Drug & supplement interaction

Kaolin + Clindamycin

Clindamycin brand names: Cleocin, Dalacin C, Cleocin T Gel, Clindesse, ClindaMax.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Kaolin has a moderate interaction with Clindamycin. Kaolin appears to slow the rate of clindamycin absorption, but doesn't affect the extent of absorption.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Kaolin and Clindamycin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

CLINDAMYCIN (Cleocin)

Kaolin appears to slow the rate of clindamycin absorption, but doesn't affect the extent of absorption.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence B

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here is the simple version: kaolin is a clay that acts like a sponge in your gut, soaking up fluids and binding to substances around it. When you take your clindamycin (Cleocin) close to a kaolin product, that clay can grab onto the antibiotic and slow down how fast it gets into your bloodstream. The good news is that studies suggest the total amount you absorb stays about the same, so your overall treatment shouldn't fail. It mainly delays absorption rather than blocking it.

Clindamycin isn't a prodrug, so this is just a timing issue, not a strength issue. A practical fix many pharmacists suggest is spacing the two doses apart by a couple of hours. Check with your own pharmacist or doctor before combining them so they can confirm the best timing for you.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Albert KS, et al. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of a drug interaction between kaolin-pectin and clindamycin. J Pharm Sci 1978 67:1579-82.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Kaolin Also Interacts With Other Medications

Kaolin has 6 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Clindamycin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 6 No known interaction 2,824 (incl. Clindamycin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Kaolin

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Kaolin. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Kaolin or Clindamycin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Kaolin or Clindamycin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Clindamycin

This page covers Kaolin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Clindamycin page lists 169 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Acacia Rigidula (moderate) and Adrafinil (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 123 moderate · 43 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Clindamycin page

“Someone on clindamycin (Cleocin) is usually mid-course against a stubborn bacterial infection, and often reaching for a probiotic to protect the gut at the same time. That instinct is understandable, but this list warrants genuine care.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Clindamycin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Kaolin and Clindamycin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Kaolin
Steady interest

#1,206 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Clindamycin
Top 25%

#448 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Kaolin

What is Kaolin?

Kaolin
  • Diarrhea
  • Upset stomach and nausea
  • Skincare and facial masks
  • Soothing minor skin irritation
  • Excessive salivation (traditional)

Kaolin is a soft, white clay mineral that has long been used in antidiarrheal products and skincare because it absorbs water and binds substances in the gut. Older diarrhea products often combined it with pectin, but modern guidelines favor rehydration and other treatments, and high-quality evidence for kaolin alone is limited. It is generally considered low-risk for short-term use, but check with your pharmacist or doctor before use, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Read the full Kaolin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Clindamycin

What Is Clindamycin Used For?

Brand names: Cleocin, Dalacin C, Cleocin T Gel, Clindesse, ClindaMax

Clindamycin is prescribed for serious infections caused by certain bacteria — including anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that thrive without oxygen), streptococci, staphylococci, and pneumococci. It's often chosen when penicillin-type antibiotics can't be used, such as in people with a penicillin allergy.

It can treat infections of the lungs, skin and soft tissue, bloodstream, abdomen, and female reproductive organs. Because it carries real risks, doctors reserve it for infections where safer antibiotics aren't appropriate.

See full Clindamycin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Kaolin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Kaolin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
6Moderate
0Minor
2,823No known interaction
6 Moderate 2,823 No interaction
Moderate

6 interactions

No interaction 2,823 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Kaolin against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,823 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Kaolin list.

See the full Kaolin interactions page
See every supplement checked against Clindamycin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Kaolin monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Clindamycin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Clindamycin, ranked by severity Clindamycin drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Kaolin and Clindamycin Together: Common Questions

Can you take Kaolin with Clindamycin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Kaolin and Clindamycin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Clindamycin and Kaolin?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.