Two medicines, side by side
Adapalene vs clindamycin
Adapalene and clindamycin are both labeled for acne. Drugs@FDA records approvals of adapalene since 1996 and of clindamycin since 1970. Pharmacies paid $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) and $0.137 per gram (Clindamycin ph 1% gel) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, adapalene is a retinoid and clindamycin a lincosamide antibacterial.
Check it at the source: the adapalene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 27, 2023); the clindamycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 10, 2026).
Highlights of the adapalene record
Adapalene (Differin) · label of December 27, 2023
Used for
From the label: indicationsDIFFERIN Gel is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. DIFFERIN Gel, 0.3%, is a retinoid, indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 31, 1996
- Generic labelers
- 33 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.504 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the clindamycin record
Clindamycin (Cleocin) · label of March 10, 2026
Clostridioides difficile -associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including clindamycin hydrochloride and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon, leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.
Used for
From the label: indicationsClindamycin is indicated in the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria. Clindamycin is also indicated in the treatment of serious infections due to susceptible strains of streptococci, pneumococci, and staphylococci. Its use should be reserved for penicillin-allergic patients or other patients for whom, in the judgment of the physician, a penicillin is inappropriate. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 22, 1970
- Generic labelers
- 60 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.137 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 24
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Adapalene label of December 27, 2023, Clindamycin label of March 10, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do adapalene and clindamycin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, adapalene is a retinoid and clindamycin a lincosamide antibacterial.
Half-life, in each label's words: Adapalene, “The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 …”; Clindamycin, “Excretion The average biological half-life is 2.4 hours.”
Only the clindamycin label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: adapalene since 2010; clindamycin since 1982 (Drugs@FDA).
| Adapalene | Clindamycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne | Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Retinoid | Lincosamide Antibacterial |
| How it works (label) | Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal apparent half-life, determined in 15 of 16 subjects, ranged from 7 to 51 hours, with a mean of 17.2 ± 10.2 hours. | Excretion The average biological half-life is 2.4 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 31, 1996 | February 22, 1970 |
| First generic approved | June 2, 2010 | February 8, 1982 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 60 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) | $0.137 per gram (Clindamycin ph 1% gel) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 24 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 181,062 | 8,968 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to adapalene
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions