Cleocin Pediatric (Oral)

Clindamycin is used to treat bacterial infections. This medicine may be given to patients who have had an allergic reaction to penicillin. Clindamycin will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

It is important for your doctor to check how you or your child is doing after treatment. This is to ensure that the infection is completely gone and to allow your doctor to look for any side effects. Blood tests may be needed to check for side effects.

If you or your child's symptoms do not get better, or if they get worse, contact your doctor.

This medicine may cause diarrhea, which can sometimes be severe. It may happen 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine. Do not take any medicine for diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. If you have any questions or if mild diarrhea persists or worsens, contact your doctor.

Serious skin reactions can happen with this medicine. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience blistering, peeling, or loose skin, red skin lesions, severe acne or rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, or fever or chills while you or your child are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and needs immediate medical help. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of the hands, face, or mouth while using this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless your doctor has discussed them with you. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the benefits it will provide. This is a decision you and your doctor will make together. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, inform your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies conducted so far have not shown any specific problems that would limit the use of clindamycin in children.

Geriatric

Although studies on how age affects the effects of clindamycin have not been done in older adults, no specific problems related to age have been reported so far. However, older patients are more likely to develop colitis, which may require caution when using clindamycin.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the possible risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Certain medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these instances, your doctor may want to adjust the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When taking this medicine, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take one or both of the medicines.

• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Daridorexant
• Erythromycin
• Fedratinib
• Mavacamten
• Methotrexate
• Omaveloxolone
• Phenobarbital
• Primidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment option for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you take one or both of the medicines.

• Atracurium
• Cyclosporine
• Metocurine
• Semaglutide
• Tubocurarine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be taken at or around the time of eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Atopic syndrome or
• Diarrhea or
• Severe liver disease or
• History of stomach or bowel problems—Use with caution. May worsen these conditions.

• Meningitis—This medicine should not be used in patients with this condition.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may happen, if they do occur, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor right away if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

• Cracks in the skin
• Loss of heat from the body
• Red, swollen, scaly skin

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach cramps, pain, or tenderness
• Black, tarry stools
• Bleeding gums
• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• Bloating
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Blurred vision
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Clay-colored stools
• Cloudy urine
• Confusion
• Cough or hoarseness
• Dark urine
• Decrease in the amount of urine
• Diarrhea
• Diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• Difficulty with swallowing
• Dizziness
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• Dry mouth
• Fast heartbeat
• Fever with or without chills
• General feeling of tiredness or weakness
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Heart stops
• Hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
• Increased thirst
• Itching of the vagina or genital area
• Joint or muscle pain
• Loss of appetite
• Lower back or side pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• No breathing
• No pulse or blood pressure
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain in the lower back or side
• Painful or difficult urination
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• Rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
• Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• Red, irritated eyes
• Redness of the skin
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• Swollen glands
• Thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
• Thirst
• Tightness in the chest
• Trouble breathing
• Unconscious
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Unusual weight loss
• Vomiting of blood
• Yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects not listed may also happen in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Cleocin HCl
• Cleocin Pediatric

In Canada

• Dalacin C Palmitate

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution
• Capsule

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Lincosamide

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Take the capsule with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. This is to prevent irritation of the esophagus (tube between the throat and stomach).

Measure the oral liquid correctly using the marked measuring spoon that comes with the package. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you have a "strep'' infection, you should keep using this medicine for at least 10 days. This is especially important in "strep" infections. Serious heart problems could develop later if your infection is not cleared up completely. Also, if you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.

This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take each dose at evenly spaced times day and night. If you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your doctor.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (capsules and solution):For treatment of bacterial infections: Adults—150 to 300 milligrams (mg) every 6 hours. For more severe infections, 300 to 450 mg every 6 hours. Children weighing 10 kilograms (kg) or more—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 8 to 16 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided into 3 or 4 equal doses. For more severe infections, the dose is usually 16 to 25 mg per kg of body weight per day, divided into 3 or 4 equal doses. Children weighing 10 kg or less—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 37.5 milligrams (mg) or 1/2 teaspoonful 3 times a day.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

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