Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of applying the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For adapalene, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to adapalene. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Adapalene has not been studied in pregnant women. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Adapalene in large doses has been shown to cause some bone problems in the fetuses of some animals. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you are trying to become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known if adapalene passes into breast milk.

Children—Studies of this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of adapalene in children up to 12 years of age with use in other age groups. In teenagers, adapalene is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of adapalene in the elderly with use in other age groups. Older adults are not likely to develop acne.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be applied to the same area of the skin.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of adapalene. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Eczema or
• Seborrheic dermatitis—Use of this medicine may cause or increase the irritation associated with eczema or seborrheic dermatitis