A study of the pharmacokinetics of clindamycin in normal subjects and patients with chronic renal failure

Abstract

Summary: A single dose of 150 mg clindamycin was given to nine patients with terminal renal failure being treated by maintenance haemodialysis and the blood levels were measured. Four of these patients were studied during haemodialysis and five between haemodialyses. Clindamycin (150 mg) was also given orally to four normal subjects. The mean serum half-life in the normal subjects was 2·15 hr. For the dialysis patients the mean serum half-life off dialysis was 1·58 hr while that on dialysis was 1·85 hr. There is evidence that clindamycin is excreted normally in chronic renal failure and that blood levels are not affected by haemodialysis. Normal adult doses, 150-300 mg four times a day, can be given safely in patients with chronic renal failure.