Dalacin Cream

Living with Bacterial Vaginosis: You Are Not Alone

Bacterial vaginosis affects a significant number of women at some point in their lives, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed vaginal conditions. The discomfort, the unusual discharge, the worry about whether something is seriously wrong; these are real concerns that deserve a clear, honest, medically grounded response. Dalacin Cream is a prescription antibiotic vaginal cream containing clindamycin, licensed in the UK specifically for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. This page explains what the cream is, how it works, what to expect during treatment, and how the prescribing process works at Pharmacy Planet, so you can make an informed decision about whether to start a consultation.

Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection, although it can be influenced by sexual activity. It arises when the natural balance of bacteria inside the vagina is disturbed, allowing certain bacteria to overgrow and cause symptoms. Understanding this distinction matters, because it shapes both the treatment approach and the way you talk to a prescriber about your experience.

Dalacin Cream is a vaginal cream containing clindamycin phosphate 2% w/w as its active ingredient. It is manufactured by Pfizer Limited and is licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in adult women. The cream is supplied in a 40g tube, accompanied by a set of applicators that allow precise intravaginal delivery of the medication.

Clindamycin belongs to the lincosamide class of antibiotics. It is active against a broad range of anaerobic bacteria, which are the organisms most commonly associated with the overgrowth that characterises bacterial vaginosis. By targeting these bacteria directly inside the vagina, the cream works where the infection is actually occurring, rather than relying solely on systemic absorption.

Dalacin Cream is a Prescription Only Medicine in the UK. It cannot be purchased without a valid prescription issued by a registered prescriber following a clinical consultation. This is because correct diagnosis of BV, as opposed to other causes of vaginal symptoms such as thrush or a sexually transmitted infection, is essential before treatment begins. Using an antibiotic cream for a condition it is not intended to treat will not resolve symptoms and may delay appropriate care.

The Mechanism of Action

Clindamycin works by binding to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes. This action inhibits protein synthesis within susceptible bacterial cells, effectively stopping the bacteria from reproducing and allowing their populations to reduce over the course of treatment. The result, when treatment is completed in full, is a restoration of a more balanced vaginal environment.

Why Vaginal Application Matters

Administering the cream intravaginally means the active ingredient is delivered directly to the site of infection. This targeted approach helps to achieve clinically effective concentrations of clindamycin inside the vaginal canal, where the bacterial overgrowth is occurring. Some absorption into the bloodstream does take place, which is why certain precautions and potential interactions still apply, but the primary action is local.

Restoring Vaginal Balance

Bacterial vaginosis develops when the population of Lactobacillus species, which naturally maintain a mildly acidic vaginal environment, is displaced by a mixture of anaerobic organisms including Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella species, and Mobiluncus species. Clindamycin is active against these anaerobes and, by reducing their overgrowth, supports the conditions that allow normal vaginal flora to re-establish. It is important to note, however, that treatment may need to be repeated in some women, as BV has a tendency to recur.

Before starting treatment, read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your cream in full. Your prescriber and pharmacist will also advise you based on your individual circumstances. The guidance below reflects the information contained in the current UK SmPC.

Preparing for Application

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after each application.
2. Ensure the applicator is clean before use.
3. The cream is intended for intravaginal use only. It must not be applied to the skin around the vaginal opening as a primary treatment.
4. Dalacin Cream contains mineral oil, which can damage latex condoms and diaphragms. Do not rely on these contraceptive methods during treatment and for at least three days after your final dose.

Applying the Cream

Fill the applicator with cream as directed in the leaflet. Lie on your back with your knees slightly bent, or whichever position feels most comfortable. Gently insert the applicator as far as is comfortable into the vagina and press the plunger to deposit the cream. Withdraw the applicator and dispose of it hygienically if it is a single-use type, or wash it thoroughly with warm water if it is reusable.

Timing and Duration

1. The standard course of treatment is one full applicator (approximately 5g of cream, delivering 100mg of clindamycin) applied intravaginally once daily at bedtime for seven consecutive days.
2. Applying the cream at bedtime helps to minimise leakage and maximise contact time.
3. It is important to complete the full seven-day course even if your symptoms improve before the end of treatment.
4. Do not stop treatment early without speaking to your prescriber first.

If you forget a dose, apply it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose. Do not apply two doses at the same time to make up for a missed one.

Available Preparation

Dalacin Cream is available in a single strength and formulation in the UK:

1. Clindamycin phosphate 2% w/w vaginal cream
2. Supplied in a 40g tube with disposable applicators
3. Each full applicator delivers approximately 5g of cream, equivalent to 100mg of clindamycin

Standard Adult Dosage

The recommended dosage for adult women is one applicator dose (5g) inserted intravaginally once daily at bedtime for seven consecutive days. This dosage is as specified in the current UK Summary of Product Characteristics. Your prescriber will confirm the appropriate course length for your individual situation.

Use in Specific Populations

Dalacin Cream is not licensed for use in girls under 18 years of age, and its safety in adolescents has not been established in clinical studies. There is no specific dosage adjustment required for renal or hepatic impairment based on intravaginal administration, but any underlying health conditions should be discussed with your prescriber before treatment begins.

As with all medicines, Dalacin Cream can cause side effects, though not everyone will experience them. The information below is a summary; please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for a complete list.

Common Side Effects

1. Vaginal irritation, itching, or burning sensation
2. Vaginal discharge that differs in appearance from your usual discharge
3. Abdominal discomfort or pelvic pain
4. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (thrush), which can occur because antibiotics may disrupt local fungal populations

Less Common but Important Side Effects

1. Headache
2. Skin rash or urticaria
3. Colitis, including a rare but serious form called Clostridioides difficile associated colitis – seek medical attention promptly if you develop severe or prolonged diarrhoea during or after treatment

Important Drug and Interaction Information

Do not use Dalacin Cream alongside intravaginal products containing erythromycin, as these two antibiotics may interact and reduce each other's effectiveness.

The cream contains mineral oil, which weakens latex and polyisoprene rubber. Condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps made from these materials must not be relied upon for contraception during treatment and for at least three days after completing the course.

If you are taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies and non-prescription products, inform your prescriber before starting treatment. Although systemic absorption from intravaginal application is relatively low, clindamycin does enter the bloodstream to some extent and interactions with other medicines remain a clinical consideration.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Advice

Stop using Dalacin Cream and contact a healthcare professional promptly if you develop signs of a severe allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or a widespread skin rash), severe abdominal pain, or prolonged diarrhoea. These symptoms are uncommon but require prompt attention.

Dalacin Cream Is Not Suitable If You:

1. Have a known allergy or hypersensitivity to clindamycin, lincomycin, or any of the excipients listed in the SmPC
2. Have a personal history of antibiotic-associated colitis, including Clostridioides difficile colitis
3. Are under 18 years of age, as the medicine is not licensed for use in adolescents
4. Are using intravaginal erythromycin products at the same time

This Medicine May Be Appropriate If You:

1. Have been diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis by a healthcare professional or have symptoms consistent with BV that have been confirmed through a clinical consultation
2. Are an adult woman who has not had an allergic reaction to antibiotics in the lincosamide class
3. Are looking for a targeted, locally applied treatment rather than an oral antibiotic
4. Have been prescribed Dalacin Cream previously and are experiencing a recurrence, subject to your prescriber's assessment

Use With Caution If You:

1. Are pregnant or breastfeeding – discuss the risks and benefits with your prescriber before use. Clindamycin does cross into the bloodstream and may reach breast milk in small amounts
2. Have a history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly inflammatory bowel disease or a history of colitis of any cause
3. Are using latex contraceptive devices – mineral oil in the cream can degrade latex, so alternative contraception will be needed during and for three days after treatment
4. Have any significant underlying medical conditions, especially those affecting the immune system or gastrointestinal tract

Pharmacy Planet operates as a registered UK online pharmacy under the oversight of the General Pharmaceutical Council. All prescriptions issued through Pharmacy Planet are the outcome of a genuine clinical consultation conducted by a registered prescriber. The process is designed to ensure your safety and to provide you with personalised medical guidance, not simply to issue a prescription.

When you begin a consultation for BV treatment, you will be asked to complete a structured medical questionnaire. This questionnaire gathers information about your symptoms, your medical history, any medicines you currently take, and any relevant contraindications. Your answers allow the prescribing clinician to assess whether a clindamycin vaginal cream is clinically appropriate for your individual circumstances. Completing the questionnaire accurately and honestly is essential. The prescriber is not able to make a safe clinical decision without complete and truthful information.

Following your consultation, the prescriber will review your responses. A prescription will only be issued if the prescriber determines, in their clinical judgement, that Dalacin Cream is an appropriate treatment for you at this time. It is important to understand that completing a consultation does not guarantee that a prescription will be issued. There may be circumstances in which the prescriber determines that a different treatment, a face-to-face assessment, or further investigation is more appropriate for your situation. In those cases, the prescriber will explain their reasoning.

If a prescription is issued, your medication will be dispensed and dispatched by our pharmacy team. You will also have access to our team for any follow-up questions. We encourage you to contact us if your symptoms do not improve after completing the course of treatment, or if you develop any new or concerning symptoms during or after use.

1. Store Dalacin Cream below 25°C.
2. Do not freeze the cream.
3. Keep the tube tightly closed when not in use.
4. Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
5. Do not use the cream after the expiry date printed on the tube and carton.
6. Do not dispose of medicines via wastewater or household waste. Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist, who can arrange for safe disposal.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered online pharmacy committed to providing safe, accessible, and clinically responsible healthcare to patients across the UK. Our prescribing and dispensing processes are built around your safety, not convenience of supply, and every prescription issued through our platform is the result of a proper clinical assessment.

Our prescribers are registered healthcare professionals who take time to review each consultation thoroughly. If a medicine is not appropriate for you, they will tell you, and they will where possible suggest an alternative route to care. We believe that good pharmacy practice means sometimes saying that a prescription is not the right answer, and supporting patients to access the care that is actually right for them.

Pharmacy Planet is registered with the GPhC (registration details available on our website). You can verify our registration status at any time via the GPhC register at www.pharmacyregulation.org. We display the EU common logo on our website, confirming that we are a legitimate, registered UK online pharmacy authorised to dispense prescription and non-prescription medicines.

• Pfizer Limited. Dalacin Cream 2% w/w Vaginal Cream – Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: www.medicines.org.uk/emc. Accessed May 2026.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Bacterial vaginosis – antimicrobial prescribing guideline. Available at: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng121. Accessed May 2026.
• British National Formulary (BNF). Clindamycin. Available at: bnf.nice.org.uk. Accessed May 2026.
• NHS. Bacterial vaginosis – overview and treatment. Available at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/bacterial-vaginosis. Accessed May 2026.
• MHRA. Clindamycin – product licence and regulatory status. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency. Accessed May 2026.