Two medicines, side by side
Adapalene vs tretinoin
Adapalene and tretinoin are both labeled for acne. Drugs@FDA records approvals of adapalene since 1996 and of tretinoin since 1971. Pharmacies paid $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) and $0.506 per gram (Tretinoin 0.025% cream) (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the adapalene FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 27, 2023); the tretinoin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 17, 2024).
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 tretinoin record
Tretinoin (Retin-A) · label of May 17, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsRETIN-A is indicated for topical application in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The safety and efficacy of the long-term use of this product in the treatment of other disorders have not been established.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 20, 1971
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.506 per gram
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Adapalene label of December 27, 2023, Tretinoin label of May 17, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do adapalene and tretinoin differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class retinoids.
Generics: adapalene since 2010; tretinoin since 1998 (Drugs@FDA).
| Adapalene | Tretinoin | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 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. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 31, 1996 | October 20, 1971 |
| First generic approved | June 2, 2010 | June 19, 1998 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 33 labelers | 23 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.504 per gram (Adapalene 0.3% gel) | $0.506 per gram (Tretinoin 0.025% cream) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -49% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 181,062 | 8,069 |
| 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