Does clindamycin HCL usually make a patient very tired?

Hurray for this thread! Had two failed implants over 6 months... have penicillin allergy so was prescribed "can't remember name"... after taking 4 courses and not having a solid outcome(but NEVER fatigue), I was given this (DALACIN®)... omg, I have never felt so tired in my life. Slept 8 hours last night, slept 2 hours mid morning and just had a 2 hour nap 2-4 pm. I could honestly go right back to bed. This should be included in common side effects ... we should start a petition !!!

I thought something was wrong. I have a bad tooth infection. I took the first dose and I'm under my covers trying hard to stay awake. Sleepiness should be a known side effect. It could be that the infection was so bad that my body is trying desperately to fight it off. Nevertheless you're not alone!

I have not taken an antibiotic in many years but just had a dental procedure and they put me on Clindamycin. Drowsiness does not come close to describe what I’m feeling, instead it’s incredible fatigue. Maybe the reason they say drowsiness is not one of the side effects is because drowsiness implies that you become somewhat tired, not totally useless (as is the case with me).

I don't know why lethargy and sleepiness is not written as a possible side effect. This is my 4th day taking this med, but on day 3, I could hardly function. I see many people on this site who are having the same problem that I am with this med that I'm taking for a tooth issue. I can hardly stay awake at work, don't care to participate in focus groups, and go to bed as soon as I get home from work each day after feeding my dogs. This is NOT like me.

I found this thread looking up this very question. I have noticed Clindamycin makes me feel tired as well. The other effect it seems to have is that seems to cause depression.

In heavy dosages I have experienced severe abdominal pain. I use this antibiotic for severe infections but find Keflex to be just as effective if not better given the type of infection.

Thank you for this thread! I have been on 300 mg of Clindamycin HCL 4x a day for the last 8 days with 2 1/2 days more to go. I've been drowsy and sleeping excessively all week. Today, I can barely keep my eyes open. Fatigue is a normal part of my life but this extreme level of unexplained exhaustion is alarming.
I completely agree that the manufacturer needs to do a new study and reevaluate their list of side effects. You are not going crazy. This fatigue is debilitating.

Same as others. I've been sleepy since starting the medication. Totally shocked that isn't a recorded side effect!

I can’t take augmentin because it makes me feel worse than whatever the sickness was, headaches, nausea, tiredness, so I asked for something else this time. I was given Clindamycin for my tooth abscess today, after the second dose I could barely keep my eyes open, took a nap, woke up tired, had some coffee and hours later am still no better off. I’m not sure if there is a common agent in these medications that I may be allergic to or something, but it needs to be researched for sure!

Cannot keep my eyes open. Incredible fatigue strikes almost immediately after the medicine has been administered. Good news is I think my infection is gone.

I’ve just gone onto Clindamycin for last 2 days after a swap of antibiotics to treat a deep muscle leg infection.
Whilst being relieved that it finally seems to be helping the fight against the infection. I can report serious tiredness. This seems to kick in after the 2nd 300ml dosage of the day. I’m basically out for the count and need to set an alarm as I feel I could sleep all day.
Whilst glad that I’m on the road to recovery I reckon this has more or less guaranteed a 2nd week absent from work as I’m not sure how happy they’d be with my all afternoon snooze!

My daughter had a tick bite and a few days later a severe swollen lymph node in her neck. They prescribed Clindamycin and she is like several of you, cannot hold her eyes open. She was tired before (which scares me) but now she wants to sleep all day and night. She’s only been on it two days. I think they should do another study of side effects.

So happy to find this thread. I had a bad abscess. The dentist sent me to the hospital and I had 4 IV doses of 500 mg each. When I got out I had to take 200 mg 3 times a day for 7 days. I slept a lot of the time I was in the hospital and a lot when I got home. I thought it was the infection as well. I just had my root canal and as soon as I started taking 300 mg 3x a day. Clindamycin, I’m tired again. I agree it should be re-evaluated as a side effect.

Taking this antibiotic can make you drowsy. However, it is not a side effect of the drug. It is a side effect of your now raised white blood cell count fighting the infection for which you are taking it. When your body is fighting any infection, It uses a lot of energy and your body will require additional rest along with additional nutrients and fluids.

The Answer is yes, I have been taking Clindamycin for a week, and all day, I have felt as thought I'm going to just fall asleep at any moment. I am very active, I workout, jog and cycle 6 days a week, and have been doing so for 2 decades, and after only a few days of Clindamycin, I have found it nearly impossible to stay awake. It only seems after doing something strenuous, like working out or cardio that I then start to feel like I'm awake again for a time. My Wife is a nurse and I asked if sleepiness was a side effect and she said no, then when I looked up the side effects, also it concurred with her answer. But then I decided to do a Google search and gladly found this site and others who experienced the same all day drowsy feeling, it helped me resolve what was going on.

I have been on clindamycin many times for an abscessed tooth/ infected tooth and EVERY single time I take it I can barely keep my eyes open. Let me also say I have been diagnosed with insomnia and have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep but that is NEVER an issue while taking clindamycin. I'm currently on it at 300mg and taking it 3 times a day and it knocks me out. I can sleep all night and take this in the morning and within and hour of taking it am ready to go back to sleep, then have to take it again at lunch time and again at dinner which has me sleepy and drowsy ALL day long. Sleepiness and drowsiness should MOST DEFINITELY be a listed side effect of this medicine.