From the Guidelines
The bioavailability of clindamycin is excellent, with high tissue concentrations achieved in the body.
Bioavailability Details
- The bioavailability of oral clindamycin is excellent, similar to other agents such as fluoroquinolones, rifampicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, linezolid, and doxycycline 1.
- However, the bioavailability of clindamycin cream is about 4% when administered intravaginally, resulting in low systemic side effects 1.
- It is essential to note that the bioavailability of clindamycin may vary depending on the formulation and route of administration.
- Clindamycin's high bioavailability makes it a suitable option for oral therapy, allowing for convenient treatment and reducing the need for parenteral therapy 1.
- The high tissue concentrations achieved by clindamycin contribute to its effectiveness in treating various infections, including diabetic foot infections 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Absorption of an oral dose is virtually complete (90%), The bioavailability of clindamycin is approximately 90% after oral administration 2.
From the Research
Bioavailability of Clindamycin
The bioavailability of clindamycin varies depending on the population and formulation.
- In healthy volunteers, the bioavailability of clindamycin capsules was approximately 0.53 +/- 0.14 3.
- In AIDS patients, the bioavailability of clindamycin capsules was approximately 0.75 +/- 0.20, which is 1.5 times that in healthy volunteers 3.
- A study in healthy Chinese male volunteers found that the relative bioavailability of clindamycin from two test formulations was 98.0 +/- 16.2% and 97.2 +/- 20.3% compared to a reference formulation 4.
- Another study in healthy Chinese subjects found that the bioavailability of clindamycin hydrochloride capsules was affected by food, with a higher bioavailability under fed conditions 5.
- A study in a pediatric porcine model found that the relative bioavailability of clindamycin from a newly developed oral suspension was 78.8% compared to a commercialized reference suspension 6.
- A study in rats found that the absolute oral bioavailability of clindamycin was 28.2%, which was mainly due to a considerable gastric first-pass effect of 60.7% 7.
Factors Affecting Bioavailability
Several factors can affect the bioavailability of clindamycin, including:
- Population: The bioavailability of clindamycin varies between healthy volunteers and AIDS patients 3.
- Formulation: Different formulations of clindamycin can have different bioavailabilities 4, 6.
- Food: Food can affect the bioavailability of clindamycin, with a higher bioavailability under fed conditions 5.
- Gastric first-pass effect: The gastric first-pass effect can significantly reduce the bioavailability of clindamycin 7.