Clindamycin phosphate
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Dalacin C Phosphate injection. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being given Dalacin C Phosphate injection against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
Dalacin C Phosphate injection should only be given to you by a health professional.
If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What DALACIN C PHOSPHATE Injection is used for
Dalacin C Phosphate injection is an antibiotic. It is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria.
This medicine works by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria causing your infection.
It will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.
Dalacin C Phosphate injection is recommended for patients who are allergic to penicillin or patients for whom, in the judgment of the doctor, penicillin is inappropriate.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Dalacin C Phosphate injection has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed Dalacin C Phosphate injection for another reason.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Dalacin C Phosphate is not addictive.
Before you are given DALACIN C PHOSPHATE Injection
When you must not be given it
You must not be given Dalacin C Phosphate injection if you have an allergy to:
clindamycin or lincomycin
any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet (see 'Product Description')
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin
You should not be given this medicine if the expiry date printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should be given this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
severe diarrhoea associated with the use of antibiotics
severe liver disease
severe kidney disease
bowel disease
any gastrointestinal (stomach or gut) problems
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you are given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection.
Children
Dalacin C Phosphate injection contains benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol has been associated with a rare but serious side effect in infants. Your doctor will decide if treatment is appropriate.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and DALACIN C may interfere with each other. These include:
erythromycin, a medicine used to treat bacterial infections
rifampicin, a medicine used to treat bacterial infections
medicines used for muscle relaxation in anaesthesia
These medicines may be affected by Dalacin C Phosphate or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:
erythromycin, a medicine used to treat bacterial infections
medicines used for muscle relaxation in anaesthesia
Your doctor or pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given this medicine.
How DALACIN C PHOSPHATE Injection is given
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions in this leaflet, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose of Dalacin C Phosphate you should receive and for how long you should receive it for. This depends on your condition, the infection being treated and how severe it is.
For children, the doctor will work out the dose based on their age, body weight and how severe the infection is.
How it is given
Dalacin C Phosphate is usually given as an injection into a vein (intravenous drip) or into a muscle (intramuscular). It is given by a doctor or trained nurse.
Dalacin C Phosphate injection will be diluted if given as injection into a vein.
If too much is given (overdose)
As Dalacin C Phosphate injection is usually given to you in hospital under the close supervision of your doctor, it is unlikely that you will receive too much.
However, if you experience severe side effects after being given Dalacin C Phosphate injection, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.
Symptoms of an overdose are the same as those listed under the "Side effects" section but are usually of a more severe nature.
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have been given too much Dalacin C Phosphate injection.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep the telephone numbers for these services handy.
Have the Dalacin C Phosphate Injection box or this leaflet available to give details if needed.
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While you are being given DALACIN C PHOSPHATE Injection
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 Dalacin C Phosphate injection has been stopped.
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 severe skin rash tell your doctor immediately. Do this even if the rash occurs after Dalacin C Phosphate Injection has been stopped.
A severe skin rash may mean you are having an allergic reaction to Dalacin C Phosphate Injection. You may need urgent medical care.
If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while being given Dalacin C Phosphate or soon after Dalacin C Phosphate Injection has been stopped, 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 this medicine allows fungi/yeast to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Dalacin C Phosphate does not work against fungi/yeast.
If you become pregnant while you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate, tell your doctor.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection.
Things you must not do
Dalacin C Phosphate Injection should not be given to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop using your medicine without checking with your doctor.
If you stop using Dalacin C Phosphate too soon, the infection may not clear completely or your symptoms may return.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are given Dalacin C Phosphate injection.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
It can be difficult to tell whether side effects are the result of taking Dalacin C Phosphate, effects of your condition or side effects of other medicines you may be taking. For this reason it is important to tell your doctor of any change in your condition.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Do not be alarmed by the list of side effects.
You may not experience any of them
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
stomach pain, cramps or discomfort
nausea and/or vomiting
diarrhoea
skin rash; irritation of the skin
vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
low blood pressure (feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness)
joint pain and swelling
pain, swelling, redness or formation of an abscess at the site of the injection
loss or distorted sense of taste
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you experience any of the following:
sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing
moderate or severe skin rash or blisters often with flu-like symptoms
enlarged lymph glands and/or fever
diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain and fever
yellowing of the eyes or skin, also called jaundice
pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in vein or pain and swelling in leg
chest pain, shortness of breath and/or fainting
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
After finishing it
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects, particularly if they occur several weeks after stopping treatment with Dalacin C Phosphate injection:
severe stomach cramps;
watery and severe diarrhoea which may also be bloody;
fever, in combination with one or both of the above.
Dalacin C Phosphate injection can cause some bacteria, which are normally present in the bowel and normally harmless to multiply and therefore cause the above symptoms. You may need urgent medical attention. However this side effect is rare.
Do not take any medicine for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
Some of these side effects (for example, abnormal blood test results and certain liver conditions) can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check on your progress.
After using DALACIN C PHOSPHATE Injection
Storage
Dalacin C Phosphate Injection will normally be stored in a hospital. It should be stored at 2°C to 8°C (Refrigerate. Do not freeze).
Disposal
The hospital staff will dispose of any leftover Dalacin C Phosphate Injection.
Product description
What it looks like
Dalacin C Phosphate injection appears as a clear colourless solution and comes in 2 mL or 4 mL glass ampoules.
Ingredients
Dalacin C Phosphate injection contains clindamycin 2 - phosphate as the active ingredient
It also contains:
benzyl alcohol
disodium edetate
sodium hydroxide
hydrochloric acid
water for injections.
