This medication is used to treat a number of bacterial infections. It is a lincomycin antibiotic that helps to stop the growth of bacteria so that your immune system can better fight off the infection. This type of medication cannot be used to treat viral infections such as the cold or flu. Side effects are rarely severe, but you should always work with a doctor to ensure that your use of a medication is safe. Your prescription cannot be refilled, so you should not share this medication or use it more often than intended.
Indications and Usage
Clindamycin hcl is sold under the brand names AntiRobe, ClindaRobe, Cleocin and Clinsol. These are available in liquid or capsule form, both to be taken orally 3-4 times a day. You may also receive a topical gel that can be used to treat skin or vaginal infections or acne. Your dosing schedule will vary based on the nature and severity of your infection. It can be used to treat infections in the blood, skin, female reproductive organs, lungs, and other internal organs. In some cases, it can be used to treat acne, exposure to anthrax or malaria.
The liquid form should be shaken before consumption to ensure the mixture is combined evenly. Capsules should be taken with a full glass of water to ensure that the medication begins to absorb properly. Try to take your doses around the same time every day to help keep a constant supply of the medication in your bloodstream. You should not double up on doses to make up for ones you may accidently miss. Your symptoms may be eliminated within a few days of taking your prescription, but you should see it through until the end to help prevent your infection from returning and the bacteria learning to resist the antibiotics.
Clindamycin Hcl Dosage
Adults using clindamycin to treat acne will apply the gel to the infected areas once a day. Bacterial infections in the vagina will be treated with a dose inserted into the vagina in suppository form once a day, typically before the patient goes to bed. Capsules of clindamycin for adults will range in size from 150-450 mg depending on the severity of the infection to be treated. An injection of clindamycin hcl will often range from 1200-2700 mg per day in divided doses.
- The minimum effective dose for the capsule form of clindamycin is 150 mg per day, and 1200 mg for an injection.
- Capsule doses should not exceed 1800 mg per day.
- The maximum dosage for an injection of clindamycin is 4800 mg per day.
- Children will receive an altered dose of clindamycin based on their weight, so you will need to make sure your doctor has an up-to-date medical profile for your child before you begin a prescription. If your doctor does not weigh your children during their appointment, weigh them yourself and contact your doctor with this information to ensure that your dosage matches these figures.
Warning: Those with colitis, Crohn's disease, asthma eczema, liver disease, kidney disease or allergic reactions on the skin should not take clindamycin hcl. This medication may make your condition worse, which could be dangerous or fatal in the case of a severe negative reaction.
Clindamycin Hcl Side Effects
Common side effects include nausea, joint pain, diarrhea, abdominal pain, heartburn, vomiting, pain when swallowing, thick vaginal discharge, white patches in the mouth and burning or swelling in the vagina. These side effects are not typically severe and should go away after you take your medication for a few days. If your symptoms do not go away or they become worse, contact your doctor to determine the best way to proceed. Do not stop taking your medication unless a medical professional tells you to so you can avoid complications with your treatment from arising.
Those using clindamycin hcl to treat acne have reported dryness, burning, redness, itching or peeling on the skin. If these symptoms are severe, then stop and contact your doctor to determine the best course of action.
When to Worry
If you begin to develop blisters, hives, difficulty swallowing or breathing, rash, yellowing of the skin or eyes or decreased urination contact emergency medical service or the FDA MedWatch center right away. These can be signs of a serious reaction to the medication that could be fatal if left untreated. Inform your doctor about any medical allergies you may have to help avoid this serious condition from developing.
For Special Group of People
- Pregnant women are not typically restricted from using, but there have not been any studies done on human subjects to determine the safety of using this while you are pregnant. Talk with your doctors about this risk to determine if the benefits outweigh the potential risk.
- Those under 16 should have their organ systems monitored to ensure that no negative reactions appear. This includes those who may be exposed to the drug while the mother is breastfeeding.
- Seniors may be at a higher risk to develop diarrhea while on clindamycin hcl, so they may need to have additional monitoring done to help avoid this condition.
Allergy and Interactions
Those who are allergic to lincomycin should not take clindamycin hcl. This includes those with specific allergies to bactramycin, L-Mycin, or lincocin. It can cause a serious negative reaction which could be fatal if left untreated. People taking medications containing erythromycin such as EES, EryPed, Ery-Tab, or Erythrocin should not take clindamycin hcl at the same time. These medications cause an adverse reaction when combined which could increase your risk of serious side effects.
You should not take any live vaccines such as the typhoid vaccine or BCG vaccine while on this drug. This increases your chance that you will develop the disease you are attempting to prevent as well as increasing the risk that you may wind up with more severe side effects from your medication.