Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Clindamycin IV Infusion
What is Clindamycin IV Infusion used for?
Clindamycin IV Infusion is used for the treatment of serious bacterial infections.
How does Clindamycin IV Infusion work?
Clindamycin IV Infusion reduces the production of key proteins in bacteria. This prevents growth in bacteria and reduces the infection.
What are the ingredients in Clindamycin IV Infusion?
Medicinal ingredients: Clindamycin phosphate.
Non-medicinal ingredients: Dextrose monohydrate, disodium edetate dehydrate and water for injection. It may also contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment.
Clindamycin IV Infusion comes in the following dosage forms:
Solution, 12 mg/mL (600 mg/50 mL) and 18 mg/mL (900 mg/50 mL)
Do not use Clindamycin IV Infusion if:
You are allergic (hypersensitive) to:
- Clindamycin
- Lincomycin
- Other ingredients in the product (see list of non-medicinal ingredients)
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Clindamycin IV Infusion. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
have had intestinal disorders such as:
- colitis (inflammation of the colon)
- inflammatory bowel disease
- have diarrhea or get diarrhea when you take antibiotics.
- suffer from problems with your stomach or intestines (e.g. bowel disease, colitis).
- suffer from problems with your kidneys or liver.
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- You are taking a drug called primaquine for an enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogense (G-6-PD). You need to have routine blood tests, to monitor for potential blood cell changes.
Other warnings you should know about:
Breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed while taking Clindamycin IV Infusion, talk to your doctor. Clindamycin IV Infusion will pass through your breast milk to your baby. Your doctor will decide if you should take this medicine while breastfeeding. If your doctor has told you that you can take Clindamycin IV Infusion 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 doctor and to your baby’s doctor.
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 IV Infusion:
- Erythromycin (an antibiotic)
- Rifampin (an antibiotic)
- Muscle relaxants used during operations
- Primaquine (antimalarial)
- Aminoglycosides (a class of antibiotics)
- St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Tell your doctor if you are taking or being administered any other topical or oral medication, including erythromycin or neuromuscular blocking agents.
How to take Clindamycin IV Infusion:
The healthcare professional will administer Clindamycin IV Infusion and will:
Decide :
- the dose and rate of administration of the medicine
Ensure that:
- the medicine will be given as an injection (infusion) through the vein
- the medicine will be given for the full treatment period
the medicine will be inspected to determine there is:
- no discolouration
- no leaks
- no solid particles floating in solution
- no haziness in the solution
Usual dose:
Your doctor will determine the dose and for how long you should receive it.
Long term use of Clindamycin IV Infusion:
- If you have to use clindamycin for a long time, your doctor may arrange regular liver, kidney and blood tests.
- Do not miss these check-ups with your doctor.
- Long term use can also make you more likely to get other infections that do not respond to clindamycin treatment.
This particular product format in minibags is not suitable for use in children 12 years of age and under.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Clindamycin IV Infusion, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
|---|
Missed Dose:
Your healthcare professional will ensure that this product is administered each day and doses are not missed, as it works best when there is a constant amount in the body. If the medicine is stopped too soon, your symptoms may return. If you feel a dose has been missed, contact your healthcare professional.
Skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may (1) decrease the effectiveness of the immediate treatment and (2) increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable by clindamycin phosphate or other antibacterial drugs in the future.
What are possible side effects from using Clindamycin IV Infusion?
These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking Clindamycin IV Infusion. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional. Please also see Warnings and Precautions.
Clindamycin IV Infusion can cause side effects such as:
- skin reddening, rash, itching, hives
- throat ulcers, sore throat
- feeling sick, being sick
- stomach pain and diarrhea
- injection site irritation
- thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the vein due to blood clot)
- vaginal infection or vaginitis (inflamed vagina)
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom/effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| VERY COMMON | |||
| Liver problems with symptoms such a yellowing skin or eyes (jaundice), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting | √ | ||
| COMMON | |||
| Diarrhea | √ | ||
| Rash | √ | ||
| RARE | |||
| Acute kidney failure (severe kidney problems): confusion; tiredness; swelling; urinating less or not at all; shortness of breath; chest pain, seizures, coma | √ | ||
| Skin reactions: itching | √ | ||
| UNKNOWN | |||
Clostridium difficile associated disease (bowel inflammation), with symptoms such as persistent or severe watery or bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. This may happen months after the last dose of medication. | √ | ||
Injection site reactions with symptoms as pain, redness and skin irritation | √ | ||
Hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction): symptoms such as swelling of eyes, mouth, throat, difficulty breathing, sudden wheezing, blistering or peeling skin, rash, itching, fever, cough, feeling unwell. | √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom/effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| Anemia (low red blood cells): bruising, bleeding. | √ | ||
| Neutropenia (low white blood cells): fatigue, fever, ache, infections, flu-like symptoms | √ | ||
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 health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
The healthcare professional will store Clindamycin IV Infusion minibags under appropriate conditions (15°C to 25°C).
If you want more information about Clindamycin IV Infusion:
- 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 www.sadoz.ca, or by calling 1-800-361-3062.