delay removal of toxins from
	colon in cases of diarrhea caused
	by side effects of clindamycin.
Erythromycins*	Decreased clindamycin effect.
Loperamide	May delay removal of toxins from
	colon in cases of diarrhea caused
	by side effects of clindamycin.
Muscle-blocking	Increased actions of
drugs*	muscle blockers to unsafe degree.
	Avoid.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	None expected.