Clindamycin liquid

How clindamycin liquid is given and some of its possible side effects.

Each person reacts differently to medicines so your child will not necessarily experience every side effect mentioned.

If you have any questions or concerns, please speak with your child’s doctor, nurse or pharmacist or call the Medicines Information team whose numbers are provided at the end of this leaflet.

Diarrhoea is a relatively common side effect of some antibiotics. However, clindamycin can sometimes lead to severe diarrhoea which can in some cases be life threatening. Your child should stop taking clindamycin if they have prolonged, severe or bloody diarrhoea, straight away. You should contact your medical team urgently via the switchboard. Out of hours, or if you’re unable to get through, call 111 for advice. 

Please read all of this leaflet to make sure you understand all the risks of this medication and how to take it correctly.  

Clindamycin belongs to a group of medicines known as antibiotics. At Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) it is usually prescribed when other antibiotics won’t work against the bug or aren’t suitable for your child. 

Clindamycin is available as capsules and as a liquid. 

If your child is liquid clindamycin, you should use an oral syringe to draw up the correct dose. The medicine label will explain the exact dose and timing for your child.

More information on ‘How to give your child liquid medicines’.

The liquid has a brand name of Dalacin C®. It is not available in the UK and is imported from abroad.

More information about this can be found on the charity Medicines For Children.

Clindamycin can be taken with or without food. Try giving it with food if your child has an upset stomach after taking clindamycin. 

Clindamycin is usually given four times each day. These should be roughly four hours apart, depending on what time your child wakes up and goes to bed. For example, it could be given at 6am, 10am, 2pm and 6pm. If you need to change the windows between doses because of school, please speak to your child's doctor or pharmacist. 

If your child is sick less than 30 minutes after having a dose of clindamycin, give them the same dose again.

If your child is sick more than 30 minutes after having a dose of clindamycin, you do not need to give them another dose. Wait until the next dose and give as normal. 

If you forget to give your child a dose and it is within a few hours of when the dose was due, give it as soon as you remember. 

If it is nearly time for the next dose, do not give this dose but give the next dose when it is due. Do not give a double dose.

All medications can cause side effects. Your child may not experience all of them, but it is important to be aware of them. 

Serious side effects that you must do something about: 

If you think your child is experiencing any of the below call an ambulance or take them straight to A&E:

• Develops shortness of breath or is wheezing, or their face, lips or tongue start to swell, or they develop a rash. 

If your child is experiencing any of the below contact their medical team straight away via the switchboard. Out of hours, or if you’re unable to get through, call 111 for advice:

• Develops blistering of the skin or other skin reactions. 
• Has a yellowish tinge to the skin – this might be harder to see on black or brown skin tones. Has a yellowish tinge to the whites of the eyes.
• Has a rash and is also generally unwell and has a fever (high temperature), unusual bruises or bleeding, or a sore throat.
• Develops prolonged, severe or bloody diarrhoea. 
• Develops swelling of their legs, ankles or feet, or shortness of breath.

Other side effects you should know about:

• Mild diarrhoea. If you are not sure if your child has mild or severe diarrhoea, contact your medical team for advice via the switchboard. Out of hours, or if you’re unable to get through, call 111 for advice. 
• Nausea and vomiting (feeling and being sick), stomach pains. 
• Change in taste – this is quite common and is usually not serious. Your child might not feel like eating certain foods as a result. 

If you are concerned about any of these side effects, please discuss them with your child’s doctor or pharmacist.

Before your child starts taking clindamycin you should let your child’s doctor know if: 

• They have previously had an allergic reaction to clindamycin or any of the other ingredients.
• They have any severe allergies to other drugs or food. 
• They previously had or currently have bowel problems.
• They have severe kidney or liver problems. 
• They are pregnant, could be pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. 

Some medicines can interact with clindamycin.

Always check with your child’s doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines, including herbal or complementary medicines.

The following medicines are known to interact with clindamycin:

• Some muscle relaxants used for operations or hospital procedures. Speak to your medical team if your child has recently received these types of medicines. 

You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol and ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to. 

• If your child is prescribed a short course of this medicine, we will supply enough to last the whole time. 
• If you have capsules, and you are not given the whole supply, you will need to organise the remaining supply with your GP. 
• If your child has been prescribed the liquid, the whole supply will always come from GOSH. This cannot be supplied by the GP. If you need more, please contact your child’s medical team via the switchboard or using the MyGOSH app.

• The liquid should be kept in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight or heat. It does not need to be kept in the fridge.
• Keep medicines in a safe place where children cannot reach them.

If your child’s doctor decides to stop treatment with clindamycin, return any unused medicine to a pharmacist. Do not flush it down the toilet, keep it or throw it away.