Clindamycin Viatris

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NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.

Clindamycin phosphate

CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection.

It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.

CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection should only be given to you by a health professional.

If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with your medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS is used for

Clindamycin is an antibiotic. It is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria.

Clindamycin works by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria causing your infection.

Clindamycin will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.

CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection is recommended for patients who are allergic to penicillin or patients for whom, in the judgment of the doctor, penicillin is inappropriate.

Your doctor may have prescribed CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection for another reason.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection has been prescribed for you.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS is not addictive.

Before you are given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection

When you must not be given it

You should not be given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection if you have an allergy to:

clindamycin or lincomycin

any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet (see 'Product Description')

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

shortness of breath

wheezing and difficulty breathing

swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body

rash, itching or hives on the skin

You should not be given this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether you should be given this medicine, talk to your doctor.

Before you are given it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

severe diarrhoea associated with the use of antibiotics

severe liver disease

kidney disease

bowel disease

any gastrointestinal (stomach or gut) problems

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, do so before you are given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS may interfere with each other. These include:

the antibiotics, erythromycin and rifampicin

medicines used for muscle relaxation in anaesthesia

These medicines may be affected by clindamycin or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor or pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given this medicine.

How CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS is given

How much is given

Your dose and how it should be given to you will be determined by your doctor. This depends on your condition, the infection being treated and how severe it is.

For children, the doctor will work out the dose based on their age, body weight and how severe the infection is.

It is important that you complete the full course prescribed by your doctor so that all of the bacteria causing your infection will be killed. If the course is not completed, these bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or may return.

How it is given

Usually CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection will be given to you intramuscularly (into a muscle) or intravenously (into the vein by drip) in a hospital by a healthcare professional.

If given intravenously, CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection will be mixed with the appropriate amount of diluent before use. This will be prepared by your pharmacist or health care professional.

In case of overdose (if you are given too much)

As CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection is usually given to you in hospital under the close supervision of your doctor, it is unlikely that you will receive too much.

However, if you experience severe side effects after being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.

Symptoms of an overdose are the same as those listed under the "Side effects" section but are usually of a more severe nature.

Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have been given or has self-injected too much of this medicine.

Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention. Keep the telephone numbers for these services handy. Have the CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection box or this leaflet available to give details if needed.

While you are being given this medicine

Things you must do

If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.

If you get severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after the CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection has been stopped.

Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care.

Do not take any medicines for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.

If you get a severe skin rash tell your doctor immediately. Do this even if the rash occurs after CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection has been stopped.

A severe skin rash may mean you are having an allergic reaction to CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection. You may need urgent medical care.

If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while being given this medicine or soon after CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection has been stopped, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.

This may mean you have a fungal/yeast infection called thrush.

Sometimes the use of clindamycin allows fungi/yeast to grow and the above symptoms to occur.

Clindamycin does not work against fungi/yeast.

If you become pregnant while you are being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection, tell your doctor immediately.

If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection.

Things you must not do

Do not give CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection should not be given to treat any other complaints unless instructed by your doctor.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

It can be difficult to tell whether side effects are the result of being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS, effects of your condition or side effects of other medicines you may be taking. For this reason, it is important to tell your doctor of any changes in your condition.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects.

You may not experience any of them.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

stomach pain, cramps or discomfort

nausea and/or vomiting

diarrhoea

skin rash; irritation of the skin

vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge

low blood pressure (feeling of dizziness or light-headedness)

joint pain and swelling

pain, swelling, redness or formation of an abscess at the site of the injection

loss or distorted sense of taste

Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you experience any of the following:

sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing

moderate or severe skin rash or blisters often with flu-like symptoms

enlarged lymph glands and/or fever

diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain and fever

yellowing of the eyes or skin, also called jaundice

pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in vein or pain

swelling in legs, ankles or feet, decreased urine output, irregular heartbeat, confusion, shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue and nausea

chest pain, shortness of breath and/or fainting

These are very serious side effects.

You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

After finishing it

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects while you are being given CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection or several weeks after treatment has stopped:

severe stomach cramps;

watery and severe diarrhoea which may also be bloody;

fever, in combination with one or both of the above.

CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection can cause some bacteria, which are normally present in the bowel and normally harmless to multiply and therefore cause the above symptoms.

These are rare, but serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Do not take any medicine for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

Some of these side effects (for example, abnormal blood test results and certain kidney and liver conditions) can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check on your progress.

After using this medicine

Storage

CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection will normally be stored in a hospital. It should be stored below 25°C. Do not freeze.

Product description

What this medicine looks like

CLINDAMYCIN VIATRIS injection appears as a clear, colourless to pale yellow solution free from visible particles. It comes in 2 mL or 4 mL glass vials with rubber stopper and aluminium flip off seal.