Clindamycin HCL

The oral forms of clindamycin are available as clindamycin hydrochloride (or clindamycin HCl). This prescription antibiotic is used for treating serious infections and works by stopping the bacteria from growing and multiplying. Several clindamycin HCl products are available, including various strengths of capsules (ranging from 75 mg to 300 mg) along with granules that are used to make an oral solution.

What Is Clindamycin HCL?

Clindamycin hydrochloride (Cleocin®) is often abbreviated as clindamycin HCl. It is a prescription antibiotic used to treat serious infections (see What Is Clindamycin Used For? for more information).
 
Clindamycin HCl belongs to a group of antibiotics known as lincosamides and works by inhibiting bacterial ribosomes (ribosomes are parts of cells that make proteins). By inhibiting the ribosomes, the medication interferes with the ability of bacteria to make proteins, which is necessary for the bacteria to grow and multiply. Clindamycin HCl specifically inhibits the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome. Because human cells do not have a 50S subunit, they are spared from the effects of the drug.
 

Clindamycin HCL Products

A few different clindamycin HCl products are currently available, including:
 
Interestingly, it is often less expensive to use twice as many 150-mg capsules rather than the 300-mg capsules. For instance, if you take 300 mg per dose, it may be significantly less expensive to take two of the 150-mg capsules, instead of one 300-mg capsule.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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