Taro-Calcipotriol/Betamethasone Gel

Brand Name

Taro-Calcipotriol/Betamethasone Gel

Common Name

calcipotriol - betamethasone

In this drug factsheet:

• How does this medication work? What will it do for me?
• How should I use this medication?
• What form(s) does this medication come in?
• Who should NOT take this medication?
• What side effects are possible with this medication?
• Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
• What other drugs could interact with this medication?

How does this medication work? What will it do for me?

This is a combination product that contains 2 medications: calcipotriol and betamethasone. This medication is used to treat psoriasis. Calcipotriol belongs to the class of medications known as vitamin D analogues and works by controlling the excessive production of skin cells seen in psoriasis. Betamethasone belongs to the class of medications known as corticosteroids and works by reducing itching and inflammation.

All forms of this medication are used to treat psoriasis that develops on the body. The gel and foam forms of this medication may also be used to treat psoriasis that has developed on the scalp.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are being given this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop using this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to use this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

How should I use this medication?

This medication is applied once daily to affected areas and gently rubbed in. Do not apply the medication to areas that do not have psoriasis.

The maximum adult weekly dose of calcipotriol–betamethasone combined is 100 grams. When used on the scalp, the gel may be used for up to 4 weeks. If it is being used on the body, the gel may need to be used for up to 8 weeks. The recommended treatment period for the ointment is 4 weeks. Most people will notice a benefit during this time. Some people may require treatment for longer than 4 weeks. The medication can be stopped once your condition has improved.

Calcipotriol–betamethasone gel should not be applied from 12 hours before to 12 hours after chemical hair treatments such as dyes or perms.

After applying the medication to the affected areas, do not wash it off. The medication needs to stay in contact with the affected areas in order to work.

Do not apply this medication on the face, large areas of damaged skin, in skin folds, the underarms, genitals, groin, or under dressings that do not breathe. Wash your hands after applying calcipotriol–betamethasone so that you do not get the medication on other parts of your body. Avoid getting the medication in your eyes or on your face. If the medication gets on your face, wash it off. If it gets in your eyes, flush the eyes with plenty of water. Do not take this medication by mouth.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, apply it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not apply more than one dose on any given day. Do not apply a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Do not use the ointment from any tube that has been open for longer than 12 months. Do not use the gel from any bottle that has been open for longer than 6 months. Store this medication at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

What form(s) does this medication come in?

Each gram of almost clear, colourless-to-slightly-off-white lipophilic gel, contains 50 mcg/g calcipotriol (as monohydrate) and 0.5 mg/g betamethasone (as dipropionate). Nonmedicinal ingredients: alpha-tocopherol, butylated hydroxytoluene, hydrogenated castor oil, mineral oil, and polyoxypropylene stearyl ether.

Who should NOT take this medication?

Do not use this medication if you:

• are allergic to calcipotriol, betamethasone, or any ingredients of this medication
• have a disorder related to calcium metabolism
• have perioral dermatitis (skin lesions around the mouth), ichthyosis (dry, scaly skin), acne, rosacea, ulcers, or broken skin
• have severe forms of psoriasis (e.g., guttate, exfoliative, erythrodermic, and pustular psoriasis)
• have severe kidney dysfunction
• have severe liver dysfunction
• have thin skin, easily damaged veins, or stretch marks
• have tuberculosis skin lesions or skin infections related to syphilis
• have viral diseases such as herpes simplex, varicella (chickenpox), and vaccinia
• have viral, fungal, or bacterial skin infections

Do not use this medication in or around your eyes.

What side effects are possible with this medication?

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is used in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who uses this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people using this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• burning, dryness, irritation, peeling, or redness of skin
• increased sensitivity to sunlight
• itching

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• acne or oily skin
• burning and itching of skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
• changes in hair growth
• delayed healing of skin wounds
• dizziness
• eye irritation
• facial swelling
• flushing
• folliculitis (tiny skin rashes with pimply appearance around the hair roots)
• headache
• outer ear infection
• sinus infections
• skin infection
• skin rash
• small white spots
• symptoms of decreased adrenal gland function (e.g., weakness, increased urination, increased thirst, fatigue, weight loss)
• symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., frequent urination, increased thirst, excessive eating, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing, infections, fruity breath odour)
• symptoms of high blood calcium levels (e.g., constipation, depression, fatigue, loss of appetite, mental confusion, nausea, vomiting)
• symptoms of high levels of corticosteroids in the blood stream (e.g., fatigue, increased thirst and urination, irritability, muscle weakness)
• symptoms of long-term use of corticosteroids (e.g., thinning or softening of skin, unusual bruising or skin discoloration, irritation of skin around the mouth, reddish-purple lines (stretch marks), skin colour changes)
• symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections (e.g., facial pain, nasal congestion, headache, runny nose, sore throat)
• worsening of psoriasis

Stop using the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

• symptoms of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., difficulty breathing, dizziness, itching, rash, swelling)
• symptoms of pustular psoriasis (e.g., chills, feeling unwell, fever, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, nausea)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Absorption: Applying this medication over large areas of damaged skin, in skin folds, or under dressings that do not breathe could promote the absorption of betamethasone into the blood. This could cause unwanted effects similar to those that happen after taking oral (by mouth) corticosteroid medications for long periods of time. If you notice symptoms of using steroid medications for long periods of time, such as weakness, increased urination, increased thirst, fatigue, or weight loss, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

High calcium in the blood: If this medication is used for severe psoriasis over a large area of skin or is used more than the maximum recommended weekly amount of 100 g of ointment, gel, or foam, there is a risk of developing high calcium levels in the blood. Your doctor may monitor your blood calcium levels regularly by doing blood tests while you are using this medication.

Kidney function: If you have decreased kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: If you have decreased liver function or liver disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Medical treatment: Inform all health professionals involved in your care that you have been using a topical (skin-applied) corticosteroid.

Prolonged use: Using topical corticosteroid medications for a long period of time can cause skin to thin or soften or cause stretch marks. Your doctor may recommend you stop using this medication once in a while or to apply to one area of the body at a time. Suddenly stopping corticosteroid medication may cause psoriasis to return.

Skin cancer: When calcipotriol is used with ultraviolet radiation (some psoriasis treatments use light therapy), there may be an increased risk of developing skin cancer caused by ultraviolet radiation. Calcipotriol alone does not cause cancer. While using this medication, avoid exposure to sunlight and artificial ultraviolet light (e.g., tanning beds).

Use on the face: This medication should not be used on any part of the face since this may cause redness, irritation, and itchiness. If any of these skin reactions develop, you should stop using this medication and contact your doctor immediately. Wash your hands thoroughly after applying this medication to the affected areas and avoid touching any part of your face with your hands.

Using other corticosteroids: Betamethasone dipropionate is a potent corticosteroid and should not be used at the same time as other corticosteroid medications, particularly on the scalp. If you have been prescribed another scalp product containing corticosteroids, contact your doctor to determine which product you should be using.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while using this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: Betamethasone passes into breast milk. It is not known if calcipotriol passes into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding and are using this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using the ointment and gel forms of this medication have not been established for children. The topical foam form of calcipotriol-betamethasone may be safely used by children and adolescents 12 years of age and older.

What other drugs could interact with this medication?

There may be an interaction between calcipotriol–betamethasone and any of the following:

• aldesleukin
• aluminum hydroxide
• ‘azole’ antifungal medications (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
• calcium supplements (e.g., calcium carbonate, calcium citrate)
• ceritinib
• clarithromycin
• cobicistat
• digoxin
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, darunavir, lopinavir, ritonavir)
• idelalisib
• mifepristone
• multivitamin supplements with minerals
• nirmatrelvir
• other topical (skin-applied) medications that contain corticosteroids
• salicylic acid (applied to the skin)
• sucralfate
• thiazide diuretics (water pills; e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, metolazone)
• other forms of vitamin D supplements (e.g., calcitriol, cholecalciferol, ergocalciferol)

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Taro-CalcipotriolBetamethasone-Gel