Cleocin

Introduction

Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Updated on August 23, 2023

Clindamycin is a generic medication prescribed for certain bacterial infections and acne. Its brand-name versions are Cleocin, Cleocin-T, Clindagel, Clindesse, Clinda-Derm, Clindets, and Xaciato. The cost of clindamycin with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Clindamycin comes in these forms:

• oral forms that you swallow:
  • capsule and liquid solution
• topical forms that you apply to your skin:
  • gel, solution, foam, lotion, and pledget (a disposable pad used to apply the drug)
• liquid solution that a healthcare professional may inject in two ways:
  • intramuscular injection or intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein given over time)
• vaginal cream

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved clindamycin to treat certain types of bacterial infections. Examples of bacterial infections include:

• respiratory infections
• sinus infection
• tooth abscess
• urinary tract infection (UTI)

The FDA has also approved clindamycin to treat certain types of acne.

Read on to learn about clindamycin and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about clindamycin, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

Cost of clindamycin

Like other medications, the cost of clindamycin can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to receive doses of clindamycin liquid solution, which are given in a hospital by a healthcare professional as an intramuscular injection or intravenous (IV) infusion

To find out how much clindamycin costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the following section.

Coupons for clindamycin

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of clindamycin. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for clindamycin

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of clindamycin. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for clindamycin. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin the medication without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of clindamycin injection or intravenous (IV) solution may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because clindamycin liquid solution doses are given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. They’ll administer this form as an intramuscular injection or IV infusion. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re using clindamycin long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand names

Clindamycin is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are shown in the following table:

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

If your doctor has prescribed clindamycin, but you’re interested in taking the brand versions, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of clindamycin compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

* The liquid solution for injection is given as an intramuscular injection or intravenous (IV) infusion.
† The pledget is a disposable pad used to apply the drug.
‡ This form is a suppository that you’ll insert into your vagina.

Common questions about clindamycin and cost

Here are some common questions about clindamycin and their answers.  

Do the topical forms of clindamycin cost more than the oral forms of the drug?

Yes, it’s possible. Clindamycin comes in several forms and strengths, and they may vary in price.

For example, the cost of clindamycin oral capsules may be different than the cost of the topical gel (applied to the skin). This is because the oral capsule comes in two strengths, i.e., 150 milligrams (mg) and 300 mg, and the cost may differ between the two. The topical gel is available in one strength.

Other factors can also affect the cost of your prescription. These include your insurance coverage (if you have it), the pharmacy you use, and your treatment plan.

To learn more about how the cost of clindamycin’s forms compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor.

What to ask about clindamycin

This article provides cost information related to clindamycin. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for clindamycin.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Does my dosage of clindamycin affect the cost of my prescription?
• Will Medicare cover the cost of any of the drug’s topical forms?
• Does clindamycin cost less than its brand-name versions?

Resources

• Clindamycin hydrochloride capsules. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/fadc321a-2291-4268-936f-0743fdddbe7f/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.