Onexton
Generic name: clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide · Brand names: Onexton
Information sourced from FDA Structured Product Labeling, updated July 23, 2025.
What is it used for?
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ONEXTON ® (clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide) Gel, 1.2%/3.75% is indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older. ONEXTON Gel is a combination of clindamycin phosphate (a lincosamide antibacterial) and benzoyl peroxide indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.
How to take it
Before applying ONEXTON Gel, wash the face gently with a mild soap, rinse with warm water, and pat the skin dry. Apply a pea-sized amount of ONEXTON Gel to the face once daily. Avoid the eyes, mouth, mucous membranes, or areas of broken skin. Use of ONEXTON Gel beyond 12 weeks has not been evaluated.
ONEXTON Gel is not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. • Apply a pea-sized amount of ONEXTON Gel to the face once daily. • Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use.
Warnings
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Colitis: Clindamycin can cause severe colitis, which may result in death. Diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and colitis (including pseudomembranous colitis) have been reported with the use of clindamycin. ONEXTON Gel should be discontinued if significant diarrhea occurs. • Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure: Minimize sun exposure following drug application.
Colitis Systemic
absorption of clindamycin has been demonstrated following topical use of clindamycin. Diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and colitis (including pseudomembranous colitis) have been reported with the use of topical and systemic clindamycin. If significant diarrhea occurs, ONEXTON Gel should be discontinued.
Severe colitis has occurred following oral and parenteral administration of clindamycin with an onset of up to several weeks following cessation of therapy. Antiperistaltic agents such as opiates and diphenoxylate with atropine may prolong and/or worsen severe colitis. Severe colitis may result in death.
Studies indicate toxin(s) produced by Clostridia is one primary cause of antibiotic-associated colitis. The colitis is usually characterized by severe persistent diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps and may be associated with the passage of blood and mucus. Stool cultures for Clostridium difficile and stool assay for C. difficile toxin may be helpful diagnostically.
Ultraviolet Light and Environmental Exposure Minimize
sun exposure (including use of tanning beds or sun lamps) following drug application.
Concomitant Topical Medications Concomitant
topical acne therapy should be used with caution since a possible cumulative irritancy effect may occur, especially with the use of peeling, desquamating, or abrasive agents. If irritancy or dermatitis occurs, reduce frequency of application or temporarily interrupt treatment and resume once the irritation subsides. Treatment should be discontinued if the irritation persists.
Who should not take it
Gel is contraindicated in: • Patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, any components of the formulation, or lincomycin. • Patients with a history of regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, or antibiotic-associated colitis.
Hypersensitivity
ONEXTON Gel is contraindicated in those individuals who have shown hypersensitivity to clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, any components of the formulation, or lincomycin. Anaphylaxis, as well as allergic reactions leading to hospitalization, has been reported in postmarketing use with ONEXTON Gel .
Colitis/Enteritis
ONEXTON Gel is contraindicated in patients with a history of regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, or antibiotic-associated colitis .
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Risk Summary There
are no available data on ONEXTON Gel use in pregnant women to evaluate a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. The limited published data on use of clindamycin in pregnant women with exposure during the first trimester are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of pregnancy-related adverse outcomes . In limited published clinical trials with pregnant women, the systemic administration of clindamycin during the second and third trimesters has not been associated with an increased frequency of major birth defects. In animal reproduction studies, clindamycin did not cause malformations or embryo-fetal development toxicity in pregnant rats and mice when administered during the period of organogenesis at systemic doses up to 240 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 2.5 g ONEXTON Gel, based on body surface area (BSA) comparisons . The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.
All pregnancies have a background risk of major birth defects, loss, and other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively. Data Human Data In limited published trials in pregnant women administered clindamycin during the first trimester of pregnancy, there was no difference in the rate of major birth defects reported among in utero exposed infants compared to unexposed infants.
These data cannot definitely establish or exclude any clindamycin-associated risk during pregnancy. Animal Data Animal reproductive/developmental toxicity studies have not been conducted with ONEXTON Gel or benzoyl peroxide. Developmental toxicity studies of clindamycin performed in pregnant rats and mice administered during the period of organogenesis at oral doses of up to 600 mg/kg/day (240 and 120 times the MRHD for clindamycin, respectively, based on BSA comparisons) or subcutaneous doses of up to 200 mg/kg/day (80 and 40 times the MRHD for clindamycin, respectively, based on BSA comparisons) revealed no malformations or embryo-fetal development toxicity.
Side effects
The following adverse reaction is described in more detail in the Warnings and Precautions section of the label: • Colitis . The most common adverse reactions are: burning sensation (0.4%); contact dermatitis (0.4%); pruritus (0.4%); and rash (0.4%). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch Health US, LLC at 1-800-321-4576 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Clinical Trials Experience Because
clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates observed in clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. These adverse reactions occurred in less than 0.5% of subjects treated with ONEXTON Gel: burning sensation (0.4%); contact dermatitis (0.4%); pruritus (0.4%); and rash (0.4%). During the clinical trial, subjects were assessed for local cutaneous signs and symptoms of erythema, scaling, itching, burning and stinging.
Most local skin reactions either were the same as baseline or increased and peaked around Week 4 and were near or improved from baseline levels by Week 12. The percentage of subjects that had symptoms present before treatment (at baseline), during treatment, and the percent with symptoms present at Week 12 are shown in Table 1. Table 1: Percent of Subjects with Local Skin Reactions.
Results from the Phase 3 Trial (N = 243) Before Treatment (Baseline) During Treatment End of Treatment (Week 12) Mild Mod. * Severe Mild Mod. * Severe Mild Mod. * Severe Erythema 20 6 0 28 5 <1 15 2 0 Scaling 10 1 0 19 3 0 10 <1 0 Itching 14 3 <1 15 3 0 7 2 0 Burning 5 <1 <1 7 1 <1 3 <1 0 Stinging 5 <1 0 7 0 <1 3 0 <1 *Mod. = Moderate
Postmarketing Experience Because
postmarketing adverse reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Anaphylaxis, as well as allergic reactions leading to hospitalizations, has been reported in postmarketing use of products containing clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide.
All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health. Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling.