Clindamycin

Additional information

Pharmacokinetics and dosing

A pharmacokinetic study in healthy patients (11 men, 13 women) receiving an oral 600 mg dose of clindamycin showed that women had higher plasma levels than men, but the difference disappeared when the dose was weight adjusted [1]. The serum half-life of clindamycin is slightly increased in pregnant women compared to the average half-life in adults (3.3 h vs. 2.4 h) [2]. The clinical relevance is unclear as there are large variations in half-life. No sex differentiation in dosing has been recommended [3].

Effects

The efficacy of treatment with topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and benzoyl peroxide 3.75% gel has been studied in patients with moderate to severe acne in a double-blind, vehicle-controlled trial (256 men, 242 women). The absolute mean reduction in inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts was greater in women than men. Treatment success, defined as >2 grade reduction in Evaluator’s Global Severity Score from baseline, was achieved in 42.5% of women and in 28.2% of men [4].

Improvement in patient satisfaction after using topical clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide gel has shown to be similar in men and women mild to moderate acne [5].

Adverse effects

Elderly and women may be more likely to experience severe diarrhea or pseudomembranous colitis from systemic clindamycin treatment [6]. A prospective study (453 men, 547 women) found a higher incidence of diarrhea among women than men receiving clindamycin, 74.2% of patients developing diarrhea were women [7].

Reproductive health issues

Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult the Drugs and Birth Defects Database (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).