What exactly does Cabtreo add?

Adapalene, a retinoid. The clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide pair is common to both products.

Is there a generic Cabtreo?

No. The register lists no generic application for the triple combination, while the two-ingredient clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel has nine.

Are both used the same way?

Both labels say once daily, a thin layer or pea-sized amount to cleansed, dry skin. The exact wording of each is quoted on the medication pages.

SkinTwo labels compared

Cabtreo vs Clindamycin-Benzoyl Peroxide

Cabtreo and the clindamycin-benzoyl peroxide gel differ by exactly one ingredient: Cabtreo adds the retinoid adapalene to the same antibacterial-plus-oxidizer pair. That makes this the cleanest comparison in the category - and the register makes it practical: the two-ingredient combination has generics, the triple is brand-only. This page reads both labels.

Cabtreo

Ingredient: Clindamycin, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide
Approved for: Acne in patients 12 and oldercovers skin
Supply: Prescription
Boxed warning: None
Pharmacy cost: not listedwhat pharmacies pay to buy it, not the price at the counter

Bausch Health US LLC. Label version 6, effective 24 April 2025.

Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel

Ingredient: Clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide
Approved for: Acne vulgariscovers skin
Supply: Prescription
Boxed warning: None
Pharmacy cost: $0.671 per gram, genericwhat pharmacies pay to buy it, not the price at the counter

Oceanside Pharmaceuticals. Label version 6, effective 15 August 2025.

01From the FDA label

Side by side, straight from the labels

Generated from the two source labels, not typed out by hand, so it cannot drift from what the regulator approved. Rows where both labels say exactly the same thing are marked.

Label section	CabtreoClindamycin, adapalene and benzoyl peroxide	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gelClindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide
Active ingredient	CabtreoClindamycin, adapalene and benzoyl peroxideAntibacterial, retinoid and oxidizing agent, fixed combination	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gelClindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxideTopical antibacterial combination
Approved for	CabtreoAcne in patients 12 and older	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gelAcne vulgaris
Supplysame in both	CabtreoPrescription	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gelPrescription
What pharmacies payAcquisition cost, not retail	Cabtreonot listed	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel$0.671 per gram, generic
Boxed warningsame in both	CabtreoNone	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gelNone
What the FDA approved it for	Cabtreo CABTREO is a combination of clindamycin phosphate (a lincosamide antibacterial), adapalene (a retinoid), and benzoyl peroxide indicated for the topical treatment of acne vulgaris in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide 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.
Forms and strengths	Cabtreo Topical gel: 1.2% clindamycin phosphate, 0.15% adapalene, and 3.1% benzoyl peroxide as a white to off-white, opaque gel. CABTREO is supplied in 20-gram and 50-gram pumps.	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel Gel, 1.2%/3.75% Each gram of clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide gel contains 12 mg (1.2%) clindamycin phosphate, equivalent to 10 mg (1%) clindamycin, and 37.5 mg (3.75%) benzoyl peroxide in a white to off-white, opaque, smooth gel. Gel, 1.2% clindamycin phosphate/3.75% benzoyl peroxide
How the label says it is taken	Cabtreo Cleanse the affected area gently. After the skin is dry, apply a thin layer of CABTREO to the affected area once daily. Wash hands thoroughly after application of CABTREO. Avoid the eyes, mouth, paranasal creases, mucous membranes, and areas of broken, eczematous, or sunburned skin. CABTREO is for topical use only. Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use.	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel Apply a pea-sized amount of clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide gel to the face once daily. Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use.
Most common adverse reactions	Cabtreo most common adverse reactions (occurring in >1% of the CABTREO group and greater than the vehicle group) were application site reactions, pain, erythema, dryness, irritation, exfoliation, and dermatitis.	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel most common adverse reactions are: burning sensation (0.4%); contact dermatitis (0.4%); pruritus (0.4%); and rash (0.4%).
Warnings and precautions	Cabtreo Hypersensitivity: If a serious hypersensitivity reaction occurs, discontinue CABTREO immediately and initiate appropriate therapy. Colitis: Clindamycin can cause severe colitis, which may result in death. Discontinue CABTREO if diarrhea occurs. Photosensitivity: Avoid or minimize exposure to sunlight and sunlamps. Wear sunscreen and protective clothing when sun exposure cannot be avoided. Skin Irritation and Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Erythema, scaling, dryness, stinging/burning, irritant and allergic contact dermatitis may occur with use of CABTREO and may necessitate discontinuation	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel 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. Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide 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.
Contraindications	Cabtreo CABTREO is contraindicated in patients with: Known hypersensitivity to clindamycin, adapalene, benzoyl peroxide, any other components of CABTREO, or lincomycin. A history of regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, or antibiotic-associated colitis. Known hypersensitivity to clindamycin, adapalene, benzoyl peroxide, any components of the formulation, or lincomycin.	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel 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 Clindamycin Phosphate and Benzoyl Peroxide Gel is contraindicated in those individuals who have shown hypersensitivity to clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, any components of the formulation, or lincomycin.
Drug interactions	Cabtreo Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Clindamycin has been shown to have neuromuscular blocking properties that may enhance the action of other neuromuscular blocking agents. Use CABTREO with caution in patients receiving such agents. Neuromuscular Blocking Agents: Use CABTREO with caution in patients receiving neuromuscular blocking agents.	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel Avoid using clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide gel in combination with topical or oral erythromycin-containing products because of its clindamycin component.
Label version	Cabtreo24 April 2025	Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel15 August 2025

02Written by us

Two ingredients against three

Both gels are approved for acne in patients 12 years of age and older and applied once daily to cleansed skin. The two-ingredient label combines clindamycin phosphate, a lincosamide antibacterial, with benzoyl peroxide. Cabtreo's label adds adapalene, a retinoid that binds specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors, as the third component.

03Written by us

The clindamycin warnings travel with the ingredient

Both labels carry the colitis warning that belongs to clindamycin - severe colitis, which may result in death, with the instruction to discontinue if significant diarrhea occurs. Cabtreo adds the retinoid's photosensitivity caution to the shared list. Neither label carries a boxed warning.

04Written by us

Generic against brand

The register lists nine generic applications for the clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide combination and none for the triple. The CMS pricing set prices the generic pair on its page here, while listing no figures for Cabtreo yet.

05Written by us

What this page does not tell you

It does not say whether the third ingredient is worth it for anyone's skin: the labels do not compare the two products, and this page stops where they stop.

06Written by us

Common questions

What exactly does Cabtreo add?: Adapalene, a retinoid. The clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide pair is common to both products.
Is there a generic Cabtreo?: No. The register lists no generic application for the triple combination, while the two-ingredient clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel has nine.
Are both used the same way?: Both labels say once daily, a thin layer or pea-sized amount to cleansed, dry skin. The exact wording of each is quoted on the medication pages.

Sources

Every fact above comes from one of these documents. The date is the effective date of the label version this page was built from.

FDA prescribing information for Cabtreo
Bausch Health US LLC. Label version 6, effective 24 April 2025.
Full label on DailyMed Approval record NDA216632
FDA prescribing information for Clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide gel
Oceanside Pharmaceuticals. Label version 6, effective 15 August 2025.
Full label on DailyMed Approval record NDA050819

Each stripe is one section of the label, each division in a stripe one entry in that section.

Other comparisons in this category

Page last updated 29 August 2026

Compiled by the HealthyStudy editorial team from FDA source documents. No medical reviewer is credited on this page, because none reviewed it.