Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Clindamycin Injection USP
What Clindamycin Injection USP is used for:
Clindamycin Injection USP is used for the treatment of serious bacterial infections.
Antibacterial drugs like Clindamycin Injection USP treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, Clindamycin Injection USP should be taken exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of Clindamycin Injection USP could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by Clindamycin Injection USP (resistance). This means that Clindamycin Injection USP may not work for you in the future.
How Clindamycin Injection USP works:
Clindamycin Injection USP belongs to a class of medicines called antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of the bacteria responsible for your infection.
The ingredients in Clindamycin Injection USP are:
Medicinal ingredient: clindamycin phosphate
Non-medicinal ingredients: Preservative-free Formulation: disodium edetate, sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid to adjust pH and water for injection.
Multidose Formulation (benzyl alcohol-preserved): benzyl alcohol, disodium edetate, sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid to adjust pH and water for injection.
Clindamycin Injection USP comes in the following dosage forms:
Solution: 150 mg / mL
Do not use Clindamycin Injection USP if:
you are allergic (hypersensitive) to:
- clindamycin
- lincomycin
other ingredients in the product (see The ingredients in Clindamycin Injection USP
- are).
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Clindamycin Injection USP. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
have had stomach or intestinal problems such as:
- colitis (inflammation of the colon)
- inflammatory bowel disease
- have diarrhea or get diarrhea when you take antibiotics
- have kidney or liver problems
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Clindamycin Injection USP can cross the placenta and harm your unborn baby
- are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- are taking primaquine for an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD). You need to have routine blood tests, to monitor for potential blood changes.
Other warnings you should know about:
Multidose Formulation of Clindamycin Injection USP contains benzyl alcohol which may be harmful to newborns and children up to 3 years old.
Breastfeeding:
If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed while taking Clindamycin Injection USP, talk to your healthcare professional. Clindamycin Injection USP will pass through your breast milk to your baby. Your healthcare professional will decide if you should take this medicine while breastfeeding. If your healthcare professional has told you that you can take Clindamycin Injection USP while breastfeeding, monitor your baby for possible side effects such as: diarrhea, mouth infection (thrush: white lesions in your baby’s mouth), diaper rash or blood in their stool. If your baby shows any signs, talk to your healthcare professional and to your baby’s healthcare professional.
Clostridium difficile colitis (bowel inflammation):
Clindamycin Injection USP can cause infections of the colon caused by a bacteria called Clostridium difficile. If you experience diarrhea or other symptoms of colitis, talk to your healthcare professional. See the Serious side effects and what to do about them table, below for more information about this and other serious side effects.
Long-term use of Clindamycin Injection USP:
If you are going to be given Clindamycin Injection USP for an extended period of time your healthcare professional will do blood tests to monitor your liver and kidneys. They will also check your red and white blood cells. It is important that you see your healthcare professional regularly. Long term use may make you more susceptible to other infections that do not respond to Clindamycin Injection USP.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with Clindamycin Injection USP:
- other antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, such as erythromycin, rifampin, aminoglycoside antibiotics
- muscle relaxants used during surgery
- primaquine, used to treat malaria
- St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), an herbal medicine used to treat depression
How to take Clindamycin Injection USP:
- Your healthcare professional will give you Clindamycin Injection USP
Your healthcare professional will decide whether Clindamycin Injection US should be:
- injected into a vein or
- injected into a muscle
Usual dose:
Your healthcare professional will determine the dose that is right for you and for how long you should receive it.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Clindamycin Injection USP, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms. |
|---|
Missed dose:
If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of this medication, talk to your healthcare professional as soon as possible to reschedule.
Possible side effects from using Clindamycin Injection USP:
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking Clindamycin Injection USP. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects may include:
- skin reddening, rash, itching, hives
- throat ulcers, sore throat
- nausea, vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Very common | |||
Liver problems: yellowing skin or eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stool | √ | ||
| Rare | |||
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP): rash with small pustules, red and swollen skin, fever, itching, burning | √ | ||
| Acute kidney failure (severe kidney problems): nausea, vomiting, fever, confusion, tiredness, swelling of extremities, urinating less or not at all, dark urine, thirst, shortness of breath, chest pain, seizures, coma | √ | ||
| Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) (serious skin reaction that may affect one or more organs): fever, severe rash, peeling skin, swelling of the face, swollen lymph glands, flu-like feeling, yellow skin or eyes, shortness of breath, dry cough, chest pain or discomfort, feel thirsty, urinating less often, less urine | √ | ||
| Erythema multiforme (an allergic skin reaction): raised red or purple skin patches, possibly with blister or crust in the center, possibly swollen lips, mild itching or burning | √ | ||
| Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) (severe skin reactions): redness, blistering and/or peeling of the skin and/or inside of the lips, mouth, nose, eyes and genitals, accompanied by fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches or swollen glands | √ | ||
| Unknown | |||
| Allergic reaction: swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, wheezing, feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up, hives or rash, itching | √ | ||
| Anemia (decreased number of red blood cells): fatigue, loss of energy, looking pale, shortness of breath, weakness | √ | ||
| Clostridium difficile colitis (bowel inflammation): persistent or severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting | √ | ||
| Injection site reactions: pain, redness and skin irritation | √ | ||
| Neutropenia (decreased white blood cells): infections, fatigue, fever, aches, pains and flu-like symptoms | √ | ||
| Thrombophlebitis: swelling and redness along a vein which is extremely tender or painful when touched | √ | ||
| Vaginal infection (inflammation of the vagina or surrounding area): itching, burning, unusual or increased vaginal discharge | √ | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
- This medicine should be stored at room temperature (15 to 30°C).
- When diluted as recommended, DALACIN C PHOSPHATE is stable for 24 hours.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about Clindamycin Injection USP:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website http://www.sandoz.ca, or by calling 1-800-361-3062.
Date of Authorization: AUG 27, 2026