Dovobet Ointment (Calcipotriol/Betamethasone)

Dovobet ointment is used for moderatrte plaque psoriasis and the skin inflammation this can cause.

Psoriasis and Dovobet Ointment:

Psoriasis is a skin condition that is caused by your skin cells being produced to quickly. This causes redness, scaling and thickness of the skin. 

Dovobets ingredients work to reduce this. The betamethasone in Dovobet reduces inflammation and the calcipotriol helps to bring the rate of skin cell growth back to normal. 

Most patients see obvious results within two weeks, even if the psoriasis has not cleared completely.

DO NOT USE DOVOBET IF:

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

Drugs that Dovobet interact with:

• aldesleukin
• aluminum hydroxide
• calcium supplements (e.g., calcium carbonate, calcium citrate)
• deferasirox
• digoxin
• hyaluronidase
• multivitamin supplements with minerals
• other topical (skin-applied) medications that contain corticosteroids
• salicylic acid (applied to the skin)
• sucralfate
• thiazide diuretics (water pills; e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, metolazone)
• vitamin D supplements

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

Ingredients:

One gram of ointment contains 50 micrograms of calcipotriol (as monohydrate) and 0.5 mg of betamethasone (as dipropionate).

The other ingredients are:

• liquid paraffin

• all-rac-α-tocopherol

• polyoxypropylene stearyl ether

• white soft paraffin

• butylhydroxytoluene (E321).

Always use Dovobet exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

How to put on Dovobet: Cutaneous use. Instruction for proper use

• Use only on your psoriasis and do not use on skin which does not have psoriasis

• Remove the cap and check that the seal in the tube is not broken before you first use the ointment

• To break the seal, use the point in the back of the cap

• Squeeze the ointment onto a clean finger

• Rub gently into your skin to cover the affected area of psoriasis until most of the ointment has disappeared into the skin

• Do not bandage, tightly cover or wrap the treated skin area

• Wash your hands well after using Dovobet (unless you are using the ointment to treat your hands). This will avoid accidentally spreading the ointment to other parts of your body (especially the face, scalp, mouth and eyes)

• Do not worry if some ointment accidentally gets on normal skin near your psoriasis, but wipe it off if it spreads too far

• In order to achieve optimal effect, it is recommended not to take a shower or bath immediately after application of Dovobet ointment

• After applying the ointment avoid contact with textiles which are easily stained by grease (e.g. silk). Duration of treatment

• Use the ointment once a day. It may be more convenient to use the ointment in the evening

• The normal initial treatment period is 4 weeks but your doctor may decide on a different treatment period

• Your doctor may decide on repeated treatment

• Do not use more than 15 grams in one day. If you use other calcipotriol containing medicines, the total amount of calcipotriol medicines must not exceed 15 grams per day and the area treated should not exceed 30% of the total body surface.

What should I expect when I use Dovobet?

Most patients see obvious results after 2 weeks, even if the psoriasis is not yet cleared at that point.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Itching. Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Eye irritation

• Burning sensation of the skin

• Skin pain or irritation

• Inflammation or swelling of the hair root (folliculitis)

• Rash with inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)

• Redness of the skin due to widening of the small blood vessels (erythema)

• Acne (pimples)

• Dry skin

• Rash

• Pustular rash

• Infection of the skin

If you have any side effects after using this ointment please stop use and call your GP or our Pharmacist here SimplyMedsOnline.