The U.S. FDA-approved Clindamycin for bacterial infection on November 27, 2000. Clindamycin is a lincosamide drug that belongs to the medication class known as an antibiotic.

Clindamycin is used to treat certain serious bacterial infections by inhibiting bacterial growth. 

Clindamycin will be administered to you by a healthcare professional in a hospital setting. It is usually administered in muscle or vein (intravenous). Your doctor will decide the dose, route of administration, and frequency based on your disease condition and other factors.

The most common side effects of Clindamycin are inflammation of the veins (blood clot), abnormal liver function, and rash. Serious side effects while taking Clindamycin are sepsis (blood poisoning) and angioedema (swelling in the deeper layers of the skin). 

Clindamycin should not be consumed if you are allergic to Clindamycin, Lincomycin, or any of its ingredients in the medication. Inform your doctor if you have a history of antibiotic-related diarrhea or stomach or intestinal issues. Notify your doctor immediately if you have severe or prolonged diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea. Mention any allergies (such as hay fever, asthma, or eczema), kidney, or liver problems to your doctor.

Notify your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or think you may be pregnant or breastfeeding. Seek medical attention if you experience decreased urine output, fluid retention, swelling reactions, shortness of breath, or nausea. Notify your doctor immediately if you experience severe, prolonged, or bloody diarrhea during or after using Clindamycin Injection, as it may be a sign of bowel inflammation (pseudomembranous colitis) that can occur weeks after antibiotic treatment.

Liver and kidney patients should take Clindamycin cautiously and inform their doctor about all the underlying medical conditions. Do not stop the medicine until your doctor advises. Do not double-dose the medicine to make up for a forgotten dose.  Do not breastfeed while taking Clindamycin. Notify your doctor if you experience any serious side effects. 

Your medical professional will inform you if you need any dose adjustments. Contact your doctor for more information. If you are scheduled for a surgical procedure or hospitalized, inform your doctor about your use of Clindamycin, as it may interact with certain medications and enhance their effects. Do not freeze the medicine. Do not store above 25°C. Always check the expiry date before consuming it. 

1. Focus Pharmaceuticals Limited, Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC), [Revised on March 2022] [Accessed on 8th June 2023], *Microsoft Word - CLINDA~1 (medicines.org.uk)
2. Pfizer, US Food and Drug Administration, [ Revised on October 2007] [ Accessed on 8th June 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/050441s055,050639s016lbl.pdf
3. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Protein Synthesis Inhibitors and Miscellaneous Antibacterial Agents,12th edition, 2011,1534.
4. .KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Macrolide, Lincosamide, Glycopeptide, and Other Antibacterial Antibiotics, 7th edition, 2013, 756.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.