Clindamycin

Registered South African indications:

• Acne vulgaris

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
• History of inflammatory bowel disease 
• History of antibiotic-associated colitis
• Patients with existing diarrhoea

Cautions

• Breastfeeding
• Contact with eyes and mucous membranes 
• History of atopy

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: sol, lot

Acne vulgaris

• Topical (sol, lot): Apply small quantity to the affected area, 12hrly

Not established for use in children younger than 12 years

Pregnancy

• Caution
• There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women during the first trimester. A moderate amount of data from clinical trials in pregnant women (between 300-1000 pregnancy outcomes) during the second and third trimesters indicates systemic administration of clindamycin has not been associated with an increased frequency of congenital abnormalities or feto/neonatal toxicity. Animal reproductive toxicity studies revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the foetus due to clindamycin, except at doses that caused maternal toxicity. Animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response 
• Clindamycin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed

Breastfeeding

• Caution; not recommended
• It is not known whether clindamycin is excreted in human milk following topical application. However, orally and parenterally administered clindamycin has been reported to appear in breast milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in breastfeeding infants, clindamycin should not be used by breastfeeding mothers

Fertility

• Fertility studies in rats treated orally with clindamycin revealed no effects on fertility or mating ability

Renal Impairment

• No dose adjustment recommended

Hepatic Impairment

• No dose adjustment recommended

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Probably not porphyrinogenic (PNP)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Abdominal pain
• Gastrointestinal disturbances

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Gram-negative folliculitis
• Skin irritation
• Urticaria
• Skin oiliness
• Contact dermatitis
• Dry skin 

Sensory Disorders

• Stinging of the eye

• Benzyl peroxide
• Neuromuscular blockers
• Vitamin K antagonists

None routine. Specific cases may require

• Coagulation studies

Clindamycin does not penetrate the blood/brain barrier in therapeutically effective quantities

Excipients

• Clindamycin may contain small amounts of ethanol (alcohol), less than 100 mg per dose

Clindamycin has a primarily bacteriostatic action. It binds to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome and thus inhibits the early stages of protein synthesis.

Lotion (per g) 10mg

• Dalacin T (Pfizer) originator

Solution (per ml) 10mg

• Dalacin T (Pfizer) originator (Discontinued: 05/05/2020)

Also available in the following forms: Injection, capsule, vaginal cream.