Actions
- May be bacteriostatic or bactericidal in action, depending on concentration attained at site of infection and susceptibility of the infecting organism.
- Inhibits protein synthesis in susceptible organisms by reversibly binding to 50S ribosomal subunits.
- Clindamycin palmitate hydrochloride and clindamycin phosphate are inactive until hydrolyzed in vivo to free clindamycin.
- Spectrum of activity includes many gram-positive aerobic bacteria, some gram-negative aerobic bacteria, and many gram-positive and -negative anaerobic bacteria. Inactive against fungi and viruses.
- Gram-positive aerobes: Active against Staphylococcus aureus (including penicillinase-producing strains), S. epidermidis (including penicillinase-producing strains), Streptococcus pneumoniae, and other streptococci. Also active in vitro against Arcanobacterium haemolyticum and Bacillus anthracis. Enterococci faecalis are resistant.
- Gram-negative aerobes: Active against some strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. N. meningitidis and Enterobacteriaceae are resistant.
- Anaerobes: Active against Actinomyces, Bacteroides, Eubacterium, Fusobacterium, Propionibacterium, Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, and Veillonella. Some strains of Clostridium perfringens are susceptible, but C. difficile and other Clostridium usually are resistant.
- Active against Plasmodium.
- Complete cross-resistance usually occurs between clindamycin and lincomycin.
- Staphylococci resistant to erythromycins rapidly develop clindamycin resistance.
Advice to Patients
- Advise patients that antibacterials (including clindamycin) should only be used to treat bacterial infections and not used to treat viral infections (e.g., the common cold).
- Importance of completing full course of therapy, even if feeling better after a few days.
- Advise patients that skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may decrease effectiveness and increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable with clindamycin or other antibacterials in the future.
- Clindamycin hydrochloride capsules and clindamycin palmitate hydrochloride oral solution can be taken without regard to meals.
- Take clindamycin hydrochloride capsules with a full glass of water to avoid the possibility of esophageal irritation.
- Importance of discontinuing drug and informing clinician if significant diarrhea occurs.
- Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs, and any concomitant illnesses
- Importance of women informing clinician if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.
- Importance of advising patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)
Preparations
Clindamycin Hydrochloride
| Routes | Dosage Forms | Strengths | Brand Names | Manufacturer |
|---|
| Oral | Capsules | 75 mg (of clindamycin) |
Cleocin HCl® (with tartrazine) | Pfizer |
| | 150 mg (of clindamycin)* |
Cleocin HCl® (with tartrazine) | Pfizer |
| | 300 mg (of clindamycin) |
Cleocin HCl® | Pfizer |
| * available generically |
Clindamycin Palmitate Hydrochloride
| Routes | Dosage Forms | Strengths | Brand Names | Manufacturer |
|---|
| Oral | For solution | 75 mg (of clindamycin) per 5 mL |
Cleocin Pediatric® (with ethylparaben) | Pfizer |
Clindamycin Phosphate
| Routes | Dosage Forms | Strengths | Brand Names | Manufacturer |
|---|
| Parenteral | Injection | 150 mg (of clindamycin) per mL* |
Cleocin Phosphate® (with benzyl alcohol 9.45 mg/mL and edetate disodium 0.5 mg/mL) | Pfizer |
| | 9 g (150 mg/mL) (of clindamycin) pharmacy bulk package |
Cleocin Phosphate® (with benzyl alcohol 9.45 mg/mL and edetate disodium 0.5 mg/mL) | Pfizer |
| | |
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (with benzyl alcohol 9.45 mg/mL and edetate disodium 0.5 mg/mL) | AstraZeneca, Hospira, Lederle |
| Injection, for IV infusion only | 150 mg (of clindamycin) per mL (300 mg) |
Clindamycin Phosphate ADD-Vantage® (with benzyl alcohol 9.45 mg/mL and edetate disodium 0.5 mg/mL) | Hospira |
| | 150 mg (of clindamycin) per mL (600 and 900 mg) |
Cleocin Phosphate® ADD-Vantage® (with benzyl alcohol 9.45 mg/mL and edetate disodium 0.5 mg/mL) | Pfizer |
| | |
Clindamycin Phosphate ADD-Vantage® (with benzyl alcohol 9.45 mg/mL and edetate disodium 0.5 mg/mL) | Hospira |
| * available generically |
Clindamycin Phosphate in Dextrose
| Routes | Dosage Forms | Strengths | Brand Names | Manufacturer |
|---|
| Parenteral | Injection, for IV infusion | 6 mg (of clindamycin) per mL (300 mg) in 5% Dextrose |
Cleocin Phosphate® IV (Galaxy® [Baxter]) | Pfizer |
| | 12 mg (of clindamycin) per mL (600 mg) in 5% Dextrose |
Cleocin Phosphate® IV (Galaxy® [Baxter]) | Pfizer |
| | 18 mg (of clindamycin) per mL (900 mg) in 5% Dextrose |
Cleocin Phosphate® IV (Galaxy® [Baxter]) | Pfizer |
Comparative Pricing
This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
| Cleocin 150MG Capsules | PFIZER U.S. | 30/$101.84 or 90/$284.99 |
| Cleocin 300MG Capsules | PFIZER U.S. | 30/$216.68 or 90/$581.6 |
| Clindamycin HCl 150MG Capsules | GREENSTONE | 30/$24.99 or 90/$69.97 |
| Clindamycin HCl 300MG Capsules | RANBAXY PHARMACEUTICALS | 30/$79.99 or 90/$238.98 |
AHFS Drug Information. © Copyright, 1959-2008, Selected Revisions March 2008. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.
† Use is not currently included in the labeling approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children,
never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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