clindamycin
Brand names: Cleocin
Clindamycin phosphate topical lotion is an antibiotic medicine that you put on your skin. It helps treat acne.
Drug Shortage Alert
clindamycin is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Sandoz Inc.. Status: Available.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$58.78/unit
Generic Price
$0.16/unit
Generic Savings
100%
Generic Available
Yes (59 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats acne.
Common side effects
Burning, Itching, Dryness
Key warnings
Clindamycin, when taken orally or by injection, can cause severe diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and colitis (inflammation of the colon).
How It Works
Clindamycin is an antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up acne.
How to Take It
Apply a thin layer of clindamycin lotion to the affected area of your skin. Do this twice a day. Shake the lotion well before each use. Keep the bottle tightly closed.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if clindamycin topical lotion can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, apply it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C). Protect from freezing.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 16,446 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 27,449 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
27,449
Death-Related Reports
2,286
Hospitalization Reports
10,349
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 2,357 |
| 2 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 2,314 |
| 3 | DIARRHOEA | 1,878 |
| 4 | RASH | 1,622 |
| 5 | NAUSEA | 1,616 |
| 6 | PAIN | 1,505 |
| 7 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,310 |
| 8 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 1,298 |
| 9 | OFF LABEL USE | 1,287 |
| 10 | FATIGUE | 1,261 |
| 11 | DYSPNOEA | 1,179 |
| 12 | PYREXIA | 1,168 |
| 13 | RENAL FAILURE | 1,072 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 981 |
| 15 | HEADACHE | 953 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Clindamycin, when taken orally or by injection, can cause severe diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and colitis (inflammation of the colon). These problems have rarely been reported with topical clindamycin, but tell your doctor right away if you have diarrhea while using this medicine.
Known Drug Interactions
Drug Interactions Clindamycin has been shown to have neuromuscular blocking properties that may enhance the action of other neuromuscular blocking agents.
Mechanism: Clindamycin can increase the effects of drugs used to relax muscles during surgery. This could make the muscle-relaxing effect stronger or last longer than intended.
What to do: Tell your doctor or surgeon if you are using clindamycin before having any medical procedures. They may need to monitor your muscle recovery more closely.
No depressant effect on blood levels in humans was noted when colestipol hydrochloride was administered with any of the following drugs: aspirin, clindamycin, clofibrate, methyldopa, nicotinic acid (niacin), tolbutamide, phenytoin or warfarin.
Mechanism: Colestipol does not seem to lower the levels of clindamycin in your blood or stop it from being absorbed.
What to do: You can take these medicines together as directed by your doctor. No special dose changes are typically required.
Common Questions
What is clindamycin used for?
How often should I apply the lotion?
What should I do if I get diarrhea?
Can I use this medicine if I am pregnant?
How should I store this medicine?
What if I miss a dose?
Can I use other acne treatments with this?
What are the common side effects?
Can this medicine interact with other medicines I am taking?
What should I do if my acne does not improve?
What are the common side effects of clindamycin?
Does clindamycin interact with other medications?
What drug class is clindamycin?
Is there a generic version of clindamycin?
Is clindamycin safe during pregnancy?
Has clindamycin been recalled?
Is clindamycin currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations - products manufactured in a shared facility with Ezetimibe tablets.
RemedyRePack Inc.
Defective Container: Out of specification for weight due to a slow leakage at the 12-month stability timepoint.
Contract Pharmaceuticals Limited Canada
Related Medications in Lincosamide Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near clindamycin — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with clindamycin →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with clindamycin →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with clindamycin →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with clindamycin →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with clindamycin →
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What the FDA Data Shows for clindamycin
The FDA label for clindamycin (sold under brand names such as Cleocin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Lincosamide Antibiotic class. This medicine treats acne. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Burning, Itching, Dryness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 16,446 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.16 versus $58.78 for the brand — a 100% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 2 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 22, 2024
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages