Drug interactions
Cholera vaccine + Clindamycin
Severity: Moderate
Cholera vaccine and Clindamycin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
The oral live attenuated cholera vaccine relies on viable Vibrio cholerae to colonize the gut and generate immunity. A systemic antibiotic with activity against the strain could reduce vaccine viability and weaken the immune response. Clindamycin has little activity against gram-negative V. cholerae, so the real-world effect is likely small.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cholera vaccine and Clindamycin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Antibacterial activity could reduce the viability of the live attenuated vaccine strain; clindamycin's gram-negative activity is minimal, so the effect is largely theoretical.
What to do
Follow the vaccine labeling and give the vaccine only after any systemic antibiotic course has been completed, with the interval the label specifies. If clindamycin is needed, do not delay essential treatment, and confirm the vaccination schedule afterwards.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Clindamycin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cholera vaccine with Clindamycin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cholera vaccine and Clindamycin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. The oral live attenuated cholera vaccine relies on viable Vibrio cholerae to colonize the gut and generate immunity. A systemic antibiotic with activity against the strain could reduce vaccine viability and weaken the immune response. Clindamycin has little activity against gram-negative V. cholerae, so the real-world effect is likely small.
How serious is the interaction between Cholera vaccine and Clindamycin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Follow the vaccine labeling and give the vaccine only after any systemic antibiotic course has been completed, with the interval the label specifies. If clindamycin is needed, do not delay essential treatment, and confirm the vaccination schedule afterwards.
What other medicines interact with Clindamycin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Clindamycin with, for example, Atracurium, Cisatracurium, Microbiota. The full list is on the Clindamycin page.
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