Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical
Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide topical is a combination antibiotic and acne gel used to treat acne vulgaris in people 12 years and older.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 32 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide is a common first-choice prescription gel for acne vulgaris (everyday acne) in people 12 and older. It pairs an antibiotic that stops bacteria from making proteins with benzoyl peroxide, which kills bacteria and helps shed the top layer of skin; it has been on the market since about 2009 and is available generically. Most people tolerate it well, and the usual complaints are redness, scaling, itching, burning or stinging. The one serious risk is colitis (an inflamed bowel), because some clindamycin is absorbed through the skin, so stop it and call your doctor for significant or bloody diarrhea, even weeks after your last dose.
Clinical pearls
- Use it once a day on clean, dry skin, then limit sun exposure and skip tanning beds and sun lamps entirely.
- Do not use it if you have ever had ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis (Crohn’s disease) or antibiotic-associated colitis.
- Avoid erythromycin products, which can work against clindamycin, and go easy on peeling or abrasive acne products that pile on irritation.
- If diarrhea starts, skip opioid-type anti-diarrhea medicines such as diphenoxylate with atropine, which can make colitis worse.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical, written from its FDA label.
What Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical is used for
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This combination gel is used for one condition.
- Acne vulgaris, treated topically in people 12 years of age and older (Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/3.75%).
How Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical works
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Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic. It attaches to part of the bacterial protein-making machinery and stops bacteria from building proteins. Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidizing agent that kills bacteria and helps the skin shed.
Both ingredients have shown activity against Propionibacterium acnes, a bacterium linked to acne. Resistance to clindamycin has been documented, and it is often linked with resistance to erythromycin.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical dosage
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The gel is applied to the face once a day. Wash with mild soap, rinse with warm water and pat dry first, then use a pea-sized amount.
- Keep it away from the eyes, mouth, moist linings and broken skin.
- It is not for swallowing or for use in the eyes or vagina.
- Use beyond 12 weeks has not been evaluated.
Follow your prescriber's and the label's directions.
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.
- Acne (topical use on the face)
- Apply a pea-sized amount of Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% to the face once daily
- Wash face gently with a mild soap, rinse with warm water, and pat skin dry before applying; avoid the eyes, mouth, mucous membranes, or areas of broken skin; use beyond 12 weeks has not been evaluated; not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use
Read the label’s full dosing text
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Before applying Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5%, wash your face gently with a mild soap, rinse with warm water, and pat your skin dry. Apply a pea-sized amount of Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% to the face once daily. Avoid the eyes, mouth, mucous membranes, or areas of broken skin. Use of Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% beyond 12 weeks has not been evaluated. Concomitant topical acne therapy should be used with caution because a possible cumulative irritancy effect may occur, especially with the use of peeling, desquamating, or abrasive agents. Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% is not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. • Apply a pea-sized amount of Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% to the face once daily. (2) • Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. (2)
Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical side effects
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Most skin reactions are mild and local.
Common side effects
- Burning sensation
- Contact dermatitis (skin irritation or allergic skin reaction)
- Itching
- Rash
- Redness and scaling of the skin
- Stinging
- Redness, scaling and stinging, which tended to peak around week 4 and improve by week 12
When to get medical help
- Call your doctor and stop the gel if you have significant diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, or severe belly cramps. These can be signs of colitis (inflamed bowel), which can be severe and even fatal.
- Get emergency help for signs of a serious allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis and allergic reactions leading to hospitalization have been reported.
- Call your doctor if skin irritation or dermatitis keeps going. Treatment should be stopped if irritation persists.
- Colitis symptoms can start up to several weeks after stopping an antibiotic like clindamycin.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical warnings and precautions
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- Colitis: severe diarrhea, bloody diarrhea or bowel inflammation have been reported with clindamycin. Stop the gel if significant diarrhea occurs. Symptoms can start weeks after stopping an antibiotic.
- Sun exposure: minimize sun, tanning beds and sun lamps after applying.
- Other acne products: peeling or abrasive products can add to irritation. Your doctor may reduce use or pause treatment if irritation occurs.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical interactions
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A few medicines and products need care with this gel.
- Erythromycin (topical or oral): avoid together, since lab studies show it can work against clindamycin.
- Neuromuscular blocking agents: clindamycin may enhance their effect.
- Other topical acne treatments: irritation can add up.
- Opiate or diphenoxylate with atropine anti-diarrhea drugs: may worsen severe colitis.
Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label
From the Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.
- Erythromycin-containing products (topical or oral): In vitro studies have shown antagonism between erythromycin and clindamycin; the clinical significance of this in vitro antagonism is not known. Should not be used in combination with topical or oral erythromycin-containing products due to its clindamycin component.
- Neuromuscular blocking agents: Clindamycin has been shown to have neuromuscular blocking properties that may enhance the action of other neuromuscular blocking agents. Use with caution in patients receiving such agents.
- Concomitant topical acne therapy (especially peeling, desquamating, or abrasive agents): A possible cumulative irritancy effect may occur. Use with caution.
Read the label’s full interactions text
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Avoid using Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% in combination with topical or oral erythromycin-containing products because of its clindamycin component. (7.1) 7.1 Erythromycin Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% should not be used in combination with topical or oral erythromycin-containing products due to its clindamycin component. In vitro studies have shown antagonism between erythromycin and clindamycin. The clinical significance of this in vitro antagonism is not known. 7.2 Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Clindamycin has been shown to have neuromuscular blocking properties that may enhance the action of other neuromuscular blocking agents. Therefore, Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/2.5% should be used with caution in patients receiving such agents.
Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.
Before taking Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical
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- Do not use if you are allergic to clindamycin, lincomycin, benzoyl peroxide or any ingredient in the gel.
- Do not use if you have a history of regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis or antibiotic-associated colitis.
- Pregnancy: no data in pregnant women are available.
- Breastfeeding: discuss with your doctor, and avoid your baby touching or swallowing gel on your chest.
- Not evaluated in children under 12.
- Not enough people 65 and older were studied to know if they respond differently.
How your body processes Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical
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Absorption of the 1.2%/3.75% gel into the body has not been evaluated. In a study of a similar gel with less benzoyl peroxide, about 75% of adults had measurable clindamycin in the blood, at very low levels. Levels were undetectable 24 hours after application.
Benzoyl peroxide is absorbed by the skin, where it is converted to benzoic acid.
How to store Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical
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Store in a refrigerator, 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) . Protect from freezing.
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What is this gel for?
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How do I put it on?
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What side effects should I expect?
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When should I call my doctor?
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Can I use it with my other acne products?
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Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
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Is Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical available over the counter?
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When was Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical first available?
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Who makes Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical?
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Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical on HelloPharmacist
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical forms and strengths (how it comes)
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical inactive ingredients by manufacturer.
Topical cream, ointment or gel
How this form is used
- Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 1.2%/3.75% is used to treat acne vulgaris in people 12 years and older.
- Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel is for use on the skin only, not by mouth, in the eyes, or in the vagina.
- Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel is applied as a pea-sized amount to the face once daily after washing and drying the skin.
- Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel use beyond 12 weeks has not been evaluated.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
13 companies list 32 Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical product records with the FDA, mostly as topical cream, ointment or gel; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2009. Brand names on the directory include Onexton, Neuac, Acanya; the rest are generics.
Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Kit (24) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.
Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
How widely Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical ranks #324 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 80% of them.
Utilization by Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
Other Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical products — combination packs and listings not yet matched to a specific clinical product (kept visible so every prescription is accounted for)
Summed across the 33 of 56 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity.
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 33 of 56 listed Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Topical cream, ointment or gel | ||||
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 25 mg/g | Topical | Bausch Health US, LLC | NDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 37.5 mg/g | Topical | Bausch Health US, LLC | NDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 37.5 mg/g | Topical | Bryant Ranch Prepack | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Bryant Ranch Prepack × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| BENZOYL PEROXIDE 25 mg/g; CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g | Topical | Bryant Ranch Prepack × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 25 mg/g | Topical | Encube Ethicals, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Encube Ethicals, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 37.5 mg/g | Topical | Mayne Pharma | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Northstar Rx LLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | NorthStar RxLLC | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 25 mg/g | Topical | Oceanside Pharmaceuticals | NDA AUTHORIZED GENERIC | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 37.5 mg/g | Topical | Oceanside Pharmaceuticals | NDA AUTHORIZED GENERIC | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 37.5 mg/g | Topical | Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd | ANDA | View NDC → |
| BENZOYL PEROXIDE 25 mg/g; CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g | Topical | Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 25 mg/g | Topical | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. × 2 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Zydus Lifesciences Limited | ANDA | View NDC → |
| CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | Topical | Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| 💊Kits | ||||
| — | — | Bryant Ranch Prepack | ANDA | View NDC → |
| — | — | Encube Ethicals, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| — | — | Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
| — | — | Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd × 3 listings | ANDA | View NDC → |
| — | — | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. | ANDA | View NDC → |
Showing 32 of 32 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 32 Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical NDCs →
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical FDA approval history
How Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide recalls since July 2021.
✅No Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide recalls on record since July 2021Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical supply and shortage status
Whether Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
💵 What Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)
The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.
| Form | Strength | Pharmacy acquisition benchmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gel · Topical | 50; 10 mg/g; mg/g | $0.501–$0.742 per gram | NDC details & price history |
| Gel · Topical | CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 50 mg/g | $0.501–$0.742 per gram | NDC details & price history |
| Gel · Topical | CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g; BENZOYL PEROXIDE 37.5 mg/g | $13.87 per gram | NDC details & price history |
| Gel · Topical | 25; 10 mg/g; mg/g | $0.819 per gram | NDC details & price history |
| Gel · Topical | BENZOYL PEROXIDE 25 mg/g; CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 10 mg/g | $0.819 per gram | NDC details & price history |
| Gel · Topical | 37.5; 10 mg/g; mg/g | $13.87 per gram | NDC details & price history |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical brand names
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical is sold under 3 brand names in the FDA directory — Onexton, Neuac, Acanya. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical: manufacturers and labelers
13 companies list Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Bryant Ranch Prepack, Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical drug class (RxNorm)
Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical belongs to the Peroxides class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
Sources for this Clindamycin and Benzoyl Peroxide Topical page
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How this page is built
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Oceanside Pharmaceuticals is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →