DrugindexOnline^{2nd edition}

Generic Name: Clindamycin Swab (klin-da-MYE-sin)
Brand Name: Examples include Cleocin-T and Clindets

Clindets Swab is used for:

Treating acne. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Clindets Swab is a topical lincomycin antibiotic. It works by killing sensitive bacteria causing acne and reducing the amount of free fatty acids that irritate the skin surface.

Do NOT use Clindets Swab if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Clindets Swab or to lincomycin
• you have antibiotic-associated colitis, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn disease

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Clindets Swab:

Some medical conditions may interact with Clindets Swab. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have gastrointestinal (bowel) disease or diarrhea

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Clindets Swab. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium) or succinylcholine because their actions and the risk of their side effects may be increased by Clindets Swab
• Erythromycin because it may decrease Clindets Swab's effectiveness

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Clindets Swab may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Clindets Swab:

Use Clindets Swab as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Clindets Swab is for topical use on the skin only.
• Wash and completely dry the affected area. Remove the pledget from foil just before use. Do not use if seal is broken. With pledget, gently apply a thin film of medicine. You may use more than 1 pledget if necessary to completely cover the affected area. Wash your hands immediately after using Clindets Swab. Throw the pledget away after using.
• Clindets Swab works best if it is used at the same time each day.
• To clear up your infection completely, use Clindets Swab for the full course of treatment. Keep using it even if you feel better in a few days.
• If you miss a dose of Clindets Swab, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Clindets Swab.

Important safety information:

• Clindets Swab is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes as burning or irritation can occur. If contact occurs with the eyes or sensitive surfaces (eg, scraped skin, mucous membranes), wash the area with cool tap water.
• Clindets Swab may cause harm if it is swallowed. If you may have taken it by mouth, contact your poison control center or emergency room right away.
• Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. This could be a symptom of a serious side effect requiring immediate medical attention.
• Several weeks may pass before you see improvement in your acne. Continue using Clindets Swab for the full time recommended by your doctor.
• Be sure to use Clindets Swab for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Clindets Swab should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Clindets Swab while you are pregnant. It is not known if Clindets Swab is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Clindets Swab.

Possible side effects of Clindets Swab:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dry skin; mild stinging after applying.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood/mucus in your stool; diarrhea; stomach pain; swelling, redness, burning, or peeling of your skin.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Clindets Swab may be harmful if swallowed.

Proper storage of Clindets Swab:

Store Clindets Swab at room temperature, between 68 to 77 degrees F (20 to 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat and light. Keep Clindets Swab out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Clindets Swab, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Clindets Swab is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Clindets Swab. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.