Note: This document contains side effect information about clindamycin topical. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Clindacin P.
Applies to clindamycin topical: vaginal cream, vaginal gel/jelly, vaginal suppository. Other dosage forms:
- topical foam, topical gel/jelly, topical lotion, topical pad, topical solution
Serious side effects of Clindacin P
Along with its needed effects, clindamycin topical (the active ingredient contained in Clindacin P) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking clindamycin topical:
More common
- Itching of the vagina or genital area
- pain during sexual intercourse
- thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with mild odor
Less common
- Diarrhea
- dizziness
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- stomach pain or cramps
Rare
- Burning, itching, rash, redness, swelling or other signs of skin problems not present before use of this medicine
Incidence not known
- Agitation
- black, tarry stools
- chest pain
- chills
- clay-colored stools
- coma
- cough
- dark urine
- decreased urine output
- dizziness
- fever
- headache
- irritability
- loss of appetite
- muscle twitching
- painful or difficult urination
- seizures
- sore throat
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
- swollen glands
- trouble breathing
- unpleasant breath odor
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting of blood
- yellow eyes or skin
Other side effects of Clindacin P
Some side effects of clindamycin topical may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
- Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- hives, itching, skin rash
- joint or muscle pain
- rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
- red irritated eyes
- red skin lesions, often with a purple center
- redness of the skin
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to clindamycin topical: topical foam, topical gel, topical kit, topical lotion, topical solution, topical swab, vaginal cream, vaginal gel, vaginal suppository.
Dermatologic
Lotion:
Very common (10% or more): Dryness (Up to 18%), erythema (Up to 14%), itching (Up to 11%), oiliness/oily skin (Up to 10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Seborrhea, skin problems, peeling, skin irritation, urticaria
Frequency not reported: Gram-negative folliculitis/folliculitis, contact dermatitis
Postmarketing reports: Rash, pruritus, blisters, papular pruritic skin rash, hair loss, skin inflammation, scaling, skin discoloration
Topical Gel:
Very common (10% or more): Dryness (Up to 23%), oiliness/oily skin (Up to 18%), itching (Up to 10%)
Common (1% to 10%): Erythema
Frequency not reported: Acne aggravated, erythema, scaly rash, skin disorder, gram-negative folliculitis, contact dermatitis
Topical Solution:
Very common (10% or more): Skin dryness (Up to 19%), erythema (Up to 16%), peeling (Up to 11%)
Common (1% to 10%): Skin oiliness/oily skin, skin problems, itching, irritation, urticaria
Frequency not reported: Gram-negative folliculitis, contact dermatitis
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Rash, exanthema, urticaria, skin candida, pruritus (non-application site), rash macular, erythema, maculopapular rash[Ref]
Genitourinary
Vulvovaginal candidiasis, fungal infection, dysuria, and proteinuria occurred more frequently in pregnant patients given this drug compared to placebo for 7 days.[Ref]
Lotion:
Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection
Postmarketing reports: Fertility disorders, bladder infection
Topical Solution:
Common (1% to 10%): Vaginitis
Vaginal Cream:
Very common (10% or more): Cervicitis/vaginitis (Up to 14%), vulvovaginal moniliasis/candidiasis (Up to 13.3%)
Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal irritation/disorder/pain, vulvovaginitis trichomonal, Candida infection
Frequency not reported: Urinary tract/vaginal infection, menstrual disorder, metrorrhagia, vaginal discharge, endometriosis, proteinuria, dysuria
Postmarketing reports: Pelvic pain
Vaginal Suppository:
Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal disorder, vaginal pain, vaginal moniliasis
Frequency not reported: Menstrual disorder, dysuria, vaginal discharge, vaginitis/vaginal infection[Ref]
Local
Lotion:
Very common (10% or more): Application site burning/itching (Up to 11%)
Topical Gel:
Frequency not reported: Application site burning/dryness/erythema
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Pruritus (topical application site)[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Lotion:
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting
Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disturbances
Postmarketing reports: Nausea, acute colitis, bloating, constipation, colored tongue, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastrointestinal distress/reflux, heartburn, pseudomembranous colitis, rectal bleeding
Topical Gel:
Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea (including pseudomembranous colitis)
Topical Solution:
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps/pain
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gastrointestinal disturbances
Frequency not reported: Bloody diarrhea (including pseudomembranous colitis)
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, localized/generalized abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, breath odor/halitosis, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastrointestinal disorder
Postmarketing reports: Pseudomembranous colitis, abdominal distension
Vaginal Suppository:
Frequency not reported: Abdominal cramps, localized/general abdominal pain[Ref]
Nervous system
Lotion:
Very common (10% or more): Burning sensation (Up to 11%)
Postmarketing reports: Headache, dizziness, facial numbness, metallic taste, voice loss
Topical Gel:
Very common (10% or more): Burning sensation (up to 10%)
Topical Solution:
Very common (10% or more): Burning sensation (Up to 11%)
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Dizziness, headache, vertigo, taste perversion[Ref]
Other
Lotion:
Common (1% to 10%): Dental procedure
Postmarketing reports: Facial swelling, fungal infection
Topical Gel:
Frequency not reported: Smarting
Topical Solution:
Common (1% to 10%): Dental procedure
Vaginal Cream:
Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal labor, fungal infection
Frequency not reported: Bacterial infection, inflammation, microbiology test abnormal, candida infection/moniliasis (body), inflammatory swelling
Postmarketing reports: Pain
Vaginal Suppository:
Common (1% to 10%): Fungal infection[Ref]
Abnormal labor occurred in 1.1% of pregnant patients (in their second trimester) compared to 0% of patients given placebo for 7 days.
Fungal infections occurred in 1.7% of pregnant patients (in their second trimester) compared to 0% of patients given placebo for 7 days.[Ref]
Respiratory
Lotion:
Common (1% to 10%): Sore throat/tonsillitis/laryngitis
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Upper respiratory tract infection/cough/tracheitis
Postmarketing reports: Epistaxis
Topical Solution:
Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis/congestion
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Epistaxis, upper respiratory tract infection[Ref]
Musculoskeletal
Lotion:
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fracture
Topical Solution:
Common (1% to 10%): Fracture
Vaginal Cream:
Postmarketing reports: Back pain
Vaginal Suppository:
Frequency not reported: Flank pain[Ref]
Immunologic
Lotion:
Common (1% to 10%): Cold/flu
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity[Ref]
Ocular
Lotion:
Frequency not reported: Stinging of the eye, eye pain
Postmarketing reports: Eye irritation
Topical Gel:
Frequency not reported: Eye pain
Topical Solution:
Frequency not reported: Stinging of the eye, eye pain[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Lotion:
Postmarketing reports: Edema, rapid heartbeat, chest tightness
Topical Solution:
Frequency not reported: Sensation of warmth[Ref]
Renal
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Glycosuria
Vaginal Suppository:
Frequency not reported: Pyelonephritis[Ref]
Hypersensitivity
Lotion:
Postmarketing reports: Allergic reaction
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction[Ref]
Metabolic
Lotion:
Postmarketing reports: Weight loss
Vaginal Cream:
Frequency not reported: Hyperthyroidism[Ref]
Hematologic
Lotion:
Postmarketing reports: Leukopenia[Ref]
Hepatic
Topical Gel:
Postmarketing reports: Elevated liver enzymes[Ref]