adapalene vs ustekinumab
Side-by-side comparison of adapalene and ustekinumab Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Differin
Stelara
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.
Ustekinumab-aekn (Stelara) is a medicine that helps control inflammation in your body. It works by blocking certain proteins that cause inflammation.
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.
This medicine can treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older. It can also treat active psoriatic arthritis in adults and children 6 years and older. In adults, it can treat moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
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.
Ustekinumab-aekn blocks two proteins in your body called interleukin-12 and interleukin-23. These proteins cause inflammation. By blocking them, the medicine helps reduce inflammation and the symptoms of your condition.
- • Dry skin
- • Contact dermatitis (skin rash)
- • Burning feeling on the skin where you put the medicine
- • Skin irritation
- • Common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis)
- • Upper respiratory infection
- • Headache
- • Tiredness (fatigue)
- • Vomiting (for Crohn's disease induction)
- The medicine did not work 51,276
- Dry skin 44,990
- Burning feeling on the skin 41,633
- Acne 39,264
- Redness 38,379
- The medicine is not working 14,435
- Using the medicine for a condition it's not approved for 12,254
- A dose of the medicine was missed 9,763
- Tiredness 6,589
- Psoriasis 6,432
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.
Ustekinumab-aekn can increase your risk of getting serious infections. Tell your doctor if you have any signs of an infection, like fever, cough, or body aches. Before starting this medicine, your doctor should check you for tuberculosis (TB). This medicine may also increase your risk of certain cancers. Contact your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction. This medicine can also cause a rare condition called Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES).
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ustekinumab-aekn will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine during pregnancy. It is also not known if ustekinumab-aekn passes into breast milk.
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How to Read This adapalene vs ustekinumab Comparison
adapalene is classified in the Retinoid (Topical) drug class, while ustekinumab sits within the Anti-IL-12/23 Monoclonal Antibody 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 ustekinumab has 49,473. 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 ustekinumab — 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.