Lincomycin

Pronunciation: pronunciation varies by local usage.

Generic name: lincomycin
Brand names: LINCOCIN
Drug class: Medicine
Form: Sterile solution for injection
Route: Intramuscular or intravenous injection
Legal status: Prescription-only medicine

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States

What lincomycin is and how it works

Lincomycin is an injectable antibiotic reserved for serious bacterial infections when less toxic antimicrobial agents are inappropriate. It is available as a sterile solution for intramuscular or intravenous use. (1)

Lincomycin is administered under direct medical supervision. It is not a first-line treatment and should not be used for minor infections. A clinician must determine eligibility and the treatment plan.

What lincomycin is used for

Serious susceptible-bacterial infections

Lincomycin is reserved for serious infections caused by susceptible bacteria when less toxic antimicrobials cannot be used. Exact approved indications are defined by the product label. (1)

Before taking lincomycin

Do not take / not appropriate for

Do not receive lincomycin if you have had a severe hypersensitivity reaction to lincomycin or clindamycin unless the responsible specialist determines otherwise under the exact product label. (all products) (1)
Do not use lincomycin to treat minor infections; it is reserved for serious susceptible-bacterial infections when less toxic options cannot be used. (all indications) (1)

Tell your clinician about

Any history of severe diarrhea or colitis, especially following antibiotic use.
Any liver or kidney disease.
Blood cell disorders or a history of blood-count abnormalities.
Myasthenia gravis or other neuromuscular conditions.
All current medicines, especially those affecting neuromuscular function or other antibiotics.
Pregnancy, plans for pregnancy, breastfeeding, or any vaccine or other biologic treatment.
Any known antibiotic resistance or history of superinfections.

(1)

How to take lincomycin

Lincomycin is administered by a healthcare professional via intramuscular or intravenous injection according to an infection-specific schedule set by the clinician.
Treatment is given in a healthcare setting with monitoring. Home administration is not applicable.
Do not change the dose, interval, or duration of treatment yourself.

(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)

Missed dose

If a dose is missed, contact the prescribing clinician for rescheduling instructions. Do not attempt to self-administer or alter the next dose or interval without clinician advice.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, seek immediate medical attention. Contact a poison control center or emergency services. Provide details of the product, dose, and timing. (1)

Side effects

Serious side effects include C. difficile-associated diarrhea, hypersensitivity reactions, severe skin reactions, blood disorders, and neuromuscular effects. Common side effects are not detailed in the provided research notes; consult the full prescribing information.

C. difficile-associated diarrhea

What to notice: Watery diarrhea, abdominal pain or tenderness, fever, possibly progressing to more severe colitis.

What to do: Contact the prescribing team promptly for assessment. Do not use anti-diarrheal medicines without clinician guidance. (1)

Hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis

What to notice: Rash, hives, swelling of face/lips/tongue/throat, difficulty breathing, faintness.

What to do: Seek emergency medical care immediately. (1)

Severe skin reactions

What to notice: Blistering, peeling, widespread rash, mucous membrane involvement.

What to do: Seek immediate medical assessment. (1)

Neuromuscular effects

What to notice: Muscle weakness, tiredness, breathing difficulty, double vision.

What to do: Contact the prescriber promptly; if breathing is affected, seek emergency care. (1)

Blood abnormalities

What to notice: Unusual bleeding or bruising, fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers.

What to do: Contact the clinician for blood-count monitoring. (1)

Serious warnings

C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) — emergency

Symptoms: Watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, possibly fatal colitis.

Action: Seek medical attention promptly. A clinician will assess the need for specific treatment and possible discontinuation of lincomycin. (1)

Anaphylaxis and severe hypersensitivity — emergency

Symptoms: Difficulty breathing, throat tightness, swelling of face/tongue, hives, collapse.

Action: Use emergency medical services immediately. The clinician managing the reaction will advise on further lincomycin use. (1)

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions — emergency

Symptoms: Widespread rash, blistering, skin peeling, mucosal sores.

Action: Obtain urgent medical assessment. The clinician will determine if lincomycin should be stopped. (1)

Interactions

Medicine or test	Effect	Action
Neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g., anesthetics, muscle relaxants)	Lincomycin may enhance neuromuscular blockade, potentially leading to respiratory depression.	Inform the clinician and anesthetist about lincomycin therapy before any procedure. (1)
Other antibiotics	Coadministration may increase the risk of superinfection or development of bacterial resistance.	The prescriber will select the most appropriate antibiotic regimen based on culture results and patient factors. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Renal impairment

Dosage adjustment may be required; renal function should be monitored. Exact recommendations are per the current product label. (1)

Hepatic impairment

Hepatic function should be monitored; dose adjustment may be needed as per label. (1)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Use only if clearly needed and directed by a clinician who has assessed risks and benefits. Do not stop treatment without clinician guidance. (1)

Children and elderly

Specific recommendations for use in these populations are not detailed in the provided research notes; consult the product label. (1)

Monitoring

Before starting

Confirm the infection is susceptible and that less toxic options are inappropriate.
Assess history of hypersensitivity to lincomycin or clindamycin.
Evaluate renal and hepatic function, complete blood count.
Review all current medications, especially neuromuscular blockers.
Consider risk factors for C. difficile infection.

During treatment

Monitor for signs of diarrhea, colitis, hypersensitivity, or skin reactions.
Periodic renal and hepatic function tests as clinically indicated.
Monitor complete blood count for hematologic effects.
Assess for neuromuscular weakness or superinfection.

(1)

Storage

Storage conditions are not detailed in the provided research notes; refer to the product label for specific instructions on temperature, light protection, and handling.

Professional information

Clinician-facing context only. Use the current local indication, dosing, and administration instructions from the official product label.

United States

Indication: Serious susceptible-bacterial infections

Dose summary: Dose determined by clinician based on infection severity, susceptibility, patient weight, and renal/hepatic function as per the current US Lincocin label.

Renal context: Renal dosing adjustments: gap in provided notes; refer to product label. (1)

Overdose note

In case of overdose, provide supportive care, monitor vital signs, and contact a poison control center. Specific interventions are clinician-managed. (1)

Frequently asked questions

What is lincomycin used for?

Lincomycin is an injectable antibiotic reserved for serious bacterial infections when less toxic antimicrobials cannot be used. It must be administered by a healthcare professional. (1)

Can lincomycin cause C. difficile-associated diarrhea?

Yes. The product carries a boxed warning for potentially fatal C. difficile-associated diarrhea. Seek medical attention promptly if severe diarrhea develops. (1)

Is lincomycin a first-line antibiotic?

No. Lincomycin is reserved for serious infections when less toxic agents are inappropriate. Your clinician will explain why it is being prescribed for your condition. (1)

What is the generic name of Lincomycin?

The generic name is lincomycin. It is sold under brand names including LINCOCIN. (1)

What class of drug is lincomycin?

Lincomycin is classed as: Medicine. (1)

References

Lincocin (lincomycin hydrochloride) injection, solutionU.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed · United States · dated 2025-03-10 · accessed 2026-08-11 · source 1
LINCOMYCIN (LINCOMYCIN) INJECTION, SOLUTION [MICRO LABS LIMITED] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 2
Lincomycin — FDA approval record (Drugs@FDA ANDA215082)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
lincomycin — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 6398)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4

Brand names by country

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

Priority countries

United States

Lincocin300 mg/mL · pharmacia & upjohn company llc

View brands in additional countries.