Lincosamide antibiotic
Clindamycin
Brand names: Dalacin C, Dalacin T
Adult dose
Dose: PO 150–450mg QDS. IV/IM 0.6–2.7g/day in 2–4 divided doses (max 4.8g/day)
Route: PO/IV/IM/Topical
Frequency: QDS
Paediatric dose
Dose: 7.5 mg/kg
Route: PO
Frequency: QDS
Max: 450mg/dose
PO 3–6 mg/kg QDS; IV 5–10 mg/kg QDS
Paediatric weight-based calculator
PO 3–6 mg/kg QDS; IV 5–10 mg/kg QDS
Clinical pearls
- Strong anti-staphylococcal/anaerobic cover; toxin suppression in necrotising soft tissue infections (with penicillin)
- Highest C. diff risk class — stop if diarrhoea
Contraindications
- Diarrhoeal states
Side effects
- C. difficile colitis (high risk — black box)
- GI upset
- Rash
- Hepatotoxicity
Interactions
- Neuromuscular blockers (potentiation)
- Erythromycin (antagonism)
- Live typhoid vaccine
Monitoring
- LFTs if prolonged
- FBC
Reference: BNFc; BNF; NICE CKS; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/clindamycin/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- Centor / McIsaac Score for Strep Pharyngitis · Throat
- FeverPAIN Score for Strep Throat · Throat
- Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction Severity Assessment · Treatment Reactions
- PID Severity (CDC Diagnostic Criteria) · Gynaecological Infections
- Gustilo-Anderson Classification (Open Fractures) · Fracture Classification
- DRIP Score for Drug-Resistant Pneumonia · Pneumonia
Drugs
Pathways
- Infective Endocarditis · ESC 2023 Infective Endocarditis Guidelines; NICE NG41
- Eczema Herpeticum · BAD; NICE CKS
- Suspected Bacterial Meningitis (Adult) · NICE NG240 (2024); NICE NG143 (paeds)
- Clostridioides difficile Colitis · NICE NG199 (2021); IDSA/SHEA 2021
- Returning Traveller — Fever · NaTHNaC; PHE; ESCMID 2018
- Malaria — Diagnosis & Management · PHE 2016; WHO 2023