What is betamethasone-calcipotriene topical?
Betamethasone is a topical corticosteroid. It reduces swelling, relieves itching, and constricts blood vessels.
Calcipotriene is a form of vitamin D. It works by decreasing the rate of skin cell reproduction.
Betamethasone and calcipotriene is a combination drug used to treat psoriasis vulgaris.
Betamethasone and calcipotriene may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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Interactions
Precautions
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have:
- low or high levels of calcium in your blood;
- liver or kidney disease;
- severe forms of psoriasis (with pus, skin peeling, severe redness); or
- a skin infection.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use betamethasone and calcipotriene, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.
Tell your doctor if you are receiving UV light treatments (phototherapy) for your psoriasis.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby. Before using betamethasone and calcipotriene, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known if betamethasone and calcipotriene pass into breast milk or if this medicine could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
This medicine should not be used on a child.
Avoid applying this medicine to more than one-third of your skin surface at any one time.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Betamethasone and calcipotriene topical can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.
Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use this medicine on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin; or on open wounds. Also avoid using this medication in wounds or on areas of infection. Wait until these conditions have healed before using betamethasone and calcipotriene topical.
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Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine, or if anyone has accidentally swallowed it.
Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, lost appetite, tiredness, trouble breathing, joint/muscle pain, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using betamethasone and calcipotriene and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- severe skin irritation on treated areas;
- worsened symptoms or no improvement in psoriasis;
- pus, swelling, redness, increased itching, or other signs of skin infection;
- confusion, thirst, extreme tiredness, lost appetite, weight loss;
- adrenal insufficiency--nausea, vomiting, lost appetite, tiredness, trouble breathing, joint/muscle pain, feeling light-headed, fainting;
- Cushing syndrome--weight gain (especially in your face), thinning muscles in your arms or legs, easy bruising, thinning skin, acne, increased facial hair, darkened skin; or
- high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)--increased urination and thirst, nausea, vomiting.
Less serious side effects may include:
- burning or mild itching;
- red or scaly rash;
- swollen hair follicles; or
- changes in the color of treated skin areas.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Interactions
Before using betamethasone and calcipotriene, tell your doctor if you are using any other steroid medicines, or other medicines to treat psoriasis.
There may be other drugs that can interact with betamethasone and calcipotriene. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Other Names
Dovobet, Taclonex, betamethasone-calcipotriene topical, calcipotriene-betamethasone topical, and Taclonex Scalp
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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