Acanya

Generic name: Benzoyl Peroxide And Clindamycin Topical
Drug class: Topical acne agents

Usage of Acanya

Acanya Gel contains a combination of benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin. Benzoyl peroxide has an antibacterial effect. It also has a mild drying effect that allows excess oil and dirt to be washed away. Clindamycin is an antibiotic that prevents bacteria from growing on the skin.

Acanya Gel is used to treat acne vulgaris in patients 12 years or older.

Acanya may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Acanya side effects

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

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

severe redness, burning, stinging, or peeling of treated skin areas; or

diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Less serious Acanya side effects may include:

mild burning or stinging;

itching or tingly feeling;

dryness or peeling of treated skin; or

redness or other irritation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Acanya

Do not use Acanya if you are allergic to benzoyl peroxide or clindamycin (Cleocin, Clina-Derm, Clindets).

Although Acanya is applied to the skin, your body may absorb enough clindamycin to cause serious side effects. You may not be able to use this medication if you have:

inflammation of your intestines (also called enteritis);

ulcerative colitis; or

if you have ever had severe diarrhea caused by antibiotic medicine.

It is not known whether Acanya will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Acanya.

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How to use Acanya

Use Acanya exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Using more medicine or applying it more often than prescribed will not make it work any faster, and may increase side effects.

Wash your hands before and after applying Acanya Gel.

Wash your face with a mild cleanser (not soap), rinse with warm water and pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

Acanya is usually applied once daily. Apply Acanya Gel as a thin layer to the affected areas (excluding the eyes and lips).

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 Acanya to sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin.

It may take several weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using Acanya Gel as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. Keep the jar tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine 2 months after the date you filled the prescription.

Warnings

Use Acanya 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.

Avoid getting Acanya Gel 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 Acanya to sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin.

It may take several weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Although Acanya is applied to the skin, your body may absorb enough clindamycin to cause serious side effects. You may not be able to use this medication if you have inflammation of your intestines (also called enteritis), ulcerative colitis, or if you have ever had severe diarrhea caused by antibiotic medicine.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. This medication can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

What other drugs will affect Acanya

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

erythromycin topical (Akne-Mycin, Emcin Clear, Eryderm, Erygel, Erythra-Derm, Ery-Sol, and others); or

erythromycin taken by mouth (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole, and others).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Acanya. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com'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. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com 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 taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.