Adapalene/benzoyl peroxide, sold under the brand name Epiduo among others, is a
fixed-dose combination
A combination drug or a fixed-dose combination (FDC) is a medicine that includes two or more active ingredients combined in a single dosage form. Terms like "combination drug" or "combination drug product" can be common shorthand for a FDC pr ...
medication for the treatment of severe
acne vulgaris.
It consists of a combination of
adapalene
Adapalene is a third-generation topical retinoid primarily used in the treatment of mild-moderate acne, and is also used off-label to treat keratosis pilaris as well as other skin conditions. Studies have found adapalene is as effective as othe ...
and
benzoyl peroxide in a topical
gel
A gel is a semi-solid that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Gels are defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system, which exhibits no flow when in the steady-state, although the liquid phase may still dif ...
formulation.
It is available as a
generic medication.
Medical uses
Adapalene/benzoyl peroxide is
indicated
In medicine, an indication is a valid reason to use a certain test, medication, procedure, or surgery. There can be multiple indications to use a procedure or medication. An indication can commonly be confused with the term diagnosis. A diagnosis ...
for the
topical treatment of acne vulgaris.
Side effects
Commonly reported side effects include the following:
*
Skin redness
*
Scaling
Scaling may refer to:
Science and technology
Mathematics and physics
* Scaling (geometry), a linear transformation that enlarges or diminishes objects
* Scale invariance, a feature of objects or laws that do not change if scales of length, energ ...
*
Dry skin
Xeroderma, xerosis or xerosis cutis, or simply dry skin, is a skin condition characterized by excessively dry skin.
The medical term ''xeroderma'', meaning "dry skin", derives from modern Latin, ''xero-'' 'dry' + Greek ''derma'' 'skin'.
In most ...
*
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents. Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes are ...
*
Skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different de ...
irritation
*
Stinging
*
Burning
Research
Meta-analysis of clinical trials has shown this combined therapy to be more effective than either of its ingredients by themselves.
The use of adapalene/benzoyl peroxide in combination with oral antibiotics (
lymecycline) has been studied;
the combination was well tolerated and showed an improved success rate compared to those receiving only antibiotics (47.6% vs. 33.7%, P = 0.002).
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adapalene Benzoyl Peroxide
Anti-acne preparations
Combination drugs