Clindamycin

Pronunciation: klin-da-MY-sin.

Generic name
clindamycin
Drug class
Lincosamide antibiotic
Form
Hard capsule (75 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg)
Route
Oral (capsule); also available as injection, topical gel/solution, and vaginal preparations (this page covers the oral capsule form)
Legal status
Prescription-only

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand

Australia: Dalacin C (5) · Full directory

What clindamycin is and how it works

Clindamycin is a prescription-only antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections, particularly those caused by anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grow without oxygen) and certain other bacteria when other antibiotics such as penicillin are not suitable. (1)

Take clindamycin exactly as your prescriber directs, for the full course, even if you start to feel better. Because clindamycin carries a genuine risk of a serious bowel infection (C. difficile-associated diarrhoea), it is reserved for infections where it is genuinely needed, and you should contact your prescriber promptly if you develop diarrhoea during or after treatment.

Mechanism of action: how clindamycin works

Clindamycin is a semisynthetic lincosamide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit; its action is primarily bacteriostatic against susceptible gram-positive aerobes and anaerobic bacteria. (3) (1)

What clindamycin is used for

Serious anaerobic bacterial infections

Used to treat serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria, including certain abdominal, skin/soft tissue, and other deep infections. (1) (3)

Serious infections when penicillin is not suitable

Used for serious infections caused by susceptible streptococci, pneumococci, or staphylococci in people who cannot take penicillin or whose infection is resistant to other appropriate antibiotics. (1)

Other specific infections (varies by country)

In some countries, clindamycin (often combined with other medicines) is also used for conditions such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in people with AIDS who cannot take or have not responded to standard treatment, for prevention of bacterial endocarditis in penicillin-allergic patients undergoing certain dental or surgical procedures, and for pelvic infections. (3) (6)

Before taking clindamycin

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not take clindamycin if you have had a serious allergic reaction to it or to lincomycin (a related antibiotic). (all countries) (1) (2) (3)

Tell your clinician about

  • Any history of stomach or bowel problems, especially colitis or previous antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
  • Any kidney or liver problems.
  • Any history of asthma, eczema, or other allergic conditions.
  • Any allergies, particularly to lincomycin or clindamycin.
  • Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
  • All other medicines you take, especially blood thinners (such as warfarin-type medicines), muscle relaxants used during anaesthesia, or medicines that affect liver enzymes (such as rifampicin).
(1) (2)

How to take clindamycin

  • Swallow capsules whole with a full glass of water.
  • Stay upright (sitting or standing) and do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking a dose, to reduce the risk of irritation to your food pipe (oesophagus).
  • Complete the full course your prescriber has given you, even if you feel better before it is finished, unless your prescriber tells you otherwise.
  • Capsules can generally be taken with or without food.
(1)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Missed dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose -- in that case, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Overdose

Seek urgent medical attention or contact your poison control centre if you think you have taken too much clindamycin. There is no specific antidote; treatment focuses on supportive care, and dialysis is not an effective way to remove clindamycin from the body. (3) (1)

Side effects

Side effects and their urgency vary; report severe, persistent, or concerning symptoms.

Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

What to notice: Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

Skin rash, hives, or itching.

What to notice: Skin rash, hives, or itching.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

Altered sense of taste.

What to notice: Altered sense of taste.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (2)

Irritation of the food pipe (oesophagitis) if not taken with enough water or while lying down.

What to notice: Irritation of the food pipe (oesophagitis) if not taken with enough water or while lying down.

What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with the treating clinician or pharmacist. (1) (2)

Serious warnings

Severe diarrhoea or colitis caused by Clostridioides difficile (CDAD) — boxed_warning

Symptoms: Watery or bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain or cramping, and fever, which can appear during treatment or for up to two months or longer after finishing clindamycin.

Action: Contact your prescriber promptly if you develop diarrhoea during or after treatment, even after finishing the course -- do not treat it yourself with anti-diarrhoea medicines unless your prescriber tells you to, since some of these can make it worse. Severe cases are a medical emergency and can require hospital treatment or a different antibiotic; seek emergency care for severe or bloody diarrhoea with fever. (1) (2)

Severe allergic reaction or severe skin reaction — emergency

Symptoms: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing; widespread rash, blistering, or peeling skin (which can indicate rare but serious reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis).

Action: Seek emergency medical help immediately. (1) (2)

Signs of kidney problems — high caution

Symptoms: Reduced urination, swelling in the legs or ankles, or unusual tiredness.

Action: Contact your prescriber promptly, as clindamycin has been associated with acute kidney injury in some people, particularly those with other risk factors. (1) (5)

Interactions

  • Muscle relaxants used during anaesthesia or surgery: clindamycin can strengthen their effect, so your anaesthetist needs to know you are taking it. (1) (2)
  • Warfarin-type blood thinners (vitamin K antagonists): clindamycin may increase their blood-thinning effect and bleeding risk, so more frequent blood clotting checks may be needed. (2)
  • Rifampicin and similar medicines can reduce how well clindamycin works. (1) (2)
  • Certain medicines that affect the same liver enzyme pathway (strong CYP3A4 inhibitors) may increase clindamycin levels in your body. (1) (2)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Pregnancy

Clindamycin crosses the placenta. Use in the first trimester is generally reserved for when it is clearly needed; second- and third-trimester use has not been linked to an increased rate of birth defects in the studies reviewed. Discuss the benefits and risks with your prescriber. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Breastfeeding

Clindamycin passes into breast milk in small amounts. It is not necessarily a reason to stop breastfeeding, but your prescriber may consider an alternative antibiotic, and the baby should be watched for diarrhoea, thrush, or blood in the stool. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Children

Approved for use in children over one month of age in some markets, dosed by body weight; capsules are not suitable for children who cannot swallow them whole, and a liquid formulation may be used instead. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Elderly

No specific dose adjustment is described in the sources reviewed for people with normal kidney and liver function, but older adults should be watched closely for diarrhoea. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Hepatic_impairment

Dosage adjustment is not generally required, but periodic liver function monitoring is recommended with prolonged treatment, especially with more severe liver disease. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Renal_impairment

Dosage adjustment is not generally required based on the sources reviewed; dialysis does not effectively remove clindamycin from the blood. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Source_ids

US-DAILYMED-CLINDAMYCIN-2026,UK-EMC-CLINDAMYCIN-2025,CA-HC-DALACIN-C-2024 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Confirmation the infection is one clindamycin is suitable for
  • Review of allergy history (clindamycin and lincomycin)
  • Baseline kidney and liver function where relevant

During treatment

  • Watching closely for diarrhoea, especially new-onset or worsening diarrhoea, at any point during or after treatment.
  • Periodic liver and kidney function tests and blood counts with prolonged courses.
  • Watching for signs of allergic or severe skin reactions.
(1)

Storage

Store at room temperature (about 20-25C / 68-77F), in the original container, protected from moisture. Keep out of reach of children.

Study the drug class: Lincosamides

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only, sourced from current US FDA, UK SmPC, and Health Canada content reviewed for this dossier; verify against the current full label before prescribing.

United States

Indication: Serious anaerobic and susceptible gram-positive infections

Dose summary: Adults: 150-300 mg every 6 hours (serious infections) or 300-450 mg every 6 hours (more severe infections). Paediatric (able to swallow capsules): 8-16 mg/kg/day or 16-20 mg/kg/day, divided into 3-4 doses, by total body weight.

Renal context: No dosage modification generally necessary; dialysis is not an effective removal method. (1)

Canada

Indication: Serious anaerobic and gram-positive infections; PCP in AIDS; endocarditis prophylaxis

Dose summary: Adults: mild 150 mg q6h, moderately severe 300 mg q6h, severe 450 mg q6h. Endocarditis prophylaxis: 300 mg orally 1 hour before procedure, then 150 mg 6 hours after initial dose (adults); 10 mg/kg then 5 mg/kg (children, not to exceed adult dose).

Renal context: Dose modification generally not necessary in renal disease or hepatic insufficiency, or in the elderly with normal age-adjusted renal function. (3)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Half-life is slightly prolonged in severe hepatic impairment; periodic liver enzyme monitoring is advised with prolonged therapy.

Overdose note

No specific antidote exists; activated charcoal may aid removal of unabsorbed drug, and general supportive measures are recommended. Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are not effective at removing clindamycin from the blood. (3) (1)

Frequently asked questions

Is clindamycin available in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand?

Yes, clindamycin is an established, widely available generic antibiotic approved in all of these regions, originally marketed as Dalacin C / Cleocin. (1) (4) (2) (3) (5) (6)

What should I do if I get diarrhoea while taking clindamycin?

Contact your prescriber promptly, even if you have already finished the course, and even weeks later. Clindamycin carries a genuine, labelled risk of a serious bowel infection called C. difficile-associated diarrhoea, which can range from mild to life-threatening. Do not treat diarrhoea yourself with anti-diarrhoea medicines unless your prescriber specifically advises it, as some can make the condition worse. (1) (2)

Why does clindamycin need to be taken with a full glass of water?

Taking it with a full glass of water and staying upright for at least 30 minutes afterwards helps reduce the risk of the capsule irritating your food pipe (oesophagus) on the way down. (2) (3)

What is the mechanism of action of clindamycin?

Clindamycin is a semisynthetic lincosamide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit; its action is primarily bacteriostatic against susceptible gram-positive aerobes and anaerobic bacteria. (3) (1)

What is the generic name of Clindamycin?

The generic name is clindamycin. (1) (2)

What class of drug is clindamycin?

Clindamycin is classed as: Lincosamide antibiotic. (1) (2)

References

  1. CLINDAMYCIN HYDROCHLORIDE capsule -- full prescribing informationU.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed (NIH), full prescribing information, clindamycin hydrochloride capsules · United States · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 1
  2. Clindamycin 300 mg Capsules, Hard -- Summary of Product Characteristicselectronic medicines compendium (emc), United Kingdom -- Brown & Burk UK Ltd · United Kingdom · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 2
  3. DALACIN C (clindamycin hydrochloride capsules USP) Product MonographHealth Canada product monograph, Pfizer Canada ULC · Canada · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 3
  4. Clindamycin -- list of nationally authorised medicinal products (PSUSA/00000795)European Medicines Agency (EMA) · European Union · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 4
  5. DALACIN C (clindamycin as hydrochloride) 150 mg capsule -- ARTG registrationTherapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia · Australia · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 5
  6. DALACIN C (clindamycin hydrochloride) New Zealand Data SheetMedsafe (New Zealand regulator), Pfizer · New Zealand · accessed 2026-07-29 · source 6

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient clindamycin names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Cleocin Phosphate150 mg/mL · pharmacia & upjohn company llc
  • Clindamycin in 5 percent Dextrose18 mg/mL, 6 mg/mL, 12 mg/mL · hikma pharmaceuticals usa inc.
  • Clindamycin Phoaphate Topical USP, 1%10 mg/mL · a-s medication solutions
  • Cleocin75 mg/5mL, 20 mg/g, 100 mg · pharmacia & upjohn company llc
  • Cleocin Hydrochloride75 mg, 300 mg, 150 mg · pharmacia & upjohn company llc
  • Clindacin10 mg/g · medimetriks pharmaceuticals, inc.
  • Clindesse100 mg/5g · padagis israel pharmaceuticals ltd
  • Clindagel10 mg/mL · bausch health us, llc
  • XACIATO100 mg/5g · organon llc
  • Clindacin ETZ10 mg · eurofarma, inc.

United Kingdom

  • Dalacin C (and generic clindamycin) (2)MHRA licensed emc smpc confirmed · 75 mg, 150 mg, 300 mg · Brown & Burk UK Ltd (and other licence holders)

Canada

  • DALACIN C
  • CLINDAMYCINE-150
  • CLINDAMYCIN IV INFUSION
  • DALACIN T
  • DALACIN C FLAVOURED
  • DALACIN
  • DALACIN C PHOSPHATE
  • CLINDETS
  • CLINDA-T
  • CLINDAMYCIN INJECTION SDZ

Australia

  • Dalacin C (5)TGA ARTG registered confirmed · 150 mg · Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

New Zealand

  • Dalacin C (6)Medsafe approved confirmed · 150 mg · Pfizer
View brands in additional countries.

European Union

Dalacin / clindamycin (generic, nationally authorised in member states) (4)

This page provides general reference information about clindamycin and is not a substitute for advice from the prescriber managing your treatment. All dosing and treatment decisions should be made with your prescriber.

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