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Clindamycin Led to Intestinal Infection

Q. A dentist prescribed clindamycin for my tooth infection and swelling. It did clear the infection, but one week after completing the clindamycin I developed awful diarrhea.

The pharmacy warning sheet I received with the prescription mentioned this serious side effect as a possibility. A culture confirmed I have a C. diff infection and I was put on metronidazole.

The diarrhea got a little better, but six days after completing the treatment the C. diff was back again full force. I have been on another 14 days of metronidazole trying to get rid of this problem.

If this antibiotic doesn’t cure the infection, my doctor says there is only one other antibiotic to try.

Needless to say, I won’t accept any more clindamycin prescriptions.

A. Clindamycin disrupts the balance of bacteria in the digestive tract and it can create conditions that allow Clostridium difficile (C. diff) to flourish. This infection can be very hard to treat.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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