CONTENTS

Dovobet ointment includes two active ingredients, betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriol hydrate.

Calcipotriol is a medicine that is a derived of vitamin D. When applied to the skin it plant by reducing the production of skin cells.

In psoriasis, the scaling and thickening of the skin and the appearance of raised plaques are the result of excessive skin cell production in this disease. Calcipotriol lessen the excessive skin cell production and helps improve these symptoms of psoriasis.

Betamethasone is a type of medicine called a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are medicines used for lessen the inflammation. Skin inflammation in psoriasis occurs suitable to the irritation of the skin, and is caused by the release of various substances important in the immune system. These substances source blood vessels to widen, resulting in the affected area becoming red, swollen, itchy and painful.

When betamethasone is applied to the naked skin it plant by acting inside the cells to decrease the release of these inflammatory substances. This reduces swelling, redness and itch. Betamethasone is a potent corticosteroid.

The mixture of medicines in this ointment is used to treat stable plaque psoriasis. The ointment should be applied once a day, initially for four weeks. If your psoriasis gets not as good as again after you stop treatment, the medicine can used for longer to keep the psoriasis under control. Though, repeated or prolonged treatment must only be used on the advice and under the supervision of your doctor.

What is it used for?

plaque psoriasis

Warning!

• This medicine is for external use only.
• The ointment must be applied thinly and evenly to the affected area(s).
• Wash your hands after every application, unless you are treating psoriasis on your hands. Keep away from accidentally transfer the ointment to the scalp, face, mouth or eyes.
• You be supposed to not use more than 15g of ointment in one day and more than 100g in one week, and the treated area of skin should not make up more than 30 per cent of the body surface.
• If corticosteroids are used lasting, on large areas of skin, raw skin, skin folds, or under airtight dressings they are absorbed into the body more. This increases the danger of limited side effects such as skin thinning, and those on other parts of the body, such as a decrease in the production of natural hormones by the adrenal glands. Do not use this medicine on big areas of damaged skin, under dressings, or in skin folds (eg armpits or under breasts), unless told to do so by your doctor.
• Ask your doctor if your skin becomes infected during treatment, as you may need to stop using this medicine and start treatment with antibiotics.
• People using this medicine to care for psoriasis should have regular check-ups with their doctor. This is because even if corticosteroids may be useful for psoriasis in the short-term, they can sometimes make psoriasis worse, and may cause the condition to relapse into generalized postural psoriasis after the treatment is stopped.

Use with caution in

• Diabetes
• High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia)

Not to be used in

• Disorders of calcium metabolism in the body
• Severe liver disease
• Severely decreased kidney function
• Guttate psoriasis
• Exfoliative psoriasis
• Erythrodermic psoriasis
• Pustular psoriasis
• Acne vulgaris
• Chronic inflammatory confusion of the facial skin (acne rosacea)
• Inflammatory rash around the mouth (perioral dermatitis)
• Itching of the anus or genitals
• Bands of lean, wrinkled skin commonly found on the abdomen, thighs or buttocks following puberty or pregnancy (stretch marks/striae atrophicae)
• Aridness and fish skin-like scaling of the skin (ichthyosis)
• Skin with fragile veins
• Thin, easily damaged skin (atrophic skin)
• Ulcerated areas of skin
• Wounds
• Skin infected with parasites, eg scabies
• Skin contaminated with viruses (eg Herpes simplex, chickenpox), fungi (eg thrush, ringworm, athlete’s foot) or bacteria (eg impetigo)
• Skin sores caused by tuberculosis
• Skin sores caused by syphilis.
• This medicine is not advised for children and adolescents under eighteen years of age.

This medicine is supposed to not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please notify your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.If you feel you have experienced an allergic effect, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Positive medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, further medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always update your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• This medicine be supposed to be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. If it is prescribed by your doctor it be supposed to not be used on large areas of skin, underneath airtight dressings, or for prolonged periods of time. Consult your doctor for further information.
• This medicine be supposed to be used with caution by women who are breastfeeding. If it is prescribed by your doctor it be supposed to not be used on large areas of skin, underneath airtight dressings or for prolonged periods of time. If it is applied to the breasts it be supposed to be washed off carefully before breastfeeding and then reapplied afterwards. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

• This medication is to be broaden thinly and sparingly on the skin.

Side effects

Medicines and their potential side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are several of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is confirmed here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Rash
• Itching
• Burning sensation of the skin
• Irritation in area of use
• Inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
• Reddening of skin
• Worsening of psoriasis
• Inflammation of the hair follicles (folliculitis)
• Changes in skin pigmentation in area of use
• Dry skin
• Irregular reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)
• Increased amount of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia)
• Skin thinning
• Stretch marks (striae)
• Groupings of very well blood vessels becoming prominent under the skin (telangiectasia)
• Excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis)
• Side results on the rest of the body (such as decreased production of natural steroid hormones by the adrenal glands, cataracts, raised pressure in the eye and infections) are rare, but can occur if this medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream in sufficient quantities. Assimilation is more likely in elderly people, with prolonged use and with application to large areas of skin, broken skin, or under dressings.

The side results listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug’s manufacturer.For more information about any other probable risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

This medicine is not known to affect any other medicines. However, while this medicine contains a potent corticosteroid, you should not use any other corticosteroid creams or ointments (eg hydrocortisone) while using it, as this may increase the risk of side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

Related Links