Clindamycin phosphate 1% gel is used to treat acne¹ and rosacea.²

Clindamycin phosphate belongs to a class of medications called topical antibiotics. When applied to the skin as prescribed, the gel works by decreasing swelling and inflammation, and by slowing or stopping the growth of bacteria that cause acne.³

Clindamycin phosphate 1% gel is usually applied once per day, at around the same time each day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use topical clindamycin exactly as directed. Do not apply more or less of it or apply it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Topical clindamycin is only for use on the skin. Do not swallow the medication, and do not get the medication in your eyes, nose, mouth or vagina. If you do get the medication in your eyes, nose or mouth, or on broken skin, rinse it out with plenty of cool water.

Your medication will probably come with directions for use. Read these directions and follow them carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about how to apply topical clindamycin.⁴

Before applying this medicine, thoroughly wash the affected areas with warm water and soap, rinse well and pat dry.

When applying the medicine, use enough to cover the affected area lightly. You should apply the medicine to the whole area usually affected by acne, not just to the pimples themselves. This will help keep new pimples from breaking out.

You should avoid washing the acne-affected areas too often. This may dry your skin and make your acne worse. Washing with a mild, bland soap 2 or 3 times a day should be enough, unless you have oily skin. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

When using clindamycin phosphate 1% gel:

• After washing or shaving, it is best to wait 30 minutes before applying this medicine. The alcohol in it may irritate freshly washed or shaved skin.

• This medicine contains alcohol and is flammable. Do not use near heat, near open flame or while smoking.

To apply this medicine:

• This medicine comes in a bottle with an applicator tip, which may be used to apply the medicine directly to the skin. Use the applicator with a dabbing motion instead of a rolling motion (not like a roll-on deodorant, for example). Tilt the bottle and press the tip firmly against your skin. If needed, you can make the medicine flow faster from the applicator tip by slightly increasing the pressure against the skin. If the medicine flows too fast, use less pressure. If the applicator tip becomes dry, turn the bottle upside down and press the tip several times to moisten it.

• Since this medicine contains alcohol, it will sting or burn. In addition, it has an unpleasant taste if it gets on the mouth or lips. Therefore, do not get this medicine in the eyes, nose or mouth, or on other mucous membranes. Spread the medicine away from these areas when applying. If this medicine does get in the eyes, wash them out immediately, but carefully, with large amounts of cool tap water. If your eyes still burn or are painful, check with your doctor.

• It is important that you do not use this medicine more often than your doctor ordered. It may cause your skin to become too dry or irritated.⁵

Acne treatment results may be seen by 6 weeks, although it may take 8 to 12 weeks for full improvement.⁶ Studies for treatment of rosacea with clindamycin phosphate 1% gel are more limited.

Clindamycin phosphate 1% gel may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Dry or peeling skin

• Itching or burning skin

• Redness of skin

• Oily skin

• New pimples or blemishes

• Headache

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• Diarrhea

• Watery or bloody stools

• Stomach cramps

Clindamycin phosphate 1% gel may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.⁷

Before using clindamycin phosphate 1% gel, tell your doctor:

• If you are allergic to clindamycin, lincomycin (Lincocin) or any other medications.

• What prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while using clindamycin phosphate 1% gel. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

• If you have or have ever had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; condition in which all or part of the lining of the intestine is swollen, irritated or has sores) or severe diarrhea caused by an antibiotic. Your doctor may tell you not to use clindamycin phosphate 1% gel.

• If you have or have ever had asthma, eczema (sensitive skin that often becomes itchy or irritated) or allergies.

• If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using clindamycin phosphate 1% gel, call your doctor.

• If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using clindamycin phosphate 1% gel.

• About any skin care products you plan to use during your treatment with clindamycin phosphate 1% gel. Abrasive or medicated soaps and skin products that contain alcohol may make side effects worse.⁸

If you realize you missed a dose, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and get back to your regular dosing schedule.⁹

To help keep your acne or rosacea under control, keep using the gel for entire prescribed treatment, even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days. You may need to continue using this medicine every day for months or longer in some cases. If you stop using this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.¹⁰

No, it is only available with a doctor’s prescription.¹¹

Clindamycin phosphate 1% gel is available from RedBox Rx at:

• $40 per month (30-day supply)

• $60 every three months (90-day supply at $20 per month)

Start a low-cost online doctor consult for acne or rosacea with RedBox Rx to determine if it is right for you.

Clindamycin phosphate 1% gel requires a prescription. Start an online doctor consult for acne or rosacea with RedBox Rx to determine if it is right for you.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not freeze. Do not expose clindamycin foam to temperatures higher than 120 °F (49 °C), and do not puncture or incinerate the container.

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location, one up and away from their sight and reach. Learn more at https://www.upandaway.org.¹²

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.¹³

Keep all appointments with your doctor and do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

With any treatment, keep a written list of all the prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.¹⁴

Common brand names for clindamycin phosphate 1% gel include:

• Cleocin-T^®

• Clinda-Derm^®

• Clindagel^®

• Clindets^®

• C/T/S^®

• Evoclin^{® 15}

We offer a variety of prescription medication options for acne, including:

• Tretinoin cream (generic Retin-A®)

• Tretinoin gel (generic Retin-A®)

• Retin-A® Cream

• Adapalene gel (generic Differin®)

• Tazarotene 0.1% cream (generic Tazorac®)

• Benzoyl peroxide

• Clindamycin phosphate solution (generic Cleocin T®)

• Metronidazole cream (generic MetroCream®)

• Metronidazole gel (generic MetroGel®)

• Spironolactone (generic Aldactone®)

RedBox Rx offers the following FDA-approved prescription treatment options for rosacea:

• Azelaic acid 15% gel (generic Finacea®)

• Doxycycline (generic Vibramycin®)

• Clindamycin topical solution (generic Cleocin T®)

• Metronidazole cream (generic MetroCream®)

• Metronidazole gel (generic MetroGel®)

1. Mayo Clinic

2. National Library of Medicine

3. MedlinePlus

4. MedlinePlus

5. Mayo Clinic

6. Mayo Clinic

7. MedlinePlus

8. MedlinePlus

9. Mayo Clinic

10. Mayo Clinic

11. Mayo Clinic

12. MedlinePlus

13. MedlinePlus

14. MedlinePlus

15. MedlinePlus