What is Acanya?
Acanya Gel is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) to treat acne vulgaris in people 12 years of age and older.
- It is not known if Acanya Gel is safe and effective for use longer than 12 weeks.
It is not known if Acanya Gel is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.
What is the most important information I should know about Acanya?
Important information: Acanya Gel is for use on skin only (topical use). Do not use Acanya Gel in your mouth, eyes, or vagina.
Who should not use Acanya?
Do not use Acanya Gel if you have:
- had an allergic reaction to clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, lincomycin or any of the ingredients in Acanya Gel. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Acanya Gel.
- Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
- had inflammation of the colon (colitis), or severe diarrhea with past antibiotic use.
Talk with your doctor if you are not sure if you have any of the conditions listed above.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Acanya?
Before using Acanya Gel, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- plan to have surgery. Acanya Gel may affect how certain medicines work that may be given during surgery.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Acanya Gel will harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Acanya Gel passes into your breast milk. Clindamycin when taken by mouth or by injection has been reported to appear in breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with Acanya Gel.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Acanya Gel may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect how Acanya Gel works.
- Especially tell your doctor if you take medicine by mouth that contains erythromycin or use products on your skin that contain erythromycin. Acanya Gel should not be used with products that contain erythromycin.
- Tell your doctor about any skin products you use. Other skin and topical acne products may increase the irritation of your skin when used with Acanya Gel.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them and show it to your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I use Acanya?
- Use Acanya Gel exactly as your doctor tells you to use it. See the detailed Instructions for Use that came with your medication for directions about how to apply Acanya Gel.
- Your doctor will tell you how long to use Acanya Gel.
- Apply Acanya Gel to your face 1 time each day.
What should I avoid while using Acanya?
- Limit your time in sunlight. You should avoid using tanning beds or sunlamps during treatment with Acanya Gel. If you have to be in sunlight, wear a wide-brimmed hat or other protective clothing, and use sunscreen to cover the treated areas.
- Avoid getting Acanya Gel in your hair or on colored fabric. Acanya Gel may bleach hair or colored fabric.
What are the possible side effects of Acanya?
Acanya Gel can cause serious side effects including:
- Inflammation of the colon (colitis). Stop using Acanya Gel and call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach (abdominal) cramps, watery diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea during treatment, and within several weeks after treatment with Acanya Gel.
- Allergic reactions. Stop using Acanya Gel, call your doctor and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms during treatment with Acanya Gel:
- severe itching
- swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue or throat
- trouble breathing
The most common side effects of Acanya Gel include application site pain, application site irritation including redness, itching, burning, and stinging. Stop using Acanya Gel and call your doctor if you have a skin rash or your skin becomes very red, itchy or swollen. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all of the possible side effects with Acanya Gel.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about the safe and effective use of Acanya
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use Acanya Gel for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Acanya Gel to other people, even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about Acanya Gel that is written for healthcare professionals.
How should I store Acanya?
- Store Acanya Gel at room temperature at or below 77°F (25°C).
- Do not freeze Acanya Gel.
- Throw away (discard) Acanya Gel that has passed the expiration date.
- Store pump upright.
- Keep the container tightly closed.
Keep Acanya Gel and all medicines out of the reach of children.
What are the ingredients in Acanya?
Active Ingredients: clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide
Inactive Ingredients: purified water, carbomer 980, propylene glycol, and potassium hydroxide
