clindamycin topical vs erythromycin topical
Side-by-side comparison of clindamycin topical and erythromycin topical Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Cleocin T, Clindagel
Erygel
Clindamycin topical (Cleocin T) is a medicine you put on your skin to treat acne. It helps to kill the bacteria that cause acne.
Erythromycin topical solution is a medicine that you put on your skin to treat acne. It contains an antibiotic to help clear up acne.
Clindamycin topical is used to treat acne. Acne is a skin condition that causes pimples and blemishes. This medicine helps reduce the number of acne pimples you have.
This medicine treats acne vulgaris, a common skin condition. It helps reduce acne on your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. Use it as directed by your doctor to improve your skin.
Clindamycin is an antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up acne.
Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria that cause acne. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up your skin.
- • Burning
- • Itching
- • Dryness
- • Redness
- • Peeling
- • Peeling skin
- • Dry skin
- • Itching
- • Redness
- • Oily skin
No adverse event reports.
No adverse event reports.
Clindamycin, when taken orally or by injection, can cause severe diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea, and colitis. While rare with the topical form, tell your doctor right away if you develop diarrhea while using this medicine.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine. It is not known if clindamycin topical can harm your unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine.
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How to Read This clindamycin topical vs erythromycin topical Comparison
clindamycin topical is classified in the Topical Antibiotic drug class, while erythromycin topical sits within the Topical Antibiotic class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, clindamycin topical has 0 submissions while erythromycin topical has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between clindamycin topical and erythromycin topical — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.