Clindamycin Phosphate

This medication is used to treat a certain type of vaginal infection (bacterial vaginosis). Clindamycin is an antibiotic that works by stopping the growth of bacteria. See the Precautions section for information about use during pregnancy.

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Read the Patient Information Leaflet for instructions on the proper use of this medication. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. This product is for vaginal use only. Wash your hands before and after each application. Avoid contact of this cream with your eyes. If it gets into your eyes, wash them immediately with plenty of water. Call your doctor if eye irritation persists. Fill the applicator with the cream according to the directions. Insert the applicator high into the vagina and press the plunger to release the medication. Use this product usually once a day at bedtime, or as directed by your doctor. If you have extra applicators, discard each one after use. If you have only one applicator, clean it with warm soapy water and rinse well. Do not boil or use hot water to clean the applicator. To prevent medication from leaking out of the vagina, lie down as soon as possible after use. Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is kept at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug at evenly spaced intervals. Continue to use this medication for the full number of days prescribed even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a relapse of the infection. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Do not share this medication with others. This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only. Do not use it later for another infection unless told to do so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in those cases. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center 1-800-222-1222 (USA) or emergency room immediately. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly. This medication may be harmful if swallowed.

Before using clindamycin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to lincomycin; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: a certain intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: other intestinal diseases (e.g., enteritis, ulcerative colitis). Do not have vaginal intercourse or use tampons or douches while using this medication because these can cause the cream to not work as well. The mineral oil in this product can weaken rubber products such as latex condoms and diaphragms and lead to their failure. Therefore, do not use these products during treatment with this medication and for 72 hours after treatment is over. Consult your doctor about other forms of barrier protection/birth control (e.g., polyurethane condoms) during this time. This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Oral antibiotics have been used to treat vaginal infections during pregnancy, especially high-risk pregnancies (e.g., early childbirth). Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss the risks and benefits. It is not known if the medication in this product passes into breast milk. While there have been no reports of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store the US product at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C). Store the Canadian product at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C). Store the medication away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Protect from freezing. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Mild diarrhea or stomach upset may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Although unlikely, vaginal pain/itching/discharge may occur or worsen. These symptoms may be due to a new vaginal infection (e.g., yeast/fungal infection, trichomonas infection). This medication may infrequently cause a fungal infection in another part of your body (e.g., oral thrush). Contact your doctor if you notice a change in vaginal discharge, white patches in your mouth, or other new symptoms. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: pain when you urinate, lower back pain, menstrual problems, abnormal vaginal bleeding. A very small amount of this medication may be absorbed into your bloodstream and may rarely cause a severe intestinal condition (Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea) due to a resistant bacteria. This condition may occur while receiving therapy or even weeks to months after treatment has stopped. Do not use anti-diarrhea products or narcotic pain medications if you have the following symptoms because these products may make them worse. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop persistent diarrhea, abdominal or stomach pain/cramping, or blood/mucus in your stool. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.