CLINDAMYCIN Capsule Ref.[6725] Active ingredients: Clindamycin

Severe hypersensitivity reactions, including severe skin reactions such as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported in patients receiving clindamycin therapy. If a hypersensitivity or severe skin reaction occurs, clindamycin should be discontinued and appropriate therapy should be initiated (see sections 4.3 and 4.8).

Clindamycin should only be used in the treatment of serious infections. In considering the use of the product, the practitioner should bear in mind the type of infection and the potential hazard of the diarrhoea which may develop, since cases of colitis have been reported during, or even two or three weeks following, the administration of clindamycin.

Studies indicate a toxin(s) produced by clostridia (especially Clostridium difficile) is the principal direct cause of antibiotic-associated colitis. These studies also indicate that this toxigenic clostridium is usually sensitive in vitro to vancomycin. When 125 mg to 500 mg of vancomycin are administered orally four times a day for 7-10 days, there is a rapid observed disappearance of the toxin from faecal samples and a coincident clinical recovery from the diarrhoea. (Where the patient is receiving cholestyramine in addition to vancomycin, consideration should be given to separating the times of administration).

Colitis is a disease which has a clinical spectrum from mild, watery diarrhoea to severe, persistent diarrhoea, leucocytosis, fever, severe abdominal cramps, which may be associated with the passage of blood and mucous. If allowed to progress, it may produce peritonitis, shock and toxic megacolon. This may be fatal.

The appearance of marked diarrhoea should be regarded as an indication that the product should be discontinued immediately. The disease is likely to follow a more severe course in older patients or patients who are debilitated. Diagnosis is usually made by the recognition of the clinical symptoms, but can be substantiated by endoscopic demonstration of pseudomembranous colitis. The presence of the disease may be further confirmed by culture of the stool for Clostridium difficile on selective media and assay of the stool specimen for the toxin(s) of C. difficile.

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including clindamycin, and may range in severity from mild diarrhoea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C difficile.

C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD.

Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhoea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.

Precautions

Caution should be used when prescribing Clindamycin capsules to individuals with a history of gastro-intestinal disease, especially colitis.

Since clindamycin does not diffuse adequately into cerebrospinal fluid, the drug should not be used in the treatment of meningitis.

Laboratory tests for renal and hepatic function should be carried out during prolonged therapy.

Close monitoring is also recommended in patients with renal or hepatic insufficiency and in neonates and infants, all of whom may require dose reduction and/or an extended interval between doses.

Prolonged administration of Clindamycin capsules, as with any anti-infective, may result in super – infection due to organisms resistant to clindamycin.

Care should be observed in the use of Clindamycin capsules in atopic individuals.

Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

The choice of clindamycin should be based on factors such as severity of the infection, the prevalence of resistance to other suitable agents and the risk of selecting clindamycin-resistant bacteria

Clindamycin has been shown to have neuromuscular blocking properties that may enhance the action of other neuromuscular blocking agents. It should be used with caution, therefore, in patients receiving such agents.

Antagonism has been demonstrated between clindamycin and erythromycin in vitro. Because of possible clinical significance the two drugs should not be administered concurrently.

Vitamin K antagonists

Increased coagulation tests (PT/INR) and/or bleeding, have been reported in patients treated with clindamycin in combination with a vitamin K antagonist (e.g. warfarin, acenocoumarol and fluindione). Coagulation tests, therefore, should be frequently monitored in patients treated with vitamin K antagonists.

Pregnancy

Clindamycin crosses the placenta in humans. After multiple doses, amniotic fluid concentrations were approximately 30% of maternal blood concentrations.

In clinical trials with pregnant women, the systemic administration of clindamycin during the second and third trimesters has not been associated with an increased frequency of congenital abnormalities. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Clindamycin should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Oral and subcutaneous reproductive toxicity studies in rats and rabbits revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the foetus due to clindamycin, except at doses that caused maternal toxicity. Animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response.

Breast-feeding

Clindamycin is excreted in breast milk. Orally and parenterally administered clindamycin has been reported to appear in human breast milk in ranges from 0.7 to 3.8 μg/ml. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants clindamycin should not be taken by nursing mothers.

Fertility

In animal studies, clindamycin had no effect on fertility or mating ability (see Section 5.3).

Clindamycin has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

The table below lists the adverse reactions identified through clinical trial experience and post-marketing surveillance by system organ class and frequency. The frequency grouping is defined using the following convention: Very common (≥1/10); Common (≥1/100 to <1/10); Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); Very Rare (<1/10,000); and Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.

Infections and Infestations

Common: Pseudomembranous colitis*#

Not Known: Clostridium difficile colitis*#, vaginal infection*

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

Not Known: Agranulocytosis*, neutropenia*, thrombocytopenia*, leukopenia*, eosinophilia

Immune System Disorders

Not Known: Anaphylactic shock*, anaphylactoid reaction*, anaphylactic reaction*, hypersensitivity*

Nervous System Disorders

Not Known: Dysgeusia

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Common: Diarrhoea, abdominal pain

Uncommon: Vomiting, nausea

Not Known: Oesophageal ulcer*, oesophagitis*

Hepatobiliary Disorders

Not Known: Jaundice*

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

Uncommon: Rash maculopapular, urticaria

Not Known: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP, angioedema*, dermatitis exfoliative*, dermatitis bullous*, erythema multiforme*, pruritus, rash morbilliform*

Investigations

Common: Liver function test abnormal

* ADR identified post-marketing.
^# See section 4.4.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Not applicable.