Clindamycin hydrochloride

Clindamycin Hydrochloride is an antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. It is a lincosamide antibiotic, which works by stopping the growth of bacteria.

Pharmacology

Clindamycin hydrochloride is a water-soluble hydrochloride salt of clindamycin, a semi-synthetic antibiotic produced by a 7(S)-chloro-substitution of the 7(R)-hydroxyl group of the parent compound lincomycin. The antibacterial action of clindamycin results from the inhibition of protein synthesis in the bacterial cell.

Medical Uses

Clindamycin hydrochloride is used to treat serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria, as well as infections caused by susceptible strains of streptococci, pneumococci, and staphylococci. It is also used to treat acne, malaria, and can be used in the treatment of MRSA infections.

Side Effects

Common side effects of clindamycin hydrochloride include nausea, vomiting, joint pain, heartburn, pain when swallowing, and white patches in the mouth. More serious side effects include Clostridium difficile infection, which can lead to severe, life-threatening intestinal conditions.

Precautions

Clindamycin hydrochloride should be prescribed with caution in individuals with a history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis. It should also be used with caution in patients with atopic conditions such as asthma or eczema due to the potential for severe allergic reactions.

Interactions

Clindamycin hydrochloride may interact with other medications, including certain birth control pills, the typhoid vaccine, and the antibiotic erythromycin.

See Also

• List of antibiotics
• Lincosamide antibiotics
• Bacterial resistance