Cefotetan (Cefotan) — Compare Prices at US & Canada Pharmacies

Retail (no-insurance) prices we found for Cefotetan range up to about $60.01 depending on pharmacy, form, and quantity. With a free pharmacy discount card, the lowest price we found was $24.95. Your actual price depends on the exact strength, quantity, and pharmacy — see the tables above.

Yes — our pricing data includes at least one generic listing for Cefotetan. Generics contain the same active ingredient and are typically the lowest-cost option; check the price tables above for the generic rows specifically.

Cefotetan belongs to the cephalosporins - 2nd generation class of antibiotics. WHO classifies it as an 'Watch' antibiotic under its AWaRe stewardship framework.

• Clindamycin and alcohol do not have a documented direct interaction, and moderate drinking is generally considered acceptable during treatment, though caution remains warranted.
• Both clindamycin and alcohol are metabolized by the liver; in rare cases clindamycin can affect liver function, and heavy drinking increases the risk of liver disease.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms—including nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, and diarrhea—may be amplified when clindamycin and alcohol are used together due to overlapping side effects.
• While light to moderate alcohol use is unlikely to cause serious complications, consulting your healthcare provider is prudent, particularly if you have kidney or liver disease, take multiple medications, or have known alcohol sensitivity.

Alcohol interacts with several classes of antibiotics and may trigger unwanted effects in some cases. Clindamycin, however, falls into a safer category when combined with alcohol compared to certain other antibiotic classes. According to the FDA label, no formal clindamycin-alcohol interaction has been documented. That said, both substances can produce overlapping side effects, so exercising restraint during antibiotic treatment makes sense. Anyone planning to consume alcohol while using clindamycin should first speak with their doctor or pharmacist, particularly if they are taking additional medications or managing chronic health conditions.

This article examines what happens when clindamycin and alcohol are mixed, what the research shows, and how other antibiotics compare in terms of safety when combined with alcohol.

Clindamycin (marketed under brand names including Cleocin and Cleocin T) is a widely used antibiotic prescribed for a range of bacterial infections affecting the respiratory tract, bloodstream, bones, joints, skin, and vaginal tissue. Physicians often recommend it for acne management and bacterial vaginosis, and it serves as an alternative for patients with penicillin allergies.

This medication belongs to the lincosamide antibiotic family, derived from an earlier drug called lincomycin. It operates by either halting bacterial multiplication or destroying the microorganisms outright. Depending on the infection type, clindamycin comes in multiple forms: oral capsules, injectables, or topical applications (foam, gel, cream, or lotion). Topical formulations work well for acne and vaginal conditions.

Clindamycin dosing varies based on the type and severity of infection and the formulation prescribed. For adults taking it orally, a standard dose ranges from 150 to 300 mg every six hours. Treatment typically lasts between three and fourteen days, though longer courses may be necessary for certain infections. Physicians frequently combine clindamycin with other antibiotics—such as gentamicin—or pair it with additional agents like benzoyl peroxide or tretinoin when treating acne.

Clindamycin only works against susceptible bacterial strains, particularly gram-positive and anaerobic organisms. It will not treat viral, fungal, or parasitic infections.

No official contraindication exists between clindamycin and alcohol. Modest alcohol consumption during clindamycin treatment carries minimal risk of serious complications. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one alcoholic beverage daily for women and two for men.

The degree of interaction risk may depend on how clindamycin is administered. Topical formulations, for instance, allow only about 5% systemic absorption, making them far less likely than oral tablets or capsules to cause body-wide side effects that could overlap with alcohol's effects.

Individuals with questions or concerns should discuss alcohol use with their doctor or pharmacist, especially those managing other medical conditions or taking concurrent medications.

Generally speaking, combining clindamycin with alcohol carries low risk. The possibility of adverse effects rises significantly, however, when doses are high or alcohol consumption is substantial. Playing it safe means limiting alcohol until you understand how clindamycin affects you personally. Binge drinking during treatment should be avoided entirely. Drinking alcohol may intensify your overall sense of illness as your body works to clear the infection.

Alcohol does not prevent clindamycin from working as intended. What does occur is a potential overlap in side effects. Using clindamycin while drinking may amplify negative reactions. With topical clindamycin, alcohol may worsen dry skin, flushing, redness, itching, or hives—particularly in people with alcohol intolerance.

Oral clindamycin combined with alcohol may intensify nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, and diarrhea. Since these gastrointestinal symptoms are common during alcohol use, they become more pronounced when both are present. Chronic heavy drinking is already tied to digestive tract problems, including increased ulcer risk, which can also develop during clindamycin therapy.

In uncommon but serious cases, clindamycin triggers pseudomembranous colitis—inflammation of the large intestine caused by overgrowth of Clostridium difficile bacteria. Symptoms include severe or bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Alcohol damages the gut lining and promotes inflammation, especially with prolonged heavy use. Those with a history of significant alcohol consumption may face compounded risk of colitis and severe diarrhea when exposed to clindamycin.

The liver is clindamycin's primary processing site. Though rare, clindamycin use has occasionally resulted in liver damage, including jaundice and abnormal liver enzyme levels. Most cases are mild and resolve within weeks; however, severe reactions marked by significant skin involvement have been recorded.

Chronic heavy drinking substantially raises the chance of alcoholic liver disease. Given that clindamycin affects the liver in a minority of cases, patients with existing alcoholic liver disease face heightened risk of liver deterioration during clindamycin treatment.

Clindamycin has been associated with acute kidney injury, making caution necessary for those with pre-existing renal disease. Warning signs include fluid buildup, elevated blood pressure, and reduced urinary output. Gentamicin, another antibiotic sometimes paired with clindamycin, carries its own risk of kidney damage at higher doses.

Prolonged heavy alcohol use can harm kidney function and trigger complications such as electrolyte imbalances and hypertension. Since both alcohol and clindamycin have the potential to affect kidney performance, individuals with existing kidney disease should exercise caution with alcohol while taking clindamycin.

Different antibiotic families carry varying degrees of risk when combined with alcohol. Tinidazole and metronidazole, for example, have documented interactions with alcohol. Consuming alcohol while on metronidazole may trigger flushing, dizziness, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, nausea, and breathing difficulty.

Other antibiotics pose risks of gastrointestinal upset, cardiac effects, or blood pressure fluctuations. Alcohol can amplify these dangers when used alongside Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim), Zyvox (linezolid), Erythrocin (erythromycin), Cefotan (cefotetan), Seromycin (cycloserine), Gris-Peg (griseofulvin), or isoniazid.

Given the potential hazards, abstaining from alcohol during any antibiotic course is the wisest choice. Beyond direct pharmacological interactions, alcohol can impair memory and judgment, increasing the likelihood of missed doses—which raises the risk of resistance and treatment failure, potentially necessitating stronger or alternative therapies.

Although serious reactions from combining clindamycin with moderate alcohol are uncommon, other medication interactions remain possible. Before starting clindamycin, inform your healthcare provider of all medications and supplements you take, including over-the-counter products. Also disclose any previous allergic reactions to clindamycin or related antibiotics.

When possible, skipping alcohol during antibiotic treatment is prudent. Alcohol disrupts sleep quality and suppresses immune function. By avoiding it, your body receives adequate rest and your defenses remain strong to combat infection. That said, individuals who limit themselves to moderate alcohol consumption face lower complication rates than those who drink heavily or frequently during clindamycin therapy.