adapalene vs apremilast
Side-by-side comparison of adapalene and apremilast Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Differin
Otezla
Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel is a medicine used on the skin to treat acne. It contains two medicines: adapalene (a retinoid) and benzoyl peroxide.
Apremilast (Otezla/Otezla XR) is a medicine that can help adults and children manage psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. It can also help adults with oral ulcers from Behçet's Disease.
This medicine treats acne, a skin condition with pimples and bumps. You can use this medicine if you are 9 years or older. Apply the gel to the affected areas of your face and/or trunk.
Apremilast is used to treat active psoriatic arthritis in adults and children 6 years and older. It also treats plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older who may use light therapy or other medicines that affect the whole body. Apremilast can also treat oral ulcers caused by Behçet's Disease in adults.
Adapalene is a retinoid that helps to unclog pores and reduce inflammation. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial medicine that kills acne-causing bacteria. Together, they help to clear up acne.
Apremilast is a type of medicine called a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor. It works by blocking PDE4 in your body. This helps to reduce inflammation and other symptoms of these conditions.
- • Dry skin
- • Contact dermatitis (skin rash)
- • Burning feeling on the skin where you put the medicine
- • Skin irritation
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold)
- The medicine did not work 51,276
- Dry skin 44,990
- Burning feeling on the skin 41,633
- Acne 39,264
- Redness 38,379
- Diarrhea 24,315
- Nausea 21,927
- Psoriasis 20,247
- Headache 17,679
- Medicine not working 15,315
When using this medicine, avoid sunlight and sunlamps. If you can't avoid the sun, wear sunscreen. This medicine may cause skin irritation, redness, scaling, dryness, stinging, or burning. If this happens, use a moisturizer or apply the medicine less often. If irritation is severe, stop using the medicine.
Apremilast can cause serious side effects. It can cause allergic reactions like swelling and trouble breathing. It can also cause or worsen depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects.
If you are pregnant, only use this medicine if the benefit outweighs the risk to the baby. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor before using it if you are breastfeeding.
Apremilast may increase the risk of fetal loss during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This adapalene vs apremilast Comparison
adapalene is classified in the Retinoid (Topical) drug class, while apremilast sits within the PDE4 Inhibitor class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, adapalene has 215,542 submissions while apremilast has 99,483. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between adapalene and apremilast — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.