Adapalene .1 g/100g Cream
🆔 Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Retinoid class.
Where does this data come from?
🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
Where does this data come from?
🩺 Clinical
Adapalene is used to treat acne in adults and children 12 years of and older. Adapalene is in a class of medications called retinoid-like compounds. It works by stopping pimples from forming under the surface of the skin.
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- Most people start to see meaningful improvement after 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use. In the early weeks, your acne might actually look a little worse before it gets better — this...
- How long does it take for adapalene to clear up my acne?
- Yes, redness, dryness, flaking, and mild stinging are the most common side effects, especially in the first few weeks. They're usually mild to moderate and tend to get better as yo...
- My skin is really red and dry after starting adapalene — is that normal?
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Where does this data come from?
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
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UNII HHT01ZNK31
Carbomer Homopolymer Type B is a synthetic polymer made from acrylic acid. It absorbs water and forms a gel, so it's used in medicines as a thickener, suspending agent, and to help create a smooth texture in creams, gels, and lotions.
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UNII NMQ347994Z
Cyclomethicone is a silicone-based fluid that acts as a lubricant and solvent in medicines. It helps products flow smoothly, reduces friction between particles, and aids in even distribution of active ingredients.
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UNII 7FLD91C86K
Edetate disodium is a chemical compound that binds and removes certain metal ions. In medicines, it acts as a preservative and stabilizer by preventing metals like calcium from interfering with the product's shelf life and consistency.
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UNII PDC6A3C0OX
Glycerin is a clear, thick liquid derived from plant oils or fats. It acts as a humectant to retain moisture, a sweetener, and a solvent in medications.
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UNII A2I8C7HI9T
Methylparaben is a preservative derived from benzoic acid that prevents growth of bacteria, fungi, and mold in medicines. It extends the product's shelf life and maintains safety during storage.
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UNII HIE492ZZ3T
Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic preservative and antimicrobial agent used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in medicines and cosmetic products, extending shelf life and maintaining product safety.
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UNII Z8IX2SC1OH
Propylparaben is a chemical preservative used to prevent bacterial and fungal growth in medicines and personal care products. It helps extend shelf life and maintain product safety during storage.
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UNII GW89575KF9
Squalane is a lightweight oil derived from plant sources or synthesized. It acts as an emollient and lubricant in formulations, helping ingredients blend smoothly and improving product texture and spreadability.
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UNII 9O3K93S3TK
Trolamine is an alkaline compound used as a pH buffer and emulsifier in medicines. It helps neutralize acids, stabilize formulations, and enable mixing of oil and water-based ingredients.
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UNII 059QF0KO0R
Water is a liquid solvent that dissolves and mixes ingredients together in liquid medicines, syrups, and injections. It helps distribute the active drug evenly throughout the product.
10 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per g | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | $2.490 | $112.05 / 45 g |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | $2.91 | $130.90 / 45 g |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $2.81 | $126.31 / 45 g |
Where does this data come from?
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adapalene 1 mg/g 00168-0424-46 | E. | 1 tube | $2.490 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Adapalene .1 g/100gthis 45802-0453-84 | Padagis | 1 tube | $2.490 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Adapalene 1 mg/g 63629-8791-01 | Bryant | 1 tube | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Adapalene 1 mg/g 72162-1048-02 | Bryant | 1 tube | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Proactiv MD Adapalene Acne Treatment .1 g/100g 11410-0958-15 | Alchemee, | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Curist Acne Relief .1 g/100g 72559-0015-13 | Little | 1 tube | — | — | FDA listed | — |
Where does this data come from?
⏳ Availability & generic status
FDA-approved generic versions are listed, and recent pricing/market data suggests they may be available — see Therapeutic equivalents.
Where does this data come from?
🗺️ Medicaid utilization & spend
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
🔬 Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Top reported reactions
Age at onset
Reporter sex
Serious outcomes
Where does this data come from?
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45802-0453-84 You're viewing this | 1 TUBE in 1 CARTON (45802-453-84) / 45 g in 1 TUBE | 2010-10-27 | Active |
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Adapalene Cream, 0.1% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Adapalene Cream, 0.1% should be applied to affected areas of the skin, once daily at nighttime. A thin film of the cream should be applied to the skin areas where acne lesions appear, using enough to cover the entire affected areas lightly. A mild transitory sensation of warmth or slight stinging may occur shortly after the application of Adapalene Cream, 0.1%.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Adapalene Cream, 0.1% should not be administered to individuals who are hypersensitive to adapalene or any of the components in the cream vehicle.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS In controlled clinical trials, local cutaneous irritation was monitored in 285 acne patients who used Adapalene Cream, 0.1% once daily for 12 weeks. The frequency and severity of erythema, scaling, dryness, pruritus and burning were assessed during these studies. The incidence of local cutaneous irritation with Adapalene Cream, 0.1% from the controlled clinical studies is provided in the following table: Incidence of Local Cutaneous Irritation with Adapalene Cream, 0.1% from Controlled Clinical Studies (N=285) None Mild Moderate Severe Erythema 52% (148) 38% (108) 10% (28) ‹1% (1) Scaling 58% (166) 35% (100) 6% (18) ‹1% (1) Dryness 48% (136) 42% (121) 9% (26) ‹1% (2) Pruritus (persistent) 74% (211) 21% (61) 4% (12) ‹1% (1) Burning/Stinging (persistent) 71% (202) 24% (69) 4% (12) ‹1% (2) Other reported local cutaneous adverse events in patients who used Adapalene Cream, 0.1% once daily included: sunburn (2%), skin discomfort-burning and stinging (1%) and skin irritation (1%).
Events occurring in less than 1% of patients treated with Adapalene Cream, 0.1% included: acne flare, dermatitis and contact dermatitis, eyelid edema, conjunctivitis, erythema, pruritus, skin discoloration, rash, and eczema.
🔄 Drug Interactions ▾
Drug Interactions As Adapalene Cream, 0.1% has the potential to produce local irritation in some patients, concomitant use of other potentially irritating topical products (medicated or abrasive soaps and cleansers, soaps and cosmetics that have a strong drying effect, and products with high concentrations of alcohol, astringents, spices or lime rind) should be approached with caution. Particular caution should be exercised in using preparations containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid in combination with Adapalene Cream, 0.1%.
If these preparations have been used, it is advisable not to start therapy with Adapalene Cream, 0.1% until the effects of such preparations in the skin have subsided.
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
Pregnancy Teratogenic effects Pregnancy category C No teratogenic effects were seen in rats at oral doses of 0.15 to 5.0 mg/kg/day adapalene (up to 20 times the MRHD based on mg/m 2 comparisons). However, adapalene administered orally at doses of ≥ 25 mg/kg, (100 times the MRHD for rats or 200 times MRHD for rabbits) has been shown to be teratogenic. Cutaneous teratology studies in rats and rabbits as doses of 0.6, 2.0, and 6.0 mg/kg/day (24 times MRHD for rats or 48 times the MRHD for rabbits) exhibited on fetotoxicity and only minimal increases in supernumerary ribs in rats.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Adapalene should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients below the age of 12 have not been established.
🧓 Geriatric Use ▾
Geriatric Use Clinical studies of Adapalene Cream, 0.1% were conducted in patients 12 to 30 years of age with acne vulgaris and therefore did not include subjects 65 years and older to determine whether they respond differently than younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE Adapalene Cream, 0.1% is intended for cutaneous use only. If the medication is applied excessively, no more rapid or better results will be obtained and marked redness, scaling, or skin discomfort may occur. The acute oral toxicity of Adapalene Cream, 0.1% in mice and rats is greater than 10 mL/kg. Chronic ingestion of the drug may lead to the same side effects as those associated with excessive oral intake of Vitamin A.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Mechanism of Action Adapalene acts on retinoid receptors. Biochemical and pharmacological profile studies have demonstrated that adapalene is a modulator of cellular differentiation, keratinization, and inflammatory processes all of which represent important features in the pathology of acne vulgaris. Mechanistically, adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to the cytosolic receptor protein.
Although the exact mode of action of adapalene is unknown, it is suggested that topical adapalene normalizes the differentiation of follicular epithelial cells resulting in decreased microcomedone formation. Pharmacokinetics Absorption of adapalene from Adapalene Cream, 0.1% through human skin is low. In a pharmacokinetic study with six acne patients treated once daily for 5 days with 2 grams of Adapalene Cream, 0.1% applied to 1000 cm 2 of acne involved skin, there were no quantifiable amounts (limit of quantification = 0.35 ng/mL) of adapalene in the plasma samples from any patient.
Excretion appears to be primarily by the biliary route.
🧬 Mechanism of Action ▾
Mechanism of Action Adapalene acts on retinoid receptors. Biochemical and pharmacological profile studies have demonstrated that adapalene is a modulator of cellular differentiation, keratinization, and inflammatory processes all of which represent important features in the pathology of acne vulgaris. Mechanistically, adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to the cytosolic receptor protein.
Although the exact mode of action of adapalene is unknown, it is suggested that topical adapalene normalizes the differentiation of follicular epithelial cells resulting in decreased microcomedone formation.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Adapalene Cream, 0.1% is available as follows: 45 g tube (NDC 45802- 453 -84)
📦 Storage and Handling ▾
STORAGE Store at controlled room temperatures 68˚ to 77˚F (20˚ - 25˚C) with excursions permitted between 59˚ and 86˚F (15˚ - 30˚C). Protect from freezing.
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Adapalene Cream, 0.1%, contains adapalene 0.1% in an aqueous cream emulsion consisting of carbomer 934P, cyclomethicone, edetate disodium, glycerin, methyl glucose sesquistearate, methylparaben, PEG-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, purified water, squalane, and trolamine. The chemical name of adapalene is 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid. It is a white to off-white powder which is soluble in tetrahydrofuran, sparingly soluble in ethanol, and practically insoluble in water.
The molecular formula is C 28 H 28 O 3 and molecular weight is 412.53. Adapalene is represented by the following structural formula. structural formula image
💬 Information for Patients ▾
Information for Patients Patients using Adapalene Cream, 0.1% should receive the following information and instructions: 1. This medication is to be used only as directed by the physician. 2.
It is for external use only. 3. Avoid contact with the eyes, lips, angles of the nose, and mucous membranes.
4. Cleanse area with a mild or soapless cleanser before applying this medication. 5.
Moisturizers may be used if necessary; however, products containing alpha hydroxy or glycolic acids should be avoided. 6. Exposure of the eye to this medication may result in reactions such as swelling, conjunctivitis, and eye irritation.
7. This medication should not be applied to cuts, abrasions, eczematous or sunburned skin. 8.
Wax epilation should not be performed on treated skin due to the potential for skin erosions. 9. During the early weeks of therapy, an apparent exacerbation of acne may occur.
This is due to the action of this medication on previously unseen lesions and should not be considered a reason to discontinue therapy. Overall clinical benefit may be noticed after two weeks of therapy, but at least eight weeks are required to obtain consistent beneficial effects.