Benzamycin Pak Gel

Benzamycin Pak Gel is used for:

Treating severe acne. It may be used with other acne medications.

Benzamycin Pak Gel is a combination macrolide antibiotic and keratolytic (drying) agent with antibacterial actions. The effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide appears to be due to its antibacterial, peeling (keratolytic), and drying actions. How topical erythromycin treats acne is not fully known. It is thought that the improvement in acne is due to the ability of topically applied erythromycin to slow the growth on the skin of bacteria that cause the acne.

Do NOT use Benzamycin Pak Gel if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Benzamycin Pak Gel

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Benzamycin Pak Gel:

Some medical conditions may interact with Benzamycin Pak Gel. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have liver problems or a blood disorder

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Benzamycin Pak Gel. Because little, if any, of Benzamycin Pak Gel is absorbed into the blood, the risk of it interacting with another medicine is low.

Ask your health care provider if Benzamycin Pak Gel may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Benzamycin Pak Gel:

Use Benzamycin Pak Gel as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Before using Benzamycin Pak Gel, thoroughly wash, rinse with warm water, and gently dry your skin.
• Apply and rub in a thin film of medicine to the affected skin and surrounding areas using the fingertips or applicator provided.
• Wash your hands after using Benzamycin Pak Gel.
• Benzamycin Pak Gel works best if used at the same time(s) each day.
• If you miss a dose of Benzamycin Pak Gel, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Benzamycin Pak Gel.

Important safety information:

• Use on the skin only. Avoid getting Benzamycin Pak Gel in your eyes, on the inside of your nose or mouth, on highly inflamed or damaged skin, or on your lips. If you get Benzamycin Pak Gel in your eyes, immediately wash them out with cool tap water.
• Avoid applying Benzamycin Pak Gel to raw or irritated skin, including sunburns and open wounds.
• If applying another medicine for acne, wait at least 1 hour before applying the second medicine.
• Once you begin using Benzamycin Pak Gel, it may take 3 to 8 weeks before you begin to see improvement. If your symptoms do not improve by 12 weeks or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
• While you are using Benzamycin Pak Gel, use only water-based cosmetics.
• Talk with your doctor before you use any other medicines or special cleansers on your skin.
• Benzamycin Pak Gel may cause you to become sunburned more easily. Avoid the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths until you know how you react to Benzamycin Pak Gel. Use a sunscreen or wear protective clothing if you must be outside for more than a short time.
• Benzamycin Pak Gel may cause bleaching. Avoid contact with hair, fabrics, or carpeting.
• Benzamycin Pak Gel should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Benzamycin Pak Gel while you are pregnant. It is not known if Benzamycin Pak Gel is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Benzamycin Pak Gel, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Benzamycin Pak Gel:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include excessive scaling, flushing, redness, and swelling of the skin.

Storage of Pak: Store Benzamycin Pak Gel at room temperature at 68 to 77 degrees F (20 to 25 degrees C). Store in a tightly closed container after it has been mixed. Do not freeze. Discard unused medicine after 3 months. Keep Benzamycin Pak Gel out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Storage of Jar: Store Benzamycin Pak Gel in the refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees F (2 to 8 degrees C). Store in a tightly closed container after it has been mixed. Do not freeze. Discard unused medicine after 3 months. Keep Benzamycin Pak Gel out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Benzamycin Pak Gel, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Benzamycin Pak Gel is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Benzamycin Pak Gel. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.