What you should know about Dovonex Cream
calcipotriol
This leaflet gives you some helpful information about Dovonex Cream.
Read the leaflet carefully before you use the cream.
If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What is in Dovonex Cream?
Dovonex Cream contains an ingredient called calcipotriol. There are 50 micrograms of calcipotriol in each gram of cream. Calcipotriol is the active ingredient which treats your psoriasis.
The other ingredients in the cream are macrogol cetostearyl ether, cetostearyl alcohol, chloroallylhexaminium chloride, disodium edetate, disodium phosphate dihydrate, glycerol 85%, liquid paraffin, purified water and white soft paraffin. These are inactive ingredients which do not treat the psoriasis and are only included to make the cream.
The cream comes in tubes of 60 grams and 120 grams.
The product licence is held by:
The cream is made by:
What is Dovonex Cream for?
You use the cream on your skin to treat a certain type of psoriasis (plaque psoriasis). Psoriasis is when your skin cells are being produced too quickly. This causes scaling and redness. Dovonex Cream helps bring the rate at which your skin cells are produced back to normal.
You may notice an improvement after you have been using the cream for about two weeks.
The scaling or flaking usually goes away first. This will make your patches of psoriasis feel flatter.
It will take longer for the redness of the skin to improve. Some people find the middle of the psoriasis patch gets better first.
Before you use the cream
You can only get Dovonex Cream on prescription. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding or if you become pregnant while you are using the cream.
When not to use Dovonex Cream
Do not use Dovonex Cream if:
- you are allergic to any of the ingredients; or
- you or your doctor know you have problems with the levels of calcium in your body
Using the cream
You should use the cream in the way the doctor tells you even if this is different to what this leaflet tells you to do. Read the label carefully. Your pharmacist or doctor will explain anything you are not sure about.
How should I use Dovonex Cream?
For the best results you should use the cream twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. If you are an adult, your doctor may suggest you use the cream once a day.
If you are an adult and you are using Dovonex Cream with other treatments for psoriasis your doctor will tell you when to use the cream.
Put the cream on the parts of your skin that are affected by psoriasis. But, do not use the cream on your face. If you are using the cream twice a day, try linking the time you use the cream with another action you do twice a day, for example, brushing your teeth.
You should try to keep your skin well moisturised particularly after a bath or shower. If you are using a moisturiser, you should put it on first and wait for it to soak in before using the cream.
Remove the cap and check that the seal is not broken before you first use the cream. If you have a 60 grams or 120 grams tube, you will need to break the seal by using the point in the back of the cap.
Put the cream on the parts of your skin that are affected by psoriasis. Squeeze the cream onto your finger or onto a patch of psoriasis. Apply the cream thickly and rub it in gently to cover the affected area. Do not use more than 100 grams in one week if you are an adult (75 grams for children over 12 years, 50 grams for children aged 6 to 12 years).
Do not worry if you accidentally get cream on your normal skin, but wash it off if it spreads too far.
What should I remember when I use Dovonex Cream?
Wash your hands before you use the cream.
Wash your hands after you have used the cream, unless you are using the cream to treat psoriasis on your hands.
Try not to transfer the cream from the areas you have treated to other areas of your body, especially your face.
Do not use more than 100 grams of cream in one week if you are an adult.
Your doctor may advise you to limit your exposure to natural or artificial sunlight.
What should I do if I forget to use the cream?
If you forget to use the cream at the right time, use it as soon as you remember. Then go on as before.
After you use the cream
Do not worry if the cream irritates your skin for a short time after you have used it. Try not to scratch the area. See your doctor if the irritation lasts for a long time.
As with all medicines, the cream may give a few people unwanted side-effects, such as a skin rash, or a reaction to light also showing itself as a rash or redness. If your psoriasis gets worse, or if you have any unexpected problems, stop using the cream and see your doctor as soon as possible.
If you accidentally get the cream on your face, it can cause redness or irritation on your face or around your mouth. If this happens, take extra care when you use the cream and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. If the problem does not go away, see your doctor.
If you feel unwell or notice anything unusual, or there is anything you do not understand about using the cream, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Storing the cream
Keep the cream in a safe place where children cannot reach or see it. Store the cream at room temperature below 25°C. Keep the cream away from heat and bright sunlight.
Do not use the cream after the expiry date on the tube.
If your doctor tells you to stop using the cream, take any left over back to the pharmacist. Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.
Your doctor recommended this cream for you. Do not let other people use the cream, even if their skin problem seems to be the same as yours.
More about psoriasis
Psoriasis is when your skin cells multiply too quickly. This causes the raised red patches and scaling you are familiar with. You can get psoriasis anywhere on your body. Psoriasis is not infectious so you do not need to worry about other people catching it from you. We still do not know what causes psoriasis but you can inherit it. Other things that can make psoriasis worse include stress.
For more help and advice about psoriasis, send a stamped, addressed envelope to:
The Psoriasis Association
7 Milton Street
Northampton
Registered charity number 257414.
If you have any questions about your treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This leaflet was revised in June 2006
Dovonex is a registered trademark
LEO
009687-10
No comments:
Post a Comment