Clindamycin and tretinoin (topical)

Clindamycin is an antibiotic that helps fight bacteria in the body.

Tretinoin is a type of vitamin A. It decreases the oil produced by the oil glands in your skin and helps your skin renew itself faster.

Clindamycin and tretinoin is a combination medicine used to treat severe nodular acne in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.

Clindamycin and tretinoin (topical) may also be used for other reasons that are not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Using more medicine or applying it more often than prescribed will not make it work any faster and may increase side effects.

Wash your hands before and after applying this medication.

Wash your face with a mild soap or cleanser and pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

Use only a pea-sized amount of clindamycin and tretinoin (topical). Apply to your entire face every night at bedtime.

Do not wash your face more than 3 times daily while using this medication. Washing more often or scrubbing your face when you wash it can make your acne worse.

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, or nose (or in the creases of your nose), or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not apply this medicine to sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin.

Use this medication for the full prescribed length of time, even if you think it is not working. Call your doctor if skin irritation becomes severe or if your acne does not improve after several weeks of using this medicine.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using clindamycin and tretinoin (topical).

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not freeze.

You should not use this medication if you have ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, inflammation of your intestines (also called enteritis), or if you have ever had severe diarrhea caused by antibiotic medicine.

You should not use clindamycin and tretinoin (topical) if you are also taking another antibiotic called erythromycin, or using other skin medications that contain erythromycin.

Although clindamycin and tretinoin is put on the skin, your body may absorb enough clindamycin to impact certain medical conditions you may have.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to clindamycin or tretinoin, or if you have:

• inflammation of your intestines (also called enteritis);
• Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis; or
• if you have ever had severe diarrhea caused by antibiotic medicine.

You should not use clindamycin and tretinoin topical if you are also taking another antibiotic called erythromycin, or using other skin medications that contain erythromycin.

To ensure clindamycin and tretinoin topical is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• any allergies; or
• a history of stomach or intestinal disorders.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether clindamycin and tretinoin topical will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

It is not known whether clindamycin and tretinoin topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

This medicine should not be used on a child younger than 12 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you notice any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

clindamycin and tretinoin may lead to serious side effects. Stop using clindamycin and tretinoin and contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• severe redness, burning, stinging, or scaling of the skin in treated areas; or
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Common side effects of clindamycin and tretinoin may include:

• mild skin irritation, dryness, or peeling;
• mild skin redness; or
• itching of the treated skin.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other side effects may happen. Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Usual Adult Dose for Acne:

At bedtime, squeeze a pea-sized amount of medication into one fingertip, dot it onto the chin, cheeks, nose, and forehead, and then gently rub over the entire face.Comments: Avoid the eyes, lips, and mucous membranes. This medication is not for oral, ophthalmic, intranasal or intravaginal use.Use: Topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years or older.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Acne:

Patients 12 years through 18 years: At bedtime, squeeze a pea-sized amount of medication into one fingertip, dot it onto the chin, cheeks, nose, and forehead, and then gently rub over the entire face.Comments: Avoid the eyes, lips, and mucous membranes. This medication is not for oral, ophthalmic, intranasal or intravaginal use.Use: Topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years or older.

Use the medication as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to compensate for the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Avoid washing treated skin or applying other skin products for at least 1 hour after applying clindamycin and tretinoin.

Avoid using other medications on the areas you treat with clindamycin and tretinoin (topical) unless your doctor tells you to. Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop using this medicine and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Clindamycin and tretinoin (topical) can make you sunburn more easily. Apply sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) every morning and throughout the day as needed. Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds.

Your skin may be more sensitive to weather extremes such as cold and wind. Protect your skin with clothing and use a moisturizing cream or lotion as needed.

It is unlikely that other medicines you take by mouth or through injection will affect clindamycin and tretinoin (topical) applied to the skin. However, many medicines can interact with each other. Inform all your health care providers about every medicine you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.