Does clindamycin HCL usually make a patient very tired?

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.

I, too have been prescribed this medication and am extremely exhausted, more so than with having the infection alone. I'm thinking a new study needs to be done after reading all these comments. I'm sleeping all the time.

Like most others here, I came across this thread searching if clindamycin would make you tired. In hospital I caught a septic infection, had 2 weeks of IV drip & now into what must be week5 of taking clindamycin. I take 3 x 150mg tablets 4 times s day, wake up knackered, can’t stay up later than 10pm due to tiredness, wake up in morning with horrible taste in mouth & I am going to the toilet quite a bit, including during the night. I have one more week to go. Sometimes I have to have a nap during the day & I will sleep for 30 minutes. Occasionally 15 minutes after having a 30 minute nap, I need to go back to bed & I sleep for 1 hr 30 mins.

I have been on it nearly a week and sleeping 9-11 hours a day, googled to find if it causes drowsiness and found the negative claims then this thread.

And no, it's not "the infection" because I don't have one. I was prescribed clindamycin to prevent post-op infection after a dental implant because I have a possible (unverified but had a rash that might have been a reaction as a child) allergy to penicillin so I couldn't take amoxicillin.

It is tolerable and I'm almost finished, just over a day to go on the script, but now I know I'm not the only one.

Absolutely this drug causes sleepiness. Been taking it now for 3 days been sleeping for the last 16 hours. I’m surprised people haven’t been in car accidents taking this then jumping behind the wheel to get to work. This should be a strong warning to all who take this not to drive or operate heavy equipment while on this drug. If it effects every one like it has me, one better take their vacation time before starting the ten day regimen or you may not have a job when you wake up.

I am so happy to see this thread, I am on my second dose of Clindamycin and it has made me extremely drowsy. The maker of this drug really needs to add “can cause drowsiness “ as a side effect. To tell the truth I am Shocked that is not listed as a side effect. Thank you all for your post, I feel better knowing that others have experience drowsiness while taking this.

I found this thread because I am on day 7 of taking Clindamycin, 300MG 3x daily, and I am totally wiped out. I have been fighting a resistant bacterial infection since September, and this is more sleep than I have needed at any time during treatment. I do not feel sick anymore, and I cannot imagine that I have any infection at this point, serious enough to cause this kind of fatigue. I agree that it should definitely be researched as a side effect after finding so many of us who have the problem.

On Clindamycin for BV. This is the second time I have been on it the past two months. I have had increased bowel movements, headaches (Which I never ever get), horrible reflux, stomach pain and cramping, and last but not least EXTREME TIREDNESS. I am not kidding I sleep 12 hours at night easy. Plus sometimes naps. I am currently in my clinical rotation of my full time internship and I can barely get any charting done during the day. My preceptors have to think I am am idiot. I am also a full time grad student online and I haven't done any homework after my day at the hospital like normal. This is not okay. I don't even feel normal driving. Only one more week on it and then I'll be back to only sleeping 8 hr/d and doing hours of homework and cooking/laundry after an 8 hr day of internship again. Cant wait.

I got several stitches yesterday, due to an accident with my horse, and the ER prescribed me Clindamycin. I started taking it yesterday evening and have had 3 doses (each dose requires 2 pills) so far (every 6 hours). I have done nothing but sleep and it has made it nearly impossible to keep my eyes open. As for today, we went to my parents for lunch and as soon as I took Clindamycin at lunch, I fell asleep within 30 min. I have never been one to nap or need a lot of sleep but this antibiotic has made me extremely lethargic and tired. Fatigue, Drowsiness, Tired and Sleepy are all side effects for sure. I agree with everyone else, they need to revise the side effects and update it to showing those being listed as side effects as well. I guess they want all of us to sleep off our pain until it heals ;-).

I’m seriously glad I came across this question/thread. Sadly, I’ve been on Clindamycin before a few times due to a infected dental abscess. I am currently on it once again (300mg 3x as of yesterday) for another dental abscess (awaiting oral surgery next week), and I never remember feeling as drowsy and tired as I feel this time around on Clindamycin. I understand when you’re body is trying to fight off an infection it can really run you down and cause fatigue, but in the past when I’ve had similar infections and prescribed the same mg 3x I never felt this drained and tired. I’m also very surprised it’s not listed as a precaution on the prescription bottle or anywhere online, even my darn ibuprofen 600mg say “may cause drowsiness”! Im just glad I’m not the only one experiencing fatigue and having difficulty keeping my eyes open, that gives me some relief.

Btw; I hope everyone else who’s currently on Clindamycin has a speedy recovery from their infections!

I have also been on Clindamycin for dental reasons, and it has also made me extremely tired. So many naps because it's been so hard to stay awake! I'm glad I found this thread!

I have been on clindamycin for 2 days treating a tooth infection. I am exhausted and can't stay awake. I'm not a napper, so I have no doubt it's from the med. Dull lingering headache as well. No mention of drowsiness anywhere as a side effect!

I have been on this for ten days. I have never in my life taken an antibiotic that has made me feel so crappy. Tired, heartburn, the metal taste... everything. Sleepy is definitely a side effect that should be listed. I actually am being treated for cdiff another effect of this medication... so be careful! I wish I knew how bad it was, I’d have asked for a different antibiotic... also for my tooth.

I have a serious joint infection & cellulitis in my foot.penicillin did not work so they gave me Clindamycin 600 ml,yes 600 ml four times a day and I feel like the walking dead. There was no mention of tiredness by the Doctor but I think it’s clear that tiredness is a side affect. Regards Alan

My response is the same as others: I also researched the side effects of Clindamycin and was frustratingly surprised that drowsiness or fatigue is not listed. I understand the infection in & of itself will cause strong fatigue - the bodys way of fighting the infection... Sleep promoting healing. That said, I've been on this antibiotic for several days; the infection is nearly gone and still, once I take it, not too long after I feel exhausted, very difficult keeping my eyes open. I feel pretty certain it IS a side effect.