Absorption: Oral, hydrochloride: Rapid (90%); clindamycin palmitate must be hydrolyzed in the GI tract before it is active
Distribution: Distributed in body fluids and tissues; no significant levels in CSF, even with inflamed meninges
Protein binding: 94%
Metabolism: Biologically inactive clindamycin phosphate (intravenous formulation) is rapidly converted to active clindamycin. Clindamycin is metabolized predominantly by CYP3A4, with minor contribution by CYP3A5, to form clindamycin sulfoxide (major metabolite) and N-desmethylclindamycin (minor metabolite)
Bioavailability: Oral: ~90%
Half-life elimination: 3 hrs
Excretion: Urine (~10%) and feces (3.6%) as active drug and metabolites