Understanding Clindamycin
Are you ready? Clindamycin stepped into the ring in 1966. It's a powerful and so, so versatile antibiotic. Men, you've got your pick of pills, liquid meds, or even an injection. Taking it orally? Expect an adult dose to be 150 to 300 milligrams every 6 hours! Dealing with a serious infection? Men, you'll need 300 to 450 milligrams for each dose! An injection of this antibiotic comes in daily doses of 600 to 1,200 milligrams. You could have 2 to 4 doses of this!
Men, you've got power on your side with clindamycin. It tackles many, many serious infections. This includes blood, lung, and skin infections! Can't take penicillin medicine because of an allergy? This is one of the antibiotics without penicillin! Got severe acne? Not when you start using clindamycin for acne! Of course, there's one huge, huge job here. Men, talk to a doctor to see if this med is right for you!
How It Works
Guess what? Clindamycin dissolves in water and is part synthetic. It's made from lincomycin. But it's much, much more effective than this natural antibiotic! This med's a very, very powerful fighter! It slows down how fast bacteria grow! And high doses? Well, everyone knows they can prevent this growth! So how does it work? It inhibits bacterial protein synthesis! But wait, there's more! It also blocks ribosome translocation. This med is going to bind to some parts of large bacterial ribosomal subunits. However, this can be reversed! It can also overlap with binding sites of other meds. Examples? Macrolide antibiotics and some antibacterial drugs!
Ways To Use It
Many, many men receive clindamycin to treat skin infections. It helps soft tissue infections too! Disgusting cellulitis? Not a problem! Impetigo? Consider it gone! Men, you dealing with an infected animal bite? You want to have this antibiotic in your arsenal! Did you have a heart transplant or surgery to correct a defect? Everyone knows you need this antibiotic before other operations. Why, men? Because it'll save you from potential infection!
Not seeing success with treating your pneumonia? Clindamycin is your superhero! It's great for malaria too. Suffering from severe acne? You've got to try topical clindamycin. It'll tackle this ball in no time! Clindamycin can help gum disease too. Win!
Side Effects
Men, you're on your guard, right? Of course you are! Clindamycin does have side effects, everyone knows it! You might deal with nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea is very common too! But hold your horses, there's more. Pain in the abdomen, jaundice, skin rash, and even a metallic mouth taste can appear! Heartburn and joint pain? Rare, but possible! You might experience swallowing pain too. If white patches form in your mouth? Call up your doctor now! It's an emergency if you see hives, have trouble breathing, or your skin blisters. Not peeing as much when taking this is a huge, huge problem too! The good news? This is very, very rare! An inflamed colon is so rare with this med also.
Precautions To Take
Men, you've got to check yourself! Slow this horse down. Talk to your doctor before they prescribe you clindamycin! They've got to know if you've had asthma, colitis, eczema, or even liver disease. Allergic to Aspirin? What about yellow food dye? They need to know that too! You could need to take another antibiotic if any of those apply to you. You obviously know, but your doctor needs to as well! Everyone knows that!
Taking this as a pill? Drink a glass of water with it. Many, many men choose the liquid form. Obviously you won't forget the dosing spoon! Need it as an injection? The nurse'll help you out the first time. After that, the ball's in your court! You'll have all the knowledge you need from the nurse. Speaking of, you've got to keep this med at room temperature. Never, ever, keep it in the fridge! It's very sensitive to moisture and heat. This is so, so important for the injection in particular!
Scheduled for surgery? Tell your surgeon about this antibiotic! It can interfere with anesthesia. They need to know! Many, many men will need follow-up visits too. And men? Take everything you're prescribed! Don't let the infection take over again. Don't let an antibiotic-resistant one invade either!
Interactions With Other Meds
Yes, clindamycin can interact with other meds! It actually interacts with at least 66! Men, you've got to talk to your doctor about the pills and supplements you're already taking. Pharmacists at refills need to know too! You might need to adjust your dose. Rifampin is a prime example of this! Nasty, nasty side effects could occur too. But you're not going to let this happen to you, right, men? Obviously!
Don't take this med with erythromycin. Some antidepressants and antivirals can't be used with it either. Pay attention, men! Taking BCG for bladder cancer? This antibiotic can reduce how effective it is. And don't forget about its effect on anesthesia!