Dalacin® C Phosphate Injection

Clindamycin phosphate

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Dalacin C Phosphate injection. It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being given Dalacin C Phosphate injection against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.

Dalacin C Phosphate injection should only be given to you by a health professional.

If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.

What Dalacin C Phosphate Injection is used for

Dalacin C Phosphate injection is an antibiotic. It is used to treat infections in different parts of the body caused by bacteria.

Dalacin C Phosphate works by killing or stopping the growth of bacteria causing your infection.

Dalacin C Phosphate will not work against viral infections such as colds or flu.

Dalacin C Phosphate injection is recommended for patients who are allergic to penicillin or patients for whom, in the judgment of the doctor, penicillin is inappropriate.

Your doctor may have prescribed Dalacin C Phosphate injection for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Dalacin C Phosphate injection has been prescribed for you.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Dalacin C Phosphate is not addictive.

Before you are given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection

When you must not be given Dalacin C Phosphate injection

You must not be given Dalacin C Phosphate injection:

1. if you have an allergy to:

• clindamycin or lincomycin
• any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet (see 'Product Description')

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or difficulty in breathing.

2. if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
3. after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the label.
4. if it has not been prescribed for you by your doctor

Before you are given Dalacin C Phosphate injection

You must tell your doctor about all of the following before you are given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection:

1. if you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2. if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
3. if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.
4. if you have or have ever had:

• severe diarrhoea associated with the use of antibiotics
• severe liver disease
• severe kidney disease
• bowel disease
• any gastrointestinal (stomach or gut) problems

5. if you have had any other health problems or medical conditions

If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, do so before you are given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

There may be interference between Dalacin C Phosphate and some other medicines including:

• the antibiotic, erythromycin
• medicines used for muscle relaxation in anaesthesia

These medicines may be affected by Dalacin C Phosphate or may affect how well Dalacin C Phosphate works. You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection.

How Dalacin C Phosphate Injection is given

Usually Dalacin C Phosphate injection will be given to you intramuscularly (into a muscle) or intravenously (into the vein by drip) in a hospital by a healthcare professional.

Your dose and how it should be given to you will be determined by your doctor or your pharmacist. If given intravenously, Dalacin C Phosphate injection will be mixed with the appropriate amount of diluent before use. This will be prepared by your pharmacist or health care professional.

It is important that you complete the full course prescribed by your doctor so that all of the bacteria causing your infection will be killed. If the course is not completed, these bacteria may continue to grow and multiply so that your infection may not clear completely or may return.

In case of overdose (if you are given too much)

Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13  11  26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency (Casualty) at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have been given or has self-injected too much Dalacin C Phosphate injection. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. Keep the telephone numbers for these services handy. Have the Dalacin C Phosphate Injection box or this leaflet available to give details if needed.

While you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection

Things you must do

If the symptoms of your infection do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, tell your doctor.

If you get severe diarrhoea, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately. Do this even if it occurs several weeks after Dalacin C Phosphate injection has been stopped.

Diarrhoea may mean that you have a serious condition affecting your bowel. You may need urgent medical care. Do not take any medicines for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.

If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while being given Dalacin C Phosphate or soon after Dalacin C Phosphate Injection has been stopped, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge.

This may mean you have a fungal/yeast infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of Dalacin C Phosphate allows fungi/yeast to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Dalacin C Phosphate does not work against fungi/yeast.

If you become pregnant while you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate, tell your doctor.

If you are about to start taking any new medicines, tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate Injection.

Things you must not do

Do not give Dalacin C Phosphate injection to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Dalacin C Phosphate Injection should not be given to treat any other complaints unless instructed by your doctor.

Side effects

Check with your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you have any problems while being given Dalacin C Phosphate, even if you do not think the problems are connected with the medicine or are not listed in this leaflet.

Like other medicines, Dalacin C Phosphate can cause some side effects. If they occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• stomach pain, cramps or discomfort
• nausea and/or vomiting
• diarrhoea
• skin rash; severe irritation of the skin
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• vaginal thrush - sore and itchy vagina and/or discharge
• low blood pressure (feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness)
• joint pain and swelling
• pain, swelling, redness or formation of an abscess at the site of the injection
• loss or distorted sense of taste

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following side effects while you are being given Dalacin C Phosphate injection or several weeks after treatment with Dalacin C Phosphate injection has stopped:

• severe stomach cramps;
• watery and severe diarrhoea which may also be bloody;
• fever, in combination with one or both of the above.

These are rare, but serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Do not take any medicine for diarrhoea without first checking with your doctor.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

After using Dalacin C Phosphate Injection

Storage

Dalacin C Phosphate Injection will normally be stored in a hospital. It should be stored at 2 degrees C to 8 degrees C (Refrigerate. Do not freeze).

Product description

What Dalacin C Phosphate Injection looks like

Dalacin C Phosphate injection appears as a clear colourless solution and comes in 2 mL or 4 mL glass ampoules.

Ingredients

The active ingredient in Dalacin C Phosphate injection is clindamycin-2-phosphate.

Dalacin C Phosphate injection also contains benzyl alcohol, disodium edetate, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and water for injections.

Identification

Dalacin C Phosphate injection can be identified by an Australian Register Number which is found on the pack:

• Dalacin C Phosphate Injection 300mg/2mL: AUST R 12294 (Not marketed in New Zealand)
• Dalacin C Phosphate Injection 600mg/4mL: AUST R 47636

Supplier

Dalacin C Phosphate injection is supplied in Australia by:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 50 008 422 348
38-42 Wharf Road
West Ryde NSW 2114
Australia
Toll Free number: 1800 675 229

Dalacin C Phosphate injection is supplied in New Zealand by:
Pfizer New Zealand Ltd.
PO Box 3998
Auckland, New Zealand
Toll Free Number: 0800 736 363

This leaflet was revised 11 November 2010

© Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

Published by MIMS/myDr January 2011

Consumers should be aware that the information provided by the Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) search (CMI Search) is for information purposes only and consumers should continue to obtain professional advice from a qualified healthcare professional regarding any condition for which they have searched for CMI. CMI is supplied by the relevant pharmaceutical company for each consumer medical product. All copyright and responsibility for CMI is that of the relevant pharmaceutical company. UBM Medica Australia uses its best endeavours to ensure that at the time of publishing, as indicated on the publishing date for each resource (e.g. Published by MIMS/myDr January 2007), the CMI provided was complete to the best of UBM Medica Australias knowledge. The CMI and the CMI Search are not intended to be used by consumers to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or for any therapeutic purpose. UBM Medica Australia, its servants and agents shall not be responsible for the continued currency of the CMI, or for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the CMI and/or the CMI Search whether arising from negligence or otherwise or from any other consequence arising there from.