Clindamycin - Intravenous/Intramuscular

Clindamycin is an antibiotic. It is used to treat serious bacterial infections.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.

Clindamycin injection is to be given intravenously (into the vein) as an infusion, or intramuscularly (into the muscle).

Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.

The dose of this medicine will be decided by your doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on the type and severity of your infection.

You must complete the entire course of this medicine. If you don't, the infection will not be properly controlled.

Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Clindamycin.

If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.

Do not use Clindamycin if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to this medicine or similar antibiotics such as lincomycin.

Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:

• atopy (an inherited condition associated with heightened immune response to common allergens which may lead to allergic diseases including asthma)
• history of digestive tract disease e.g. colitis (inflammation of the lining of the colon [large intestine])
• kidney disease
• moderate to severe liver disease

Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Clindamycin to a child or the elderly. Children or elderly people may be more sensitive to the side effects.

Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly. You may need to have routine tests (e.g. complete blood count, liver and kidney function) while you are being treated with Clindamycin. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.

Clindamycin may cause any of the following side effects: headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhoea, and pain at the injection site.

Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:

• rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes or mouth
• severe, persistent or bloody diarrhoea accompanied by stomach pain or fever
• rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth or eyes accompanied by fever
• pain or difficulty in passing urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine

Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.

Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or using any of these medicines:

• medicines used for blocking pain and sensation, and relaxing the muscles during procedures
• blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin, acenocoumarol, fluindione
• other antibiotics e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin
• medicines for epilepsy (fits or seizures) e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin
• St. John's wort (herbal medicine)

This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Clindamycin.

Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements, and medicines that you buy without a prescription.

Avoid alcohol.

Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.

Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.