Clindamycin (Cleocin) Uses

Oral clindamycin is used for skin infections, soft tissue infections, and serious infections of the lungs, stomach, blood, genital tract, and other internal organs caused by anaerobic bacteria. The injection form of this antibiotic is used for treating patients with bone and joint infections. 

Note that clindamycin is an antibiotic and is used to treat a known or strongly suspected bacterial infection. Antibiotics are not effective against fungal or viral infections.

There may be other uses of clindamycin, such as to treat bacterial infections like anthrax, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, ear infections, and bacterial vaginosis as well as parasitic infections like toxoplasmosis and malaria. It may also be used to prevent endocarditis (infection of the heart valves) before dental procedures in high-risk individuals. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information about the uses of clindamycin.

Clindamycin (Cleocin) Mechanism of Action

Clindamycin works by slowing or stopping the growth of bacteria.

Clindamycin (Cleocin) Doses

This medicine is available as clindamycin hydrochloride for oral administration and clindamycin phosphate for systemic administration (intramuscular and intravenous injections). It is also available as topical products (foams, gels, and lotions) to treat acne.

For oral administration, clindamycin hydrochloride is available as 75 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg capsules. 

The usual dose of clindamycin in adults is 150 mg to 300 mg by mouth every 6 hours. For more severe infections, doctors may prescribe a higher dose of 300 mg to 450 mg every 6 hours. 

The dose of clindamycin in children is based on the child’s weight and is usually 8-16 mg/kg. Doses of 16-20 mg/kg may be used for more severe infections. Clindamycin is available as an oral solution for children who cannot swallow capsules.