• you are allergic to any ingredient in Cleocin or to lincomycin
• you have certain intestinal problems (eg, antibiotic-associated colitis, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis) or meningitis.

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Some medical conditions may interact with Cleocin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have diarrhea, or a history of liver problems or stomach or bowel problems (eg, colitis)
• if you are allergic to tartrazine.

Some medicines may interact with Cleocin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (eg, vecuronium) or succinylcholine because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Cleocin.
• Erythromycin because it may decrease Cleocin's effectiveness.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Cleocin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Important safety information:

• Cleocin only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
• Be sure to use Cleocin for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
• Long-term or repeated use of Cleocin may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
• This product may contain tartrazine dye. This may cause an allergic reaction in some patients. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to tartrazine, ask your pharmacist if your product has tartrazine in it.
• Mild diarrhea is common with antibiotic use. However, a more serious form of diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) may rarely occur. This may develop while you use the antibiotic or within several months after you stop using it. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
• Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Cleocin. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Cleocin with caution in the elderly; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially diarrhea.
• Use Cleocin with extreme caution in children younger 10 years who have diarrhea or an infection of the stomach or bowel.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Cleocin while you are pregnant. Cleocin is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Cleocin, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

Mild diarrhea; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody or tarry stools; decreased urination; joint pain or swelling; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent diarrhea; severe stomach cramps or pain; unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider.