⚠️ Warnings
Contact of the gel with the mouth, eyes, lips, other mucous membranes, or irritated or broken skin should be avoided. Application to sensitive areas of skin should be undertaken with appropriate caution. In the event of accidental contact, rinse the affected area with water.
Duac should be used with caution in patients with a history of regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, or antibiotic-associated colitis.
Duac should be administered with caution in atopic patients, in whom further drying of the skin may occur.
During the first weeks of treatment, most patients may experience increased peeling and erythema. Depending on the severity of these adverse reactions, patients may use a non-comedogenic moisturiser, temporarily reduce the frequency of gel application, or temporarily discontinue use; however, the efficacy of the product when used less frequently than once daily has not been established.
Other concomitant topical acne treatments should be used with caution, as cumulative irritation of a more serious nature may occur, particularly with the concurrent use of peeling, desquamating or abrasive agents.
If marked local irritation occurs (e.g. severe erythema, pronounced skin dryness and pruritus, severe stinging/burning), use of Duac should be discontinued.
As benzoyl peroxide may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight, patients should avoid tanning beds and intentional or prolonged exposure to sunlight, which should be avoided or, at the very least, minimised. If strong sun exposure cannot be avoided, patients should be advised to use sunscreens and to wear protective clothing.
If a patient has sunburn, the skin should first be allowed to recover before treatment with Duac is initiated.
If a patient experiences prolonged or severe diarrhoea or abdominal cramps, Duac should be discontinued immediately, as these symptoms may be indicative of antibiotic-associated colitis. In such cases, the patient should be evaluated using appropriate diagnostic methods to detect the presence of Clostridium difficile and its toxin, including colonoscopy, and alternative treatment options for suspected colitis should be considered.
The product may bleach hair or coloured fabrics. Avoid contact with hair, textiles, furniture or floor coverings.
Resistance to clindamycin
In patients who have recently used clindamycin or erythromycin, either systemically or topically, there is a greater likelihood of pre-existing antimicrobial resistance in Propionibacterium acnes and commensal flora (see section 5.1).
Cross-resistance
With antibiotic monotherapy, cross-resistance to other antibiotics, such as lincomycin and erythromycin, may develop (see section 4.5).
