Lincomycin
Also known as: Lincocin, Lincomix, LincoMed, Linco-Ped, Lincono, Macrolin, Lincoject
- **Administration**: Give the medication exactly as prescribed. While food can decrease absorption, if your pet experiences mild stomach upset, giving it with a small treat or meal may help. - **Complete the Course**: Do not stop the medication early even if your pet seems better, as this can lead to resistant infections. - **Adverse Effects**: Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice **severe, protracted, or bloody diarrhea**, vomiting, or loss of appetite. - **Nursing Pets**: Inform your veterinarian if your pet is pregnant or nursing, as this drug passes into milk and may cause diarrhea in nursing offspring. - **Other Medications**: Do not give over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications containing kaolin within 2 hours of this drug, as it will prevent the antibiotic from being absorbed.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Systemic infections
- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Mycoplasmal (M. hyopneumoniae) pneumonia
- Susceptible infections
- Susceptible infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Systemic infections
- Bacteremia, sepsis
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Gastroenteritis (emesis, loose stools, bloody diarrhea in dogs)
- Pain and inflammation at IM injection sites
- Hypotension and cardiopulmonary arrest (if administered rapidly IV)
- Gastrointestinal disturbances in swine
- Diarrhea in nursing neonates (drug distributes into milk)
- Diarrhoea (potentially haemorrhagic)
- Colitis
- Hepatotoxicity (in patients with pre-existing liver disease)
- Cardiac depression (if given rapidly IV)
- Peripheral neuromuscular blockade (if given rapidly IV)
Cautions & contraindications
- Rabbits
- Hamsters
- Guinea pigs
- Horses
- Ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats)
- Patients with known hypersensitivity to lincosamides
- Patients with preexisting monilial (yeast) infections
- Neonatal animals (relative contraindication due to gut flora effects)
- Rapid intravenous administration
- Known hypersensitivity to lincosamides
- Use with caution in patients with severe liver disease
- Use with caution in patients with **hepatic or renal dysfunction**; consider reducing the dosage in severe cases as half-lives can be significantly prolonged. **Intravenous Administration**: Must be diluted and given as a slow drip infusion to prevent severe hypotension and cardiopulmonary arrest. **Species Warnings**: Never administer to horses, ruminants, or small herbivores (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters) as it can cause fatal dysbiosis and enterocolitis.
Drug interactions
- Cyclosporine: Lincomycin may reduce systemic levels of cyclosporine.
- Erythromycin: In vitro antagonism occurs due to competing ribosomal binding sites; concomitant use should be avoided.
- Kaolin: Reduces the absorption of oral lincomycin by up to 90%. If both are necessary, separate doses by at least 2 hours.
- Neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g., pancuronium): Lincomycin possesses intrinsic neuromuscular blocking activity and may enhance the effects of these agents; use cautiously.
- Neuromuscular blocking agents: Enhanced neuromuscular blockade action
- Chloramphenicol: Antagonistic antimicrobial action (competes for 50S ribosomal binding site)
- Macrolides: Antagonistic antimicrobial action (competes for 50S ribosomal binding site)
Frequently asked questions
What is Lincomycin used for in pets?
- **Administration**: Give the medication exactly as prescribed. While food can decrease absorption, if your pet experiences mild stomach upset, giving it with a small treat or meal may help. - **Complete the Course**: Do not stop the medication early even if your pet seems better, as this can lead to resistant infections. - **Adverse Effects**: Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice **severe, protracted, or bloody diarrhea**, vomiting, or loss of appetite. - **Nursing Pets**: Inform your veterinarian if your pet is pregnant or nursing, as this drug passes into milk and may cause diarrhea in nursing offspring. - **Other Medications**: Do not give over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications containing kaolin within 2 hours of this drug, as it will prevent the antibiotic from being absorbed.
Is Lincomycin safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
Worried about your pet?
Peqaboo’s AI helps you track symptoms, understand lab reports, and know when to see a vet.
Get the Peqaboo app