Learn about the side effects of clindamycin, from common to rare, for consumers and healthcare professionals. Find patient medical information for Clindamycin (Cleocin) on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings, and user ratings Description Clindamycin is used to treat bacterial infections. This medicine may be given to patients who had an allergic reaction to penicillin. Clindamycin will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Clindamycin is a powerful antibiotic used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including skin infections, respiratory infections, and certain dental issues. While highly effective, it can also cause side effects, some mild and others more serious. Clindamycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body. Clindamycin is used to treat serious infections caused by bacteria. Clindamycin is usually available as one of three salts: clindamycin phosphate, clindamycin hydrochloride, or clindamycin nicotinamide. Topical clindamycin will not cure your acne. However, to help keep your acne under control, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days. Clindamycin belongs to a class of antibiotics known as lincosamides, and is used to treat bacterial infections including septicemia, pelvic inflammatory disease, abdominal, gynecological, respiratory tract, bone and joint, and skin and skin structure infections. Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections, including osteomyelitis (bone) or joint infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, strep throat, pneumonia, acute otitis media (middle ear infections), and endocarditis. [4] Clindamycin is used to treat certain types of bacterial infections. Clindamycin is in a class of medications called lincomycin antibiotics. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics such as clindamycin will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Doctors use clindamycin to treat a variety of bacterial infections. They prescribe it when they cannot use penicillin and when they have determined the type of bacteria involved in the infection.