clindamycin and tretinoin (topical)

What is the most important information I should know about clindamycin and tretinoin topical?

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, or nose (or in the creases of your nose), or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not apply this medicine to sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin.

Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime. Do not use other medicated skin products unless your doctor has told you to.

Although this medicine is applied to the skin, your body may absorb enough clindamycin to cause serious side effects.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Clindamycin and tretinoin topical can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Your skin may be more sensitive to weather extremes such as cold and wind. Protect your skin with clothing and use a moisturizing cream or lotion as needed.

What is clindamycin and tretinoin topical?

Clindamycin is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria in the body.

Tretinoin is a form of vitamin A. It reduces the amount of oil released by oil glands in your skin, and helps your skin renew itself more quickly.

The combination of clindamycin and tretinoin is used to treat severe nodular acne in adults and children who are at least 12 years old.

Clindamycin and tretinoin topical may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using clindamycin and tretinoin topical?

Although this medicine is applied to the skin, your body may absorb enough clindamycin to cause serious side effects.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to clindamycin (Cleocin, Clina-Derm, Clindets), or tretinoin (Renova, Retin-A, Tretin-X), or if you have:

• inflammation of your intestines (also called enteritis);
• ulcerative colitis; or
• if you have ever had severe diarrhea caused by antibiotic medicine.

Before using clindamycin and tretinoin topical, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a history of stomach or intestinal disorders. You may not be able to use the medication, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

How should I use clindamycin and tretinoin topical?

Use clindamycin and tretinoin topical exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Using more medicine or applying it more often than prescribed will not make it work any faster, and may increase side effects. Do not use this medication for longer than your doctor has prescribed.

Wash your hands before and after applying this medication.

Wash your face with a mild soap or cleanser and pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

Use only a pea-sized amount of clindamycin and tretinoin topical. Apply to your entire face every night at bedtime.

Do not wash your face more than 3 times daily while using this medication. Washing more often or scrubbing your face when you wash it can make your acne worse.

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, or nose (or in the creases of your nose), or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not apply this medicine to sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin.

Use this medication for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you think it is not working. Call your doctor if skin irritation becomes severe or if your acne does not improve after several weeks of using this medicine.

Store tretinoin topical at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medication as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a clindamycin and tretinoin topical overdose may result if you absorb this medicine through your skin by applying too much of it. Symptoms of a clindamycin overdose may include watery or bloody diarrhea.

What should I avoid while using clindamycin and tretinoin topical?

Do not wash the treated area for at least 1 hour after applying tretinoin topical. Avoid the use of other skin products on the treated area for at least 1 hour following application of tretinoin topical.

Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime. Do not use other medicated skin products unless your doctor has told you to.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Clindamycin and tretinoin topical can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Your skin may be more sensitive to weather extremes such as cold and wind. Protect your skin with clothing and use a moisturizing cream or lotion as needed.

What are the possible side effects of clindamycin and tretinoin topical?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• severe redness, burning, stinging, or peeling of treat skin areas; or
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Continue using this medicine and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• mild itching, stinging, or dryness of treated skin;
• temporary lightening or darkening of treated skin; or
• stuffy nose, sore throat, cough.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect clindamycin and tretinoin topical?

Before using clindamycin and tretinoin topical, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• erythromycin topical (Akne-Mycin, Emcin Clear, Eryderm, Erygel, Erythra-Derm, Ery-Sol, and others); or
• erythromycin taken by mouth (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, Robimycin, and others).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use clindamycin and tretinoin topical, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect clindamycin and tretinoin topical. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has information about clindamycin and tretinoin topical written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Clindamycin and tretinoin topical is available with a prescription under the brand name Ziana. Other brand or generic forms may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Your pharmacist has information about clindamycin and tretinoin topical written for health professionals that you may read.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are using, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.02. Revision date: 2/13/07.