Key takeaways

  • Clindamycin is an antibiotic used to treat certain infections, such as skin infections.
  • More common side effects of clindamycin include itching, mild diarrhea, abdominal (stomach) pain, and nausea and vomiting.
  • Most side effects are mild and temporary, but clindamycin can cause serious side effects. These may include severe skin reactions and liver problems.

If you have an infection, you may be interested in learning more about clindamycin. It’s a generic prescription drug used to treat certain infections in adults and children, including:

  • genital or pelvic infections
  • skin infections
  • respiratory infections

Clindamycin comes as a capsule that you swallow. It also comes as a liquid solution that you swallow and in vaginal, topical, and injectable forms. But this article focuses on the capsule form.

Clindamycin is typically used as a short-term treatment. This article describes clindamycin’s side effects. For more information about clindamycin, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

Clindamycin has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Boxed warning for clindamycin” section.

Clindamycin can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, worsen, or become too difficult to tolerate.

Examples of clindamycin’s commonly reported side effects include:

Read on to learn about other possible mild and serious side effects of clindamycin.

Some people may have mild side effects while taking clindamycin. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with this drug include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily manageable. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking clindamycin unless your doctor recommends it.

Clindamycin may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Serious side effects are not common with clindamycin, but they can occur. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to clindamycin’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking clindamycin, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported with clindamycin include:

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking clindamycin and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, clindamycin can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s unclear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue clindamycin treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to clindamycin, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about clindamycin’s side effects.

How do side effects of clindamycin capsules compare with those of its topical forms, such as the lotion, gel, or vaginal cream?

The capsule and topical forms of clindamycin may have different side effects.

To view a list of possible side effects of clindamycin capsules, see the “What are the mild side effects of clindamycin?” and “What are the serious side effects of clindamycin?” sections above.

You can apply topical forms of clindamycin to an affected skin area. The rest of your body doesn’t typically absorb these forms of the drug. As a result, topical forms of clindamycin mainly cause side effects that affect your skin.

Examples of possible side effects from topical forms of clindamycin include skin dryness, peeling, and burning. And clindamycin vaginal cream may cause swelling or pain in the vagina.

If you have questions about side effects of clindamycin based on the form of the drug you’re using, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does the 300-mg strength of clindamycin cause different side effects compared with other strengths?

No, it’s not likely. The side effects of clindamycin are expected to be the same regardless of the strength you take.

Clindamycin capsules are available in three strengths:

  • 75 milligrams (mg)
  • 150 mg
  • 300 mg

You could have a greater risk of side effects if you take a higher dosage of the drug. But this hasn’t been shown in studies of clindamycin.

For lists of possible side effects, see the “What are the mild side effects of clindamycin?” and “What are the serious side effects of clindamycin?” sections earlier in the article.

Can clindamycin be used in cats or dogs? If so, will they experience different side effects?

Yes, a veterinarian may recommend clindamycin for use in cats or dogs.

It’s important to note that you should not give your pet medication that your doctor has prescribed for you.

To learn about possible side effects of the drug when used in cats or dogs, talk with your pet’s veterinarian.

Will I experience side effects after stopping clindamycin?

It’s not likely. Stopping clindamycin treatment is not known to cause any specific side effects.

But it’s still important to take clindamycin exactly as your doctor recommended. This includes taking all of the clindamycin your doctor prescribed. You should do so even if the symptoms of your infection have stopped before you finish your treatment with clindamycin.

This is because stopping clindamycin treatment early could cause your infection to come back. And it’s possible the infection may be harder to treat than before.

If you have questions about stopping clindamycin treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does clindamycin cause long-term side effects?

Yes, clindamycin may cause long-term side effects. But how long these side effects last can vary from person to person.

Most side effects of clindamycin are expected to be mild and should ease within hours to days of taking your first dose. But in rare cases, side effects may last longer.

For example, kidney and liver problems from clindamycin could last for weeks or months after you stop taking the drug.

In addition, clindamycin has a boxed warning for the risk of diarrhea caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). (To learn more about this side effect, see the “Boxed warning for clindamycin” section.) This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Your risk of this side effect can continue for up to 2 months after you’ve stopped taking this drug.

For more details about what to expect with clindamycin treatment, talk with your doctor.

Clindamycin has a boxed warning for the risk of diarrhea due to a bacterium called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of diarrhea caused by C. diff

It’s not clear how often this side effect occurred in studies of the drug.

C. diff is a bacterium that may live in your intestine. Taking antibiotics such as clindamycin can cause an overgrowth of this bacterium. This could lead to a C. diff infection.

The main symptom of a C. diff infection is diarrhea, which can be mild to severe. Other symptoms include abdominal (stomach) pain, loss of appetite, and bloody stool. In rare cases, a C. diff infection can be fatal. If you have concerns about your risk of this side effect with clindamycin, talk with your doctor before starting treatment.

Keep in mind that your risk of diarrhea caused by C. diff can continue for up to 2 months after you’ve stopped taking clindamycin.

Because of the risk of diarrhea caused by C. diff, doctors usually do not prescribe clindamycin for mild infections that have other treatment options.

What might help

If you have diarrhea with clindamycin, tell your doctor right away. They may test your stool for C. diff to find out if this is the cause of your diarrhea.

If you have a C. diff infection, your doctor will likely have you stop taking clindamycin. And they’ll prescribe treatment for your C. diff infection.

There may be things you can do to help make certain clindamycin side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Abdominal (stomach) pain

Abdominal (stomach) pain is a possible side effect of clindamycin. But it’s not clear how often this side effect occurred in studies of the drug.

Keep in mind that belly pain can be a symptom of a C. diff infection. And clindamycin has a boxed warning for the risk of diarrhea due to this bacterium. For details, see “Risk of diarrhea caused by C. diff” directly above.

What might help

If you have stomach pain while taking clindamycin, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the cause of your pain and recommend ways to ease it.

Joint pain and swelling

Clindamycin may cause joint pain and swelling. But it is unknown how often this side effect was reported in studies of the drug.

What might help

If you have bothersome joint pain and swelling with clindamycin, talk with your doctor. It’s especially important to tell them if your symptoms are long lasting. They can help determine whether clindamycin may be the cause.

Your doctor can also suggest ways to relieve your joint pain and swelling. For example, they may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Aleve, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Consider the following important information before starting clindamycin.

Clindamycin has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see the “Boxed warnings for clindamycin” section.

Other warnings

Before taking clindamycin, discuss your health history with your doctor. Clindamycin may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.