Two medicines, side by side
Adapalene vs isotretinoin
Adapalene and isotretinoin are both labeled for acne. Drugs@FDA records approvals of adapalene since 1996 and of isotretinoin since 1982. Pharmacies paid $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) and $11.94 per isotretinoin 10 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Adapalene, “Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein.”; Isotretinoin, “The exact mechanism of action of ABSORICA/ABSORICA LD in the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne in non-pregnant patients 12 years of age and older with multiple inflammatory nodules with a …”
Check it at the source: the adapalene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 27, 2023); the isotretinoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 19, 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 isotretinoin record
Isotretinoin (Accutane) · label of August 19, 2026
EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY – CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY ABSORICA/ABSORICA LD can cause life-threatening birth defects and is contraindicated in pregnancy. There is an extremely high risk that life-threatening birth defects will result if pregnancy occurs while taking any amount of ABSORICA/ABSORICA LD even for short periods of time. Potentially any fetus exposed during pregnancy can be affected. There are no accurate means of determining prenatally whether an exposed fetus has been affected.
Used for
From the label: indicationsABSORICA and ABSORICA LD are indicated for the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne in non-pregnant patients 12 years of age and older with multiple inflammatory nodules with a diameter of 5 mm or greater. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 7, 1982
- Generic labelers
- 13 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $11.94 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 16
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Adapalene label of December 27, 2023, Isotretinoin label of August 19, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do adapalene and isotretinoin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Adapalene, “Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein.”; Isotretinoin, “The exact mechanism of action of ABSORICA/ABSORICA LD in the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne in non-pregnant patients 12 years of age and older with multiple inflammatory nodules with a …”
Only the isotretinoin label carries a boxed warning.
Both are in FDA's class retinoids.
Generics: adapalene since 2010; isotretinoin since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Adapalene | Isotretinoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acne | Acne |
| Pharmacologic class | Retinoid | Retinoid |
| How it works (label) | Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to cytosolic receptor protein. | The exact mechanism of action of ABSORICA/ABSORICA LD in the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne in non-pregnant patients 12 years of age and older with multiple inflammatory nodules with a diameter of 5 mm or greater who are … |
| 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 31, 1996 | May 7, 1982 |
| First generic approved | June 2, 2010 | November 8, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 13 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) | $11.94 per capsule (Isotretinoin 10 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | +6% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 16 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 181,062 | 49,172 |
| 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