Clindamycin Topical Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 23, 2024.

Applies to clindamycin topical: vaginal cream, vaginal gel/jelly, vaginal suppository.

Other dosage forms:

• topical foam, topical gel/jelly, topical lotion, topical pad, topical solution

Serious side effects of clindamycin topical

Along with its needed effects, clindamycin topical may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking clindamycin topical:

More common

• change in the color, amount, or odor of vaginal discharge
• itching of the vagina or genital area
• pain during sexual intercourse
• thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with mild odor

Less common

• bladder pain
• bloody or cloudy urine
• diarrhea
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• dizziness
• frequent urge to urinate
• headache
• lower back or side pain
• nausea or vomiting
• stomach pain or cramps

Rare

• burning, itching, rash, redness, swelling or other signs of skin problems not present before use of this medicine
• cramps or pain
• fast heartbeat
• itching, stinging, or redness of the vaginal area
• pelvic pain
• skin itching, rash, or redness
• swelling of the face, throat, or tongue
• trouble breathing
• unusually heavy or unexpected menstrual bleeding
• uterine bleeding between menstrual periods
• vaginal bleeding or spotting
• vaginal burning or pain

Incidence not known

• agitation
• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• blood in the urine or stools
• chest pain
• chills
• clay-colored stools
• coma
• cough
• dark urine
• decreased urine output
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• fever
• headache
• irritability
• joint or muscle pain
• loss of appetite
• muscle twitching
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• red irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• seizures
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
• swollen glands
• thirst
• trouble breathing
• unpleasant breath odor
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting of blood
• white or brownish vaginal discharge
• yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects of clindamycin topical

Some side effects of clindamycin topical may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• back pain

Less common

• constipation

Incidence not known

• rash with flat lesions or small raised lesions on the skin
• redness of the skin

For healthcare professionals

Applies to clindamycin topical: topical foam, topical gel, topical kit, topical lotion, topical solution, topical swab, vaginal cream, vaginal gel, vaginal suppository.

Dermatologic

Lotion:

• Very common (10% or more): Dryness (Up to 18%), erythema (Up to 14%), itching (Up to 11%), oiliness/oily skin (Up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Seborrhea, skin problems, peeling, skin irritation, urticaria
• Frequency not reported: Gram-negative folliculitis/folliculitis, contact dermatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Rash, pruritus, blisters, papular pruritic skin rash, hair loss, skin inflammation, scaling, skin discoloration

Topical Gel:

• Very common (10% or more): Dryness (Up to 23%), oiliness/oily skin (Up to 18%), itching (Up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Erythema
• Frequency not reported: Acne aggravated, erythema, scaly rash, skin disorder, gram-negative folliculitis, contact dermatitis

Topical Solution:

• Very common (10% or more): Skin dryness (Up to 19%), erythema (Up to 16%), peeling (Up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Skin oiliness/oily skin, skin problems, itching, irritation, urticaria
• Frequency not reported: Gram-negative folliculitis, contact dermatitis

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Rash, exanthema, urticaria, skin candida, pruritus (non-application site), rash macular, erythema, maculopapular rash^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Lotion:

• Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection
• Postmarketing reports: Fertility disorders, bladder infection

Topical Solution:

• Common (1% to 10%): Vaginitis

Vaginal Cream:

• Very common (10% or more): Cervicitis/vaginitis (Up to 14%), vulvovaginal moniliasis/candidiasis (Up to 13.3%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal irritation/disorder/pain, vulvovaginitis trichomonal, Candida infection
• Frequency not reported: Urinary tract/vaginal infection, menstrual disorder, metrorrhagia, vaginal discharge, endometriosis, proteinuria, dysuria
• Postmarketing reports: Pelvic pain

Vaginal Suppository:

• Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal disorder, vaginal pain, vaginal moniliasis
• Frequency not reported: Menstrual disorder, dysuria, vaginal discharge, vaginitis/vaginal infection^[Ref]

Vulvovaginal candidiasis, fungal infection, dysuria, and proteinuria occurred more frequently in pregnant patients given this drug compared to placebo for 7 days.^[Ref]

Local

Lotion:

• Very common (10% or more): Application site burning/itching (Up to 11%)

Topical Gel:

• Frequency not reported: Application site burning/dryness/erythema

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Pruritus (topical application site)^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Lotion:

• Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vomiting
• Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disturbances
• Postmarketing reports: Nausea, acute colitis, bloating, constipation, colored tongue, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastrointestinal distress/reflux, heartburn, pseudomembranous colitis, rectal bleeding

Topical Gel:

• Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea (including pseudomembranous colitis)

Topical Solution:

• Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps/pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Frequency not reported: Bloody diarrhea (including pseudomembranous colitis)

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, localized/generalized abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, breath odor/halitosis, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastrointestinal disorder
• Postmarketing reports: Pseudomembranous colitis, abdominal distension

Vaginal Suppository:

• Frequency not reported: Abdominal cramps, localized/general abdominal pain^[Ref]

Nervous system

Lotion:

• Very common (10% or more): Burning sensation (Up to 11%)
• Postmarketing reports: Headache, dizziness, facial numbness, metallic taste, voice loss

Topical Gel:

• Very common (10% or more): Burning sensation (up to 10%)

Topical Solution:

• Very common (10% or more): Burning sensation (Up to 11%)

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Dizziness, headache, vertigo, taste perversion^[Ref]

Other

Lotion:

• Common (1% to 10%): Dental procedure
• Postmarketing reports: Facial swelling, fungal infection

Topical Gel:

• Frequency not reported: Smarting

Topical Solution:

• Common (1% to 10%): Dental procedure

Vaginal Cream:

• Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal labor, fungal infection
• Frequency not reported: Bacterial infection, inflammation, microbiology test abnormal, candida infection/moniliasis (body), inflammatory swelling
• Postmarketing reports: Pain

Vaginal Suppository:

• Common (1% to 10%): Fungal infection^[Ref]

Abnormal labor occurred in 1.1% of pregnant patients (in their second trimester) compared to 0% of patients given placebo for 7 days.

Fungal infections occurred in 1.7% of pregnant patients (in their second trimester) compared to 0% of patients given placebo for 7 days.^[Ref]

Respiratory

Lotion:

• Common (1% to 10%): Sore throat/tonsillitis/laryngitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Upper respiratory tract infection/cough/tracheitis
• Postmarketing reports: Epistaxis

Topical Solution:

• Common (1% to 10%): Sinusitis/congestion

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Epistaxis, upper respiratory tract infection^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Lotion:

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fracture

Topical Solution:

• Common (1% to 10%): Fracture

Vaginal Cream:

• Postmarketing reports: Back pain

Vaginal Suppository:

• Frequency not reported: Flank pain^[Ref]

Immunologic

Lotion:

• Common (1% to 10%): Cold/flu

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Hypersensitivity^[Ref]

Ocular

Lotion:

• Frequency not reported: Stinging of the eye, eye pain
• Postmarketing reports: Eye irritation

Topical Gel:

• Frequency not reported: Eye pain

Topical Solution:

• Frequency not reported: Stinging of the eye, eye pain^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Lotion:

• Postmarketing reports: Edema, rapid heartbeat, chest tightness

Topical Solution:

• Frequency not reported: Sensation of warmth^[Ref]

Renal

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Glycosuria

Vaginal Suppository:

• Frequency not reported: Pyelonephritis^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Lotion:

• Postmarketing reports: Allergic reaction

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction^[Ref]

Metabolic

Lotion:

• Postmarketing reports: Weight loss

Vaginal Cream:

• Frequency not reported: Hyperthyroidism^[Ref]

Hematologic

Lotion:

• Postmarketing reports: Leukopenia^[Ref]

Hepatic

Topical Gel:

• Postmarketing reports: Elevated liver enzymes^[Ref]

Further information

Clindamycin topical side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer