Adapalene

What is Adapalene?

• Adapalene (Differin) is a retinoid, used for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.

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What are the uses of this medicine?

• Adapalene (Differin) is used for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.

How does this medicine work?

• Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein.
• Biochemical and pharmacological profile studies have demonstrated that adapalene is a modulator of cellular differentiation, keratinization, and inflammatory processes.
• However, the significance of these findings with regard to the mechanism of action of adapalene for the treatment of acne is unknown.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

This medicine cannot be used in patients who:

• are hypersensitive to adapalene or any of the components in the gel vehicle.

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• No formal drug-drug interaction studies were conducted with Differin.

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• Adapalene (Differin) is FDA approved on Jun 14, 2012.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage:

• Apply a thin film of Differin Gel, 0.3% to the entire face and any other affected areas of the skin once daily in the evening, after washing gently with a non-medicated soap.
• If therapeutic results are not noticed after 12 weeks of treatment, therapy should be re-evaluated.

Administration:

• For topical use only. Not for ophthalmic, oral or intravaginal use.
• Avoid application to the areas of skin around eyes, lips, and mucous membranes.
• A mild transitory sensation of warmth or slight stinging may occur shortly after the application of Differin Gel, 0.3%.
• Patients should be instructed to minimize sun exposure.
• Patients may be instructed to use moisturizers for relief of dry skin or irritation.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form: As Differin Gel, 0.3%: Each gram of Differin Gel, 0.3% contains 3 mg adapalene in an off-white aqueous gel.

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• Differin

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• dry skin
• skin discomfort
• pruritus
• desquamation
• sunburn

What special precautions should I follow?

• Avoid exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. Wear sunscreen when sun exposure cannot be avoided. Erythema, scaling, dryness, and stinging/burning were reported with use of Differin Gel.
• Certain cutaneous signs and symptoms of treatment such as erythema, scaling, dryness, and stinging/burning were reported with use of Differin Gel, 0.3%. Depending upon the severity of these side effects, patients should be instructed to either use a moisturizer, reduce the frequency of application of Differin Gel, 0.3% or discontinue use.
• Avoid contact with the eyes, lips, angles of the nose, and mucous membranes. The product should not be applied to cuts, abrasions, eczematous or sunburned skin.
• Reactions characterized by symptoms such as pruritus, face edema, eyelid edema, and lip swelling, requiring medical treatment have been reported during postmarketing use of adapalene.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

Symptoms of overdosage may include:

• marked redness
• scaling
• skin discomfort

• Chronic ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of vitamin A.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• Retinoids may cause fetal harm, when administered to pregnant women.
• There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
• Differin Gel, 0.3% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
• The safety and efficacy of Differin Gel, 0.3% in pregnancy has not been established.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients below the age of 12.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

Active ingredient:

• Adapalene

Inactive ingredients:

• Carbomer Homopolymer Type C
• Edetate Disodium
• Methylparaben
• Propylene Glycol
• Water
• Sodium Hydroxide
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Poloxamer 124

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

Marketed by: GALDERMA LABORATORIES, L.P. Fort Worth, Texas USA Made in Canada GALDERMA is a registered trademark.

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• Store at controlled room temperature 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C) with excursions permitted between 59° to 86°F (15° to 30°C).
• Protect from freezing.

• Dailymed label info on Adapalene
• FDA Adapalene

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