Cabtreo
Cabtreo is a combination medication that’s made up of three active ingredients: clindamycin (an antibiotic), adapalene (a retinoid), and benzoyl peroxide (an antiseptic). These ingredients work together to treat acne in people 12 years of age and older. Cabtreo is a topical gel that’s applied as a thin layer onto the face once daily. Common side effects of the medication include pain, redness, and dryness at the site of application.
What is Cabtreo?
What is Cabtreo used for?
How Cabtreo works
Cabtreo is a combination of three medications that work together to treat acne.
- Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic. It prevents the bacteria that cause acne from making essential proteins for their growth. This stops the bacteria from growing and spreading.
- Adapalene is a retinoid. It works by getting rid of dead skin cells and promoting the growth of new skin cells. This helps remove facial blemishes from the skin by unclogging pores that are overfilled with dead skin cells and oil.
- Benzoyl peroxide is an antiseptic. It prevents acne-causing bacteria from being able to grow and spread on the skin. In addition, it helps improve the skin texture by shedding damaged or flaking skin and reducing inflammation.
Drug facts
More on Cabtreo essentials
Side effects of Cabtreo
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Pain at the application site (14%)
- Skin redness (5%)
- Dry skin (4%)
- Skin irritation (2%)
- Skin peeling or flaky skin (2%)
Cabtreo serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reaction: severe facial swelling (including eyelids), tongue or mouth swelling, skin rash, hives, itching, trouble breathing, chest tightness
- Serious gut problems: stomach pain, diarrhea, blood in your stool
More on Cabtreo side effects
The following Cabtreo side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Burning, itching, crusting, or peeling of treated skin
- Severe diarrhea, fever
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Mild skin irritation, redness, or dryness
- Skin reactions on sun-exposed areas
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Pros and cons of Cabtreo
Pros
- Three medications that treat acne in one product, so it’s convenient
- Applied to the skin
- Approved for children ages 12 years and older
Cons
- Uncomfortable side effects like pain at the application site and skin peeling
- Skin can become sensitive to the sun, which can increase the likelihood of sunburns
- May bleach your hair, clothing, and bedding
Pharmacist tips for Cabtreo
- The pharmacist will get Cabtreo out of the refrigerator when you pick it up from the pharmacy. Once you get home, keep the medication at room temperature until its expiration date (in 2.5 months). Make sure to keep Cabtreo away from heat and store it upright.
- Cabtreo can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. This can increase the risk for sunburn and possible skin cancer. Wear water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 (or higher) daily to protect your skin from the sun and forms of artificial light.
- During the first two weeks of treatment with Cabtreo, your skin may become more irritated and your acne may worsen. But the appearance of your skin should improve as you continue to use Cabtreo and with time. Speak with your dermatologist if you’re concerned about how your skin looks while you’re using Cabtreo.
- It's best to apply a moisturizer to your face every day while you’re using Cabtreo. This medication can dry the skin, which can be very uncomfortable for some people. Moisturizers help replenish the skin and relieve dryness and skin irritation. Please seek further guidance from your dermatologist to find a moisturizer for your skin.
- Cold weather and wind can make skin that’s treated with Cabtreo even drier. Have a moisturizer handy to prevent cracked skin. You can also apply a cold compress to the irritated skin for a few minutes several times a day to help soothe the skin. But don’t place ice or ice packs directly to the skin since it can lead to more irritation.
Tips on how to use Cabtreo:
- Wash your hands and your face with a gentle cleanser before you use Cabtreo. Then, pat dry your skin. Cabtreo works best when it’s applied to clean, dry skin.
- Press the Cabtreo pump to get a pea-sized amount of medication onto your fingertip. Place small dots of medication onto the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Then, gently rub the gel into your face with your fingertips to spread the medication into a thin layer over your entire face.
- Be careful when you’re spreading Cabtreo over your face so that the medication doesn’t get too close to your eyes, mouth, and nose. Also avoid applying Cabtreo to skin that has cuts, burns, or any open wounds. Cabtreo can irritate the skin if it’s applied near or on any of these areas.
- After applying Cabtreo, wash your hands well with soap and water to get any leftover medication off your hands. This makes sure that the medication doesn’t accidentally get in or near extra sensitive areas like your nose, mouth, or eyes. It also prevents the medication from getting into food items or onto pets.
Common questions about Cabtreo
In a clinical trial, some people saw improvements in their skin as early as after 2 weeks of using Cabtreo. But it might take up to 3 months before you see more noticeable or more significant reductions in your inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne (e.g., whiteheads, blackheads, inflamed sores). Keep in mind that your acne might get worse or your skin might get more irritated for a few weeks when you first start Cabtreo before you see improvement. Since it can take a few months to see the most improvement with Cabtreo, it’s important not to get discouraged. Be sure to continue to use Cabtreo every day. Contact your dermatologist if you’re concerned that Cabtreo isn’t working well for you.
Cleanse your face thoroughly, rinse with warm water, and allow enough time for the skin to dry completely. Place a pea-sized amount of Cabtreo onto your fingertip. Then, dab the medication onto six areas of your face: a spot on each side of your forehead, each cheek, your nose, and chin. Use your fingertips to spread and rub in the medication across your entire face. Be sure to avoid getting the medication too close to your eyes, mouth, and nose to prevent irritating the skin in these sensitive areas. Wash your hands well after applying the medication to your face.
No. During clinical trials, most people reported skin irritation during the first month of treatment with Cabtreo. Skin irritation can include skin redness, scaling, itching, burning, and stinging. Although people may have worse skin irritation in the first two weeks, these side effects typically get better with time as the skin gets used to the medication. Applying a facial moisturizer daily could help relieve skin irritation that you might have during the first few weeks of using Cabtreo. To get the most benefit from Cabtreo, it’s best to stay consistent and continue to use the medication every day. Please speak with your dermatologist if skin irritation doesn’t improve within the first month of treatment or if it gets worse.
Yes. After you pick up Cabtreo from the pharmacy, it will expire in 10 weeks (or 2.5 months). The pharmacist should’ve written the expiration date on the Cabtreo package, so you should be able to find this date on the box. Throw away Cabtreo in the trash after the expiration date. Don’t use Cabtreo past its expiration date or if you don’t know when the medication expires. Ask your pharmacist if you’re not sure when your Cabtreo expires.
It’s recommended to avoid facial waxing while using Cabtreo. Waxing is generally rough on the skin. It may cause your skin to tear or get burned (especially if you use wax that’s too hot). And applying Cabtreo onto broken or burned skin can irritate the skin even more. Both waxing and Cabtreo can irritate the skin, so it’s best to hold off on waxing areas of your face until after you stop using Cabtreo.
Cabtreo can treat many kinds of acne, including both non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne. Noninflammatory acne, such as whiteheads and blackheads, typically appear when skin pores get clogged with oil and dead skin cells. And inflammatory acne appears when blocked pores get infected with bacteria and then become red and swollen. Cabtreo helps unclog the overfilled pores of oil and dead skin cells, stop the growth of acne-causing bacteria, and reduce inflammation. In addition, the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines recommend all the ingredients in Cabtreo (clindamycin, adapalene, and benzoyl peroxide) as first-choice options for mild acne. But you’ll probably need to take other oral medications along with Cabtreo to treat more moderate or severe acne. Reach out to your dermatologist to discuss whether Cabtreo is right for your acne.
Speak with your dermatologist before using Cabtreo if you’re breastfeeding. It’s not known what the effects of using Cabtreo while breastfeeding are because this medication hasn’t been studied in nursing mothers. But Cabtreo may irritate your infant’s skin if the medication gets onto their skin. It may also be harmful if the medication gets into their mouth. If you need to use Cabtreo while breastfeeding, your dermatologist will ask you to apply Cabtreo to the smallest area on the face for the shortest period of time you can. Don’t apply Cabtreo directly onto or around your nipple. And if you’ve been instructed to apply Cabtreo to other areas of your skin such as your chest, take extra precautions so the medication doesn’t get onto your infant’s skin while they’re nursing. Talk with your dermatologist about the risks and benefits of using Cabtreo while breastfeeding.
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Risks and warnings for Cabtreo
Cabtreo can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serious gut problems
- Risk factors: Using Cabtreo for a long period of time | Use of opioids or Lomotil
Some people have developed a condition called colitis while they used clindamycin, one of the ingredients in Cabtreo. Colitis happens when your colon becomes inflamed. This can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, or blood in your stool. People who use opioid medications, like Percocet (oxycodone / acetaminophen) or tramadol, or Lomotil (diphenoxylate / atropine) may be at risk for prolonged or worsening colitis. Severe colitis can be life-threatening and may occur even weeks after stopping Cabtreo. Stop using Cabtreo right away and contact urgent care if you experience any diarrhea.
Skin that's sensitive to sunlight
Using Cabtreo can cause your skin to be more sensitive to the sun and to artificial sunlight, such as tanning beds. Having skin that’s sensitive to the sun can increase your risk of sunburns and potentially skin cancer. It’s recommended that you limit your time out in the sun. If you do have to be out in the sun, wear a hat and other protective clothing and apply sunscreen daily to protect the skin from sunburns and the risk of skin cancers in the future.
Skin irritation
- Risk factors: Using other topical facial products that are irritating to the skin | Extremely cold or windy weather
Cabtreo can cause your skin to be easily irritated. You may feel pain where you applied Cabtreo onto the skin or notice skin redness, dryness, or peeling. Skin irritation most commonly happens during the first month of treatment, but it should improve with time.
It’s best to avoid using other topical facial products that may be rough on the skin, like medicated soaps, products that tighten or dry out the skin, or products that contain high levels of alcohol or spices. These products can make your skin more prone to irritation. Extreme cold or windy weather can also make your skin more irritated.
Ask your dermatologist about ways to manage skin irritation while you’re using Cabtreo. They may recommend applying a moisturizer to your face daily or using Cabtreo on the face less often. Contact your dermatologist right away if you notice significant irritation.
Cabtreo dosage
Gel pump| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50g of 1.2%/0.15%/3.1% | 1 pump | $918.25 | $918.25 |
Typical dosage for Cabtreo
Spread a pea-sized amount of Cabtreo into a thin layer over the affected area(s) on your face once daily. Cabtreo contains 1.2% of clindamycin, 0.15% of adapalene, and 3.1% of benzoyl peroxide.
How much does Cabtreo cost?
$918.25
Cabtreo contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Cabtreo will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to clindamycin, adapalene, or benzoyl peroxide (the ingredients of Cabtreo)
- History of inflammation of your small intestine (enteritis) or colon (colitis), ulcerative colitis, or colitis that happens with antibiotic treatment
What are alternatives to Cabtreo?
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