Contains the active ingredient Clindamycin hydrochloride
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
Read this leaflet carefully before taking your medicine.
This leaflet answers some common questions about Clindamycin Capsules. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the last page. More recent information on this medicine may be available.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist:
if there is anything you do not understand in this leaflet,
if you are worried about taking your medicine, or
to obtain the most up-to-date information.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
Pharmaceutical companies cannot give you medical advice or an individual diagnosis.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may want to read it again.
What this medicine is used for
Clindamycin is an antibiotic. It is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria.
Clindamycin works by killing or stopping the growth of the bacteria causing your infection.
Clindamycin will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.
Clindamycin is recommended for patients who are allergic to penicillin or patients for whom penicillin is not suitable.
Your doctor may have prescribed Clindamycin for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Clindamycin has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Clindamycin is not addictive.
Before you take this medicine
When you must not take it
Do not take this medicine if:
You are hypersensitive to, or have had an allergic reaction to:
any medicine containing clindamycin or lincomycin
lactose
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin; fainting; or hay fever-like symptoms.
If you think you are having an allergic reaction, do not take any more of the medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at the nearest hospital.
The expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
If you take it after the expiry date, it may have no effect at all, or worse, an entirely unexpected effect.
The packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering or it does not look quite right.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Clindamycin capsules, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Before you start taking this medicine, tell your doctor if:
1. You have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2. You are currently pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant.
Clindamycin crosses the placenta therefore Clindamycin capsules should only be used in pregnancy if clearly needed. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Clindamycin during pregnancy.
3. You are currently breastfeeding or you plan to breastfeed.
Clindamycin capsules are not recommended during breast feeding.
4. If you have or have ever had:
severe diarrhoea associated with the use of antibiotics
severe liver disease
severe kidney disease
any gastrointestinal (stomach or gut) problems.
5. If you have had any other health problems or medical conditions
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, do so before you start taking Clindamycin capsules.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interact with Clindamycin. These include:
erythromycin, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections
medicines used for muscle relaxation in anaesthesia
These medicines may be affected by Clindamycin or may affect how well Clindamycin works.
If you are taking any of these, you may need a different dose, or you may need to take different medicines.
Other medicines not listed above may also interact with Clindamycin.
Your doctor or pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Clindamycin.
How to take this medicine
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor. Their instructions may be different to the information in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions in this leaflet, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take and how long to take it
Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine you should take. This will depend on your condition and whether you are taking any other medicines.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change your dosage without first checking with your doctor.
Adults
One capsule (150 mg) every six hours is the usual dose. The number of capsules may increase with more serious infections. Your doctor will tell you how long to take your capsules.
Children
Clindamycin capsules are not recommended in children for formulation reasons.
Continue taking Clindamycin until you finish the box or until your doctor recommends. Check with your doctor if you are not sure how long you should be taking it.
Do not stop taking Clindamycin capsules because you are feeling better.
If you do not complete the full course prescribed by your doctor, all of the bacteria causing your infection may not be killed. These bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or may return.
How to take it and when to take it
Clindamycin capsules should be taken by mouth, with a full glass of water.
When to take it
Take this medicine at the same time each day. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect and will also help you remember when to take it.
It does not matter if you take it before, with or after food.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time to take your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.
If you are not sure whether to skip the dose, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take a double dose to make up for missed doses.
This may increase the chance of you experiencing side effects.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints to help you remember.
If you take too much (overdose)
If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, immediately telephone your doctor or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking this medicine
Things you must do
If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.
If you get severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after you have stopped taking Clindamycin.
Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any medicines for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.
If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Clindamycin, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.
This may mean you have a fungal/yeast infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of Clindamycin allows fungi/yeast to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Clindamycin does not work against fungi/yeast.
If you become pregnant while taking Clindamycin, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Clindamycin.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Clindamycin.
If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking this medicine.
It may affect other medicines used during surgery.
If you feel that Clindamycin is not helping your condition, tell your doctor.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not used Clindamycin exactly as prescribed.
Things you must not do
Do not:
Give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Take your medicine to treat any other condition unless your doctor tells you to.
Stop taking your medicine, or change the dosage, without first checking with your doctor
Possible side effects
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Clindamycin, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet.
Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious but most of the time they are not.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
oral thrush - white, furry, sore tongue and mouth
vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
stomach cramping
stomach discomfort
inflammation of the food pipe; discomfort and/or pain of the food pipe
loss or distorted sense of taste
nausea and/or vomiting
heartburn
diarrhoea
loss of appetite
skin rash; irritation of the skin
jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
joint pain and swelling
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following, even after several weeks after stopping treatment.
These may be serious side effects and you may need medical attention:
severe stomach cramps;
watery and severe diarrhoea which may also be bloody;
fever, in combination with one or both of the above;
yellowing of the eyes or skin, also called jaundice.
These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell
Do not take any medicine for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.
Allergic reactions
If you think you are having an allergic reaction to Clindamycin, do not take any more of this medicine and tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency department at your nearest hospital.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include some or all of the following:
cough, shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
fainting
hay fever-like symptoms.
Storage and disposal
Storage
Keep your medicine in its original packaging until it is time to take it.
If you take your medicine out of its original packaging it may not keep well.
Keep your medicine in a cool dry place where the temperature will stay below 25°C.
Do not store your medicine, or any other medicine, in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep this medicine where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or it has passed its expiry date, your pharmacist can dispose of the remaining medicine safely.
Product description
What Chemmart Clindamycin Capsules looks like
150 mg Capsules: white cap and white body imprinted with 'Clin 150' in black printing ink.
Blister packs of 24 and 100
* Not all strengths, pack types and/or pack sizes may be available.
Ingredients
Each capsule contains 150 mg of Clindamycin (as hydrochloride) as the active ingredient.
It also contains the following inactive ingredients:
lactose monohydrate
magnesium stearate
maize starch
purified talc
titanium dioxide
gelatin
black printing ink (shellac, iron oxide black)
This medicine is gluten-free, sucrose-free, tartrazine-free and free of other azo dyes.
