PATIENT INFORMATION
PrCLINDETS®
clindamycin solution in pledget 1% w/v (as clindamycin
phosphate)
This leaflet is designed specifically for consumers. This
leaflet is a summary and will not tell you everything about
CLINDETS®. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any questions about the drug.
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
CLINDETS® is a prescription medication used on the skin
to treat moderate acne in adults and adolescents 13 years
and older. The safety and effectiveness of CLINDETS® in
children under the age of 13 are not known.
What it does:
CLINDETS® contains the active ingredient clindamycin,
which interferes with bacterial growth, thereby reducing the
bacteria associated with acne. This is how CLINDETS®
helps to improve your acne condition.
When it should not be used:
Do not use CLINDETS® if you currently have or have had a
history of:
- An allergy (hypersensitivity) to clindamycin,
lincomycin or any of the other ingredients in
CLINDETS® (see What the important nonmedicinal
ingredients are).
- Inflammation of the small intestine (regional enteritis).
- Inflammation of the large intestine (colitis), which may
be due to the presence of ulcers (ulcerative colitis) or
associated with the use of antibiotics.
- Inflammatory bowel disease or antibiotic-associated
colitis (severe, prolonged or bloody diarrhea following
antibiotic use).
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Clindamycin as clindamycin phosphate USP.
What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are:
Isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol and purified water.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Topical medicated pads.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
CLINDETS® is for external use only.
Keep CLINDETS® away from your eyes, inside the nose,
mouth, lips, other mucous membranes or areas of broken
skin. If contact occurs, flush areas with large amounts of cool
tap water for at least 5 minutes. If discomfort persists,
consult your doctor.
Do not use any other acne medications, or other topical
medications, unless your doctor instructs you to do so.
If you have recently taken or used other clindamycin or
erythromycin-containing medicines, there is an increased
chance that CLINDETS® will not work as well as it should.
BEFORE you use CLINDETS® talk to your doctor or
pharmacist if you:
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If
you are pregnant, or think you could be, or if you
are planning to become pregnant, do not take
CLINDETS® without checking with your doctor.
- Are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. It is not
known whether the ingredients of CLINDETS®
can pass into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding,
check with your doctor before you use
CLINDETS®. If used during breast-feeding, do
not apply CLINDETS® to the breast area to avoid
accidental ingestion by the infant.
During the first weeks of treatment, you may experience
peeling and reddening. These symptoms will normally
subside if treatment is temporarily interrupted and restarted
after your symptoms have settled.
Avoid alcohol based solutions (e.g., after shave lotions) as
they have a drying effect and may irritate your skin.
FLAMMABLE: Due to the flammable nature of
CLINDETS®, you should avoid smoking or being near an
open flame while you are applying CLINDETS®, and
immediately after you have used it.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and tell
your doctor / pharmacist about all the medicines and skin
products you use.
Tell your doctor especially if you are taking or using any of
the following medicines:
- Neuromuscular blocking agents (medicines used as
muscle relaxants when you are given an anaesthetic) –
as CLINDETS® has been shown to increase their
activity.
- Erythromycin – as it should not be used at the same
time as CLINDETS®.
- Other acne or skin preparations including peeling
agents (e.g., sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid) and
abrasive agents as concomitant use with CLINDETS®
may increase side effects such as skin irritation.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
CLINDETS® should only be applied to your skin.
CLINDETS® should be used for the entire treatment period
as instructed by your doctor even if your acne symptoms
begin improving after a few days. Stopping your treatment
too soon may result in the return of your acne condition.
Do not expect to see immediate improvement of your acne.
Be patient and apply your medication as your doctor has
directed. Six to eight weeks may be required before
improvement is seen. If you do not see improvement after
using CLINDETS® for 6-8 weeks, or if your acne becomes
worse, contact your doctor.
CLINDETS® consists of a small pad which is medicated
with a 1% concentration of clindamycin. The pad also
contains alcohol and is enclosed within an aluminum foil,
which you must open just before use.
Instructions for applying CLINDETS®:
- CLINDETS® contains alcohol. Wait 30 minutes after
shaving before applying CLINDETS® as the alcohol
may irritate freshly shaving skin.
- Before you apply CLINDETS®, wash the affected skin
gently with a mild, non-irritating cleanser, rinse with
warm water, and pat dry.
- Gently apply CLINDETS® to lightly cover the entire
affected area of your skin (face) with a thin layer.
Avoid eyes, nostrils, mouth, lips, other mucous
membranes or areas of broken skin.
- Wash your hands with soap and water after applying
CLINDETS®.
- Discard CLINDETS® after use. Do not use if the seal is
broken.
- Apply CLINDETS® in the morning and at night or as
directed by your doctor.
Remember: CLINDETS® has been prescribed by your
doctor for you alone; do not allow other people to use it,
even if they have the same condition that you have, as it
may not be suitable for them.
Overdose:
In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner,
hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control
Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
If you apply too much CLINDETS®, wash carefully off and
seek medical advice.
If you do accidentally swallow CLINDETS®, rinse your
mouth immediately with water and seek medical advice.
You may get symptoms similar to when you take antibiotics
by mouth (an upset stomach).
This product contains a significant amount of isopropyl
alcohol and should be considered in case of accidental oral
ingestion.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
During the first weeks of using CLINDETS®, you may
notice some skin irritation such as rash (including redness,
small red bumps), dryness, itching, oiliness, swelling,
irritation, stinging, tingling or numbness, burning or
peeling. These symptoms will normally subside if treatment
is temporarily interrupted and restarted after your symptoms
have settled.
Other side effects that have been reported include headache
diarrhea and nausea.
If you experience symptoms such as severe diarrhea (bloody
or watery) with or without fever, abdominal pain, or
tenderness, you may have Clostridium difficile colitis
(bowel inflammation). If this occurs, stop taking
CLINDETS® and contact a healthcare professional
immediately.
SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY
HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Symptom / effect |
Talk with
your doctor or
pharmacist |
Stop
taking
drug and
call your
doctor or
pharmacist |
Only
if
severe |
In all
cases |
Rare |
Severe allergic
reaction: raised
and itchy rash
(hives),
swelling of face
or lips, causing
difficulty in
breathing. |
|
|
|
Rare |
Inflammation
of intestines,
colitis:
abdominal or
stomach
cramps, severe
pain, bloating,
severe or
prolonged
watery
diarrhea which
may be bloody,
nausea or
vomiting. |
|
|
|
HOW TO STORE IT
Store between 15°C and 25°C. Do not freeze. Contents are
flammable. Keep CLINDETS® away from all sources of
fire, flame and heat. Do not leave CLINDETS® in direct
sunlight. Keep your medicine in a safe place, out of the
sight and reach of children.
REPORTING SUSPECTED SIDE EFFECTS
You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated
with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance
Program by one of the following 3 ways:
$ Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
$ Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
$ Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
- Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
- Mail to: Canada Vigilance Program
Health Canada
Postal Locator 0701E
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting
Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines
are available on the MedEffect™ Canada Web site at
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.
NOTE: Should you require information related to the
management of side effects, contact your health professional.
The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.