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Adapalene Gel USP, 0.3%
Overview
Active ingredients
Source: NDC Directory| Ingredient | Strength | RxCUI | Monograph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adapalene | 3 mg/g | 829539 | View |
Forms, strengths and routes
Source: NDC DirectoryPharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.
Pharmacologic class
Source: NDC Directory| Class | Type | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Retinoid [EPC] | EPC | All 35 members |
| Retinoids [CS] | CS | All 35 members |
Regulatory status
Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory| Product | Trade name | Form | Strength | Ingredient | Status | TE | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200298-001 | ADAPALENE | GEL | ADAPALENE | Prescription | AB |
Therapeutic equivalence
Source: Orange BookWhat this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated by in vivo or in vitro testing
Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.
Approval history
Source: Drugs@FDA| Type | No. | Action | Status | Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original application | 1 | Not Applicable | Approved | June 14, 2012 | — |
Prescribing information
Source: openFDA Drug LabelingReproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20260303). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.
Indications and Usage
openFDA Drug Labeling1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ADAPALENE Gel, 0.3% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. ADAPALENE Gel, 0.3% is a retinoid, indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
Dosage and Administration
openFDA Drug Labeling2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Wash affected areas gently with a non-medicated soap. Apply a thin film of adapalene gel, 0.3% to the entire face and any other affected areas of the skin once daily in the evening. 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 adapalene gel,0.3%. Instruct patients to minimize sun exposure and to use moisturizers for relief of dry skin or irritation. If therapeutic results are not noticed after 12 weeks of treatment, therapy should be re-evaluated. For topical use only. Not for ophthalmic, oral or intravaginal use. • Wash affected areas gently with a non-medicated soap. ( 2 ) • Apply a thin film of adapalene gel, to the entire face and other affected areas of the skin once daily in the evening. ( 2 ) For topical use only. Not for ophthalmic, oral or intravaginal use. ( 2 )
Dosage Forms and Strengths
openFDA Drug Labeling3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Each gram of adapalene gel, 0.3% contains 3 mg adapalene in an off-white aqueous gel. Gel, 0.3%
Contraindications
openFDA Drug Labeling4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Adapalene gel, 0.3% is contraindicated in patients who have known hypersensitivity to adapalene or any excipient of adapalene gel, 0.3% [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS (5.1) ]. Contraindicated in patients who have known hypersensitivity to adapalene or any excipient of adapalene gel,0.3%
Warnings and Cautions
openFDA Drug Labeling5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Allergic/ Hypersensitivity Reactions: Allergy/hypersensitivity reactions include anaphylaxis, angioedema, face edema, eyelid edema, lip swelling, and pruritis. Discontinue adapalene gel in the event of an allergic/hypersensitivity reaction. ( 5.1 ) • Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure: Avoid exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. Wear sunscreen when sun exposure cannot be avoided ( 5.2 ). • Local Cutaneous Reactions: Erythema, scaling, dryness. and stinging/burning were reported with use of adapalene gel. Concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime) should be approached with caution. ( 5.3 ). 5.1 Allergic/ Hypersensitivity Reactions Adverse reactions including anaphylaxis angioedema, face edema, eyelid edema, lip swelling, and pruritus that sometimes required medical treatment have been reported during postmarketing use of adapalene. Advise a patient to stop using Adapalene gel, 0.3% and seek medical attention if experiencing allergic or anaphylactoid/ anaphylactic reactions during treatment. 5.2 Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure Exposure to sunlight, including sunlamps, should be minimized during use of adapalene gel, 0.3%. Patients who normally experience high levels of sun exposure, and those with inherent sensitivity to sun, should be warned to exercise caution. Use of sunscreen products and protective clothing over treated areas is recommended when exposure cannot be avoided. Weather extremes, such as wind or cold, also may be irritating to patients under treatment with adapalene gel, 0.3%. 5.3 Local Cutaneous Reactions Cutaneous signs and symptoms such as erythema, scaling, dryness, and stinging/ burning were reported with use of adapalene gel, 0.3%. These were most likely to occur during the first four weeks of treatment, were mostly mild to moderate in intensity, and usually lessened with continued use of the medication. Depending upon the severity of these side effects, patients should be instructed to either use a moisturizer, reduce the frequency of application of adapalene gel, 0.3% or discontinue use. Avoid application to cuts, abrasions, eczematous or sunburned skin. As with other retinoids, use of "waxing" as a depilatory method should be avoided on skin treated with adapalene. As adapalene gel, 0.3% has the potential to induce local irritation in some patients, concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices, or lime) should be approached with caution.
Adverse Reactions
openFDA Drug Labeling6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most frequently reported (≥1%) adverse reactions were dry skin, skin discomfort, pruritus, desquamation, and sunburn. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Encube Ethicals Private Limited at 1-833-285-4151 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In the multi-center, controlled clinical trial, signs and symptoms of local cutaneous irritation were monitored in 258 acne subjects who used Adapalene gel, 0.3% once daily for 12 weeks. Of the subjects who experienced cutaneous irritation (erythema, scaling, dryness, and/or burning/stinging), the majority of cases were mild to moderate in severity, occurred early in treatment and decreased thereafter. The incidence of local cutaneous irritation with Adapalene gel, 0.3% from the controlled clinical trial is provided in the following table: Table 1: Physician assessed local cutaneous irritation with Adapalene gel Incidence of Local Cutaneous Irritation with Adapalene gel, 0.3% (N = 253*) Maximum Severity Scores Higher Than Baseline Mild Moderate Severe Erythema 66 (26.1%) 33 (13.0%) 1 (0.4%) Scaling 110 (43.5%) 47 (18.6%) 3 (1.2%) Dryness 113 (44.7%) 43 (17.0%) 2 (0.8%) Burning / Stinging 72 (28.5%) 36 (14.2%) 9 (3.6%) * Total number of subjects with local cutaneous data for at least one post-Baseline evaluation. Table 2: Patient reported local cutaneous adverse reactions with Adapalene Gel Adapalene Gel, 0.3% Vehicle Gel N = 258 N = 134 Related* Adverse Reactions Dry Skin Skin Discomfort 57 (22.1%) 36 (14%) 15 (5.8%) 4 (1.6%) 6 (4.5%) 2 (1.5%) 0 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%) * Selected adverse reactions defined by investigator as Possibly, Probably or Definitely Related The following adverse reactions occurred in less than 1 % of subjects: acne flare, contact dermatitis, eyelid edema, conjunctivitis, erythema, pruritus, skin discoloration, rash, and eczema. In a one-year, open-label safety trial of 551 subjects with acne who received Adapalene gel, 0.3%, the pattern of adverse reactions was similar to the 12-week controlled study. 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of adapalene: Immune system disorders: angioedema, face edema, lip swelling Skin disorders: application site pain Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Use in Specific Populations
openFDA Drug Labeling8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data from clinical trials with Adapalene Gel, use in pregnant women are insufficient to establish a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. In animal reproduction studies, oral administration of adapalene to pregnant rats and rabbits_ during organogenesis at dose exposures 40 and 81 times, respectively, the human exposure at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 2 g resulted in fetal skeletal and visceral malformations ( see Data ) . The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defects, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies are 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Animal Data No malformations were observed in rats treated with oral adapalene doses of 0.15 to 5.0 mg/kg/day, up to 8 times the MRHD based on a mg/m 2 comparison. However, malformations were observed in rats and rabbits when treated with oral doses of ≥ 25 mg/kg/day adapalene (40 and 81 times the MRHD, respectively, based on a mg/m 2 comparison). Findings included cleft palate, microphthalmia, encephalocele, and skeletal abnormalities in rats and umbilical hernia, exophthalmos, and kidney and skeletal abnormalities in rabbits. Dermal adapalene embryofetal development studies in rats and rabbits at doses up to 6.0 mg/kg/day (9.7 and 19.5 times the MRHD, respectively, based on a mg/m 2 comparison) exhibited no fetotoxicity and only minimal increases in skeletal variations (supernumerary ribs in both species and delayed ossification in rabbits). 8.2 Lactation Risk Summary There are no data on the presence of topical adapalene gel or its metabolite in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. In animal studies, adapalene is present in rat milk with oral administration of the drug. When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk. It is possible that topical administration of large amounts of adapalene could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in human milk ( see Clinical Considerations ). The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for adapalene gel, 0.3% and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from adapalene gel, 0.3% or from the underlying maternal condition. Clinical Considerations To minimize potential exposure to the breastfed infant via breastmilk, use adapalene gel, 0.3% on the smallest area of skin and for the shortest duration possible while breastfeeding. Avoid application of adapalene gel, 0.3% to areas with increased risk for potential ingestion by or ocular exposure to the breastfeeding child. 8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients below the age of 12. 8.5 Geriatric Use Clinical studies of adapalene gel, 0.3% did not include subjects 65 years of age and older to determine whether they respond differently than younger subjects. Safety and effectiveness in geriatric patients age 65 and above have not been established.
Mechanism of Action
openFDA Drug Labeling12.1 Mechanism of Action 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.
Description
openFDA Drug Labeling11 DESCRIPTION Adapalene Gel USP, 0.3% contains adapalene 0.3% (3 mg/g) in a topical aqueous gel for use in the treatment of acne vulgaris, consisting of carbomer 980, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, purified water, and sodium hydroxide. May contain hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment. The chemical name of adapalene is 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid. It is a white to off-white powder, which is soluble in tetrahydrofuran, very slightly soluble in ethanol, and practically insoluble in water. The molecular formula is C 28 H 28 O 3 and molecular weight is 412.53. Adapalene is represented by the following structural formula. adap-str
Overdosage
openFDA Drug Labeling10 OVERDOSAGE Chronic ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of vitamin A.
How Supplied / Storage and Handling
openFDA Drug Labeling16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING Adapalene Gel, USP,0.3% is supplied in the following size. NDC 72162-2295-2: 45 g in a TUBE NDC 72162-2295-4: 45 g in a PUMP Storage: 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. Keep out of reach of children. Repackaged/Relabeled by: Bryant Ranch Prepack Burbank, CA 91504
Adverse event reports
Source: openFDA FAERSAttributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: ADAPALENE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.
Packaging and NDCs
Source: NDC Directory| Package NDC | Product NDC | Labeler | Description | Marketing start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72162-2295-2 | 72162-2295 | Bryant Ranch Prepack | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (72162-2295-2) / 45 g in 1 TUBE | April 30, 2024 |
| 72162-2295-4 | 72162-2295 | Bryant Ranch Prepack | 1 BOTTLE, PUMP in 1 CARTON (72162-2295-4) / 45 g in 1 BOTTLE, PUMP | April 30, 2024 |
| 21922-051-06 | 21922-051 | Encube Ethicals, Inc. | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (21922-051-06) / 45 g in 1 TUBE | August 10, 2023 |
| 21922-051-50 | 21922-051 | Encube Ethicals, Inc. | 1 BOTTLE, PUMP in 1 CARTON (21922-051-50) / 45 g in 1 BOTTLE, PUMP | August 10, 2023 |
| 72162-2295 | 72162-2295 | Bryant Ranch Prepack | — | May 5, 2023 |
| 21922-051 | 21922-051 | Encube Ethicals, Inc. | — | August 7, 2023 |
Sources for this page
| Dataset | Agency | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NDC Directory | FDA | Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages |
| Drugs@FDA | FDA | Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status |
| Orange Book | FDA | Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity |
| Drug Labeling | FDA / NLM | Prescribing information reproduced above |
| FAERS | FDA | Adverse event report counts |
Generated September 25, 2026 · 11 sections on this page.