Does Erythromycin Interact with Clindamycin Phosphate?
CDI records a contraindicated classification for Erythromycin and Clindamycin Phosphate. The stored summary is: Should not be used in combination with topical or oral erythromycin-containing products due to possible antagonism to clindamycin's antimicrobial component. The mechanism involves in vitro antagonism between the two antimicrobials. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This record was extracted from drug labeling through openFDA. NIH/NLM RxNorm is used for drug identities. The summary and severity classification are CDI's processed information, not a verbatim source quotation. Product, route, and patient circumstances matter.
Evidence status
A current label comparison is not yet available for this record. The summary and severity are stored CDI information; they have not been independently validated on this page against the exact product label.
Confirm the medicine, formulation, route, and applicable warning with your pharmacist or prescriber. Independent clinical review has not been recorded.
- Stored CDI classification
- Contraindicated
- Erythromycin Class
- Macrolide
- Management
- Confirm exact products with your pharmacist
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
Recorded Mechanism
In vitro antagonism between the two antimicrobials
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Erythromycin and your doctor is considering prescribing Clindamycin Phosphate (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask about alternative medications that do not interact with your current regimen
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider