What You Can Expect

How you'll feel

As with any acne medication, you’ll probably have some side effects during your treatment. Please refer to the Patient Medication Information document for more information. Most side effects usually decrease over time.

Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your medication or how it affects you. The more your doctor knows about how you’re responding to Clarus, the easier it is for him/her to determine if you are on the appropriate dose of medication.

The first couple of weeks

During the first few weeks of treatment, your acne may seem to get worse. Redness and itching of the affected skin are common initial effects. These should disappear as you continue to take Clarus. Most often, the first signs of healing occur after two to three weeks of treatment. It may take one to two months before beneficial effects are seen. Most patients with severe acne see a noticeable improvement after one or two courses of treatment with Clarus.

How to deal with potential side effects

If you develop a serious skin reaction with symptoms such as blisters, peeling skin, severe red/purple rash, multiple lesions and sores, particularly in your mouth, nose, eyes and genitals, as well as facial and tongue swelling, stop using Clarus and get immediate medical help.

The following table shows common side effects and offers some general advice. If you have any of these reactions, let your doctor know about it at your next visit, or even sooner if the side effects become too uncomfortable.