DUAC Gel is a U.S.-labeled prescription acne product combining clindamycin phosphate with benzoyl peroxide. The U.S. DUAC prescribing information revised in April 2015 identifies clindamycin phosphate 1.2% (equivalent to 1% clindamycin) and benzoyl peroxide 5%, for topical treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris in patients 12 years and older. It must not be confused with plain clindamycin, nonprescription benzoyl peroxide or an international DUAC formulation.
The U.S. DUAC record with product NDC 0145-2371 lists May 31, 2020 as its marketing end date. That dated record documents historical branding and labeling; it does not establish current brand stock or prove that no other product bearing the name could ever be marketed. Separately, U.S. pharmacies may encounter generic clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide 1.2%/5% products. The ingredient-family guide explains those prescription gels without implying that a generic is DUAC-branded.
This Core page answers brand-identity questions and provides practical checks for older prescriptions and contemporary pharmacy listings. It does not promise DUAC-brand availability. Product suitability, possible generic substitution and the risks of clindamycin-containing therapy require confirmation by a prescriber and licensed pharmacist.
DUAC is a specific branded formulation, rather than a synonym for every gel containing the same two actives. The historic U.S. label names Stiefel Laboratories and a topical gel for inflammatory acne. It is not an OTC treatment, a vaginal product or a product containing a topical retinoid.
Because internet listings can mix archival U.S. information with overseas versions, match the market, two concentrations, manufacturer or labeler and dosage form. The table distinguishes facts found in the U.S. labeling from facts requiring a fresh dispensing check.
| Checkpoint | U.S. DUAC historical label | Responsible interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Historical U.S. active formula | Clindamycin phosphate 1.2% / benzoyl peroxide 5% | Not every similarly branded international formula matches |
| Clindamycin equivalence | 1% clindamycin base equivalent | Do not confuse salt percentage with a separate active drug |
| Indication | Inflammatory acne vulgaris, age 12 and older in historical U.S. label | Clinical suitability requires assessment |
| Packaging record | NDC 0145-2371-05; 45 g tube in the identified record | An archived package is not inventory |
| Marketing record | May 31, 2020 end date for cited DUAC NDC | Does not establish current national brand stock |
| Other products | Generic 1.2%/5% gels have separate U.S. labels | Pharmacist verifies exact product and substitution |
The U.S. DUAC label identified a 1.2% clindamycin phosphate / 5% benzoyl peroxide topical gel. The percentages refer to two different actives and must be verified together. Other brands and generic packages can present different pairs.
For example, Acanya and Onexton carry different branded concentration combinations. A patient should never use a partial name match as authority to switch ratios.
Internet search results may combine DUAC references from multiple countries. Packaging, concentration wording, regulatory approvals and marketing dates can differ by jurisdiction. A foreign product page should not be used to assert what U.S. pharmacies currently sell.
When verifying a product intended for a U.S. prescription, request the exact U.S. manufacturer or labeler, NDC and marketed-status information through a licensed pharmacy rather than importing an overseas label assumption.
The DailyMed labeling record for DUAC NDC 0145-2371-05 lists a May 31, 2020 marketing end date and identifies a 45 g tube. Its prescribing information was revised in April 2015. These are dated regulatory facts, not an inventory report. They support a historically accurate DUAC brand guide and caution against treating a stale online merchant listing as a current offer.
The date belongs to the identified label and NDC. It should not be generalized into a claim that all generic 1.2%/5% products ceased to exist or that every possible DUAC package has the same status. A licensed U.S. pharmacist can check the exact NDC, available product and whether the prescription can be filled with an authorized alternative.
The historical DUAC U.S. label uses 1.2% clindamycin phosphate/5% benzoyl peroxide, whereas historical BenzaClin wording often expresses clindamycin equivalent as 1% with 5% benzoyl peroxide. Salt-versus-base naming conventions are important: different printed percentages do not, by themselves, prove that one has more active clindamycin or is clinically superior.
Both are distinct brand records, with differences in dosage forms, packaging and labeled handling that cannot be inferred from the drug pair alone. The acne combination guide describes additional formulas containing benzoyl peroxide or retinoids. Ask a pharmacist to verify a proposed replacement rather than choosing on brand familiarity.
DailyMed includes generic fixed-combination gels with clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide, including 1.2%/5% labeled products. Their existence is meaningful for current formulation research but is not proof that the DUAC trademark is currently dispensed.
Any substitution from a DUAC-branded prescription to a generic depends on matching the actual prescription, regulatory equivalents and applicable pharmacy rules. For the generic framework, review generic clindamycin.
Benzoyl peroxide paired with topical antibiotics is part of the modern approach to reducing antibiotic resistance in acne care. That principle does not determine which ratio, gel vehicle or brand is clinically suitable for a particular person.
See the acne clinical overview for stewardship context. This page should not become a substitute for a clinician’s evaluation or a self-prescribed treatment algorithm.
A fixed combination containing clindamycin is a U.S. prescription medicine. Legitimate pharmacies verify an authorized prescription and the full active-ingredient combination. Claims of guaranteed DUAC delivery without prescription checks should be viewed critically.
The combination prescription purchase guide covers legitimate filling steps, and the online pharmacy checklist covers licensing verification.
The historical DUAC label lists hypersensitivity to clindamycin, lincomycin, benzoyl peroxide or formulation components as contraindications. It also explicitly contraindicates use in patients with regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis or a history of antibiotic-associated colitis, including pseudomembranous colitis. Those are not merely general topics to mention at the next visit; clinicians must evaluate these restrictions before treatment.
The gel can cause erythema, peeling, dryness and burning. Significant diarrhea is a serious warning because topically applied clindamycin can be absorbed. The U.S. label also advises against combining DUAC with erythromycin-containing products and recommends caution with other irritating topical acne therapies. Seek prompt medical guidance for marked diarrhea, a severe skin reaction or suspected allergy; never assume that topical administration removes all systemic risk.
The older DUAC record includes package and dispensing instructions particular to that marketed brand and label revision. Refrigeration, storage intervals or pharmacy preparation rules should never be copied from an archival brand insert into a currently dispensed generic product without checking its current labeling.
Ask the dispensing pharmacist how the actual item should be stored and when its labeled beyond-use or expiration information applies. A pharmacy-supplied gel with the same actives may have a different container and handling requirements; both the prescribing directions and current product leaflet should travel with the dispensed medicine.
A historic DUAC coupon or price has little value without verifying that the identical product can still be dispensed. Current generic combinations may have different package sizes, insurer treatment and patient costs.
The topical prescription pricing guide outlines the evergreen price variables. Ask for a patient-specific quote for a verifiable product rather than comparing old branded offers.
When a prescription, medical history or archived product photograph names DUAC, ask the pharmacy to identify which product, strength and tube was originally recorded. Its historical U.S. NDC and brand name can help clarify the old entry, but they do not establish that an identical DUAC-branded tube can be ordered today.
If the exact brand cannot be sourced, the pharmacist and prescriber can evaluate whether a currently labeled generic formulation matches the intended treatment and whether substitution is permitted. Do not use an international DUAC seller, a no-prescription offer or a price comparison for a different ratio as a shortcut. This page is a finished product-reference guide, not a live DUAC-stock claim.
DUAC is a branded clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide prescription acne gel. The referenced U.S. label describes treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris in patients 12 years and older.
The referenced U.S. prescribing information identifies clindamycin phosphate 1.2%, equivalent to 1% clindamycin, together with benzoyl peroxide 5%.
No. The identified DUAC NDC record has a marketing end date of May 31, 2020. A pharmacist must check any proposed contemporary product and its actual availability.
Not necessarily. Match the U.S. label and ingredient percentages; foreign-market packaging and local regulatory information may differ.
No. Clindamycin-containing fixed acne gels are prescription medicines. A licensed pharmacy should verify the authorization and proposed product.
No. They are distinct branded product records. Similar drug ingredients or alternative expressions of clindamycin strength do not establish identical labeled products or permitted substitution.
A pharmacist must verify the specific approved product, therapeutic-equivalence information where applicable, prescription wording and state substitution rules; prescriber approval may be necessary.
The label lists hypersensitivity to its actives or components and histories of regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis or antibiotic-associated colitis as contraindications.
Ask the prescriber or pharmacist whether the authorization remains valid, whether the named brand can be sourced, and whether a clinically suitable, legally dispensed alternative is appropriate.