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Drug information

Alclometasone

POM
Read time: 4 mins
Last updated: 08 Apr 2021

Summary of product characteristics


1. Name of the medicinal product

Alclometasone Dipropionate 0.05 % w/w Cream.


2. Qualitative and quantitative composition

Alclometasone Dipropionate 0.05 % w/w

Excipients with known effect:

Propylene Glycol

For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.


3. Pharmaceutical form

Cream


4.1. Therapeutic indications

Alclometasone dipropionate is a non-fluorinated topically active synthetic corticosteroid indicated for the treatment of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses.


4.2. Posology and method of administration

For topical administration

For adults and children, apply a thin film of alclometasone cream to the affected area two or three times daily or as directed by the doctor.

Massage gently into the skin until the medication disappears.


4.3. Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients; rosacea; acne and perioral dermatitis, tuberculous and viral lesions or the skin, particularly Herpes Simplex; vaccinia: varicella.

Alclometasone cream should not be used in fungal or bacterial skin infections.


4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

As with all topical steroids, long term continuous therapy should be avoided where possible, particularly in infants and children as adrenal suppression may occur even without occlusion. In infants the napkin may act as an occlusive dressing and thus increase absorption.

For dermatologic use only.

If irritation or sensitization develops with the use of alclometasone, treatment should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.

Any of the side effects that have been reported following systemic use of corticosteroids, including adrenal suppression, may also occur with topical corticosteroids, especially in infants and children.

Systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids may be increased if extensive body surface areas are treated or if the occlusive technique is used. Suitable precautions should be taken under these conditions or when long-term use is anticipated, particularly in infants and children.

Paediatric Use:

Paediatric patients may demonstrate greater susceptibility to topical corticosteroid-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression and to exogenous corticosteroid effects than mature patients because of greater absorption due to a larger skin surface area to body weight ratio.

HPA axis suppression, Cushing's syndrome, linear growth retardation, delayed weight gain, and intracranial hypertension have been reported in children receiving topical corticosteroids. Manifestations of adrenal suppression in children include low plasma cortisol levels, and an absence of response to ACTH stimulation. Manifestations of intracranial hypertension include a bulging fontanelle, headaches, and bilateral papilledema.

Alclometasone cream products are not for ophthalmic use.

Instruct patients not to smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.


4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None Known.


4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Since safety of topical corticosteroid use in pregnant women has not been established, drugs of this class should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus. Drugs of this class should not be used extensively in large amounts for prolonged periods of time in pregnant patients.

Breast-feeding

It is not known whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in breast milk. Alclometasone should be administered to nursing mothers only after careful consideration of the benefit/risk relationship.


4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not applicable.


4.8. Undesirable effects

Adverse reactions reported rarely with alclometasone dipropionate are itching, burning, erythema, dryness, irritation, and papular rashes.

Other local adverse reactions associated with topical corticosteroids, especially under occlusive dressings, include folliculitis, hypertrichosis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, skin maceration, secondary infection, skin atrophy, striae and miliaria.

Excessive prolonged use may result in local atrophy of the skin, striae and superficial vascular dilation, particularly on the face.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store).


4.9. Overdose

Acute overdosage with dermatologic application of corticosteroids is unlikely and would not be expected to lead to a life-threatening situation.

Symptoms: Excessive or prolonged use of topical corticosteroids can suppress pituitary-adrenal function, resulting in secondary adrenal insufficiency, and produce manifestations of hypercorticism, including Cushing's disease.

Treatment: Appropriate symptomatic treatment is indicated. Acute hypercorticoid symptoms are usually reversible. Treat electrolyte imbalance, if necessary. In case of chronic toxicity, slow withdrawal of corticosteroids is advised.

The steroid content is so low as to have little or no effect in the unlikely event of accidental oral ingestion.


5.1. Pharmacodynamic properties

Alclometasone dipropionate is a non-fluorinated, topically active synthetic corticosteroid. Alclometasone dipropionate suppresses local inflammation at doses producing minimal systemic effects. Studies have shown alclometasone dipropionate to be approximately 2/3 as potent as betamethasone valerate and 60 x as potent as hydrocortisone.


5.2. Pharmacokinetic properties

Not applicable in view of topical action and application.


5.3. Preclinical safety data

Alclometasone cream appears to be a relatively non-toxic and non-irritating drug product that produces no unusual or unexpected teratologic effects in laboratory animals. A wide margin of safety was demonstrated in all species studied. Acute oral and intraperitoneal doses more than 3,000 times the proposed topical human dose were without any toxicologically significant effects.


6.1. List of excipients

Propylene glycol

White soft paraffin

Cetostearyl alcohol

Glyceryl stearate PEG 100 stearate

Polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate

4-chloro-M-Cresol

Phosphoric acid

Purified water


6.2. Incompatibilities

None known.


6.3. Shelf life

36 months.


6.4. Special precautions for storage

Store below 25°C.


6.5. Nature and contents of container

Aluminium tubes with white HDPE caps. Pack sizes 5g, l5g, 30g. 50g.


6.6. Special precautions for disposal and other handling

Not applicable.


7. Marketing authorisation holder

Aspire Pharma Ltd

Unit 4 Rotherbrook Court

Bedford Road

Petersfield

Hampshire

GU32 3QG

United Kingdom


8. Marketing authorisation number(s)

PL 35533/0078


9. Date of first authorisation/renewal of the authorisation

26 April 1995


10. Date of revision of the text

04/12/2019

4.1 Therapeutic indications

Alclometasone dipropionate is a non-fluorinated topically active synthetic corticosteroid indicated for the treatment of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses.

4.2 Posology and method of administration

For topical administration

For adults and children, apply a thin film of alclometasone cream to the affected area two or three times daily or as directed by the doctor.

Massage gently into the skin until the medication disappears.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients; rosacea; acne and perioral dermatitis, tuberculous and viral lesions or the skin, particularly Herpes Simplex; vaccinia: varicella.

Alclometasone cream should not be used in fungal or bacterial skin infections.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

As with all topical steroids, long term continuous therapy should be avoided where possible, particularly in infants and children as adrenal suppression may occur even without occlusion. In infants the napkin may act as an occlusive dressing and thus increase absorption.

For dermatologic use only.

If irritation or sensitization develops with the use of alclometasone, treatment should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.

Any of the side effects that have been reported following systemic use of corticosteroids, including adrenal suppression, may also occur with topical corticosteroids, especially in infants and children.

Systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids may be increased if extensive body surface areas are treated or if the occlusive technique is used. Suitable precautions should be taken under these conditions or when long-term use is anticipated, particularly in infants and children.

Paediatric Use:

Paediatric patients may demonstrate greater susceptibility to topical corticosteroid-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression and to exogenous corticosteroid effects than mature patients because of greater absorption due to a larger skin surface area to body weight ratio.

HPA axis suppression, Cushing's syndrome, linear growth retardation, delayed weight gain, and intracranial hypertension have been reported in children receiving topical corticosteroids. Manifestations of adrenal suppression in children include low plasma cortisol levels, and an absence of response to ACTH stimulation. Manifestations of intracranial hypertension include a bulging fontanelle, headaches, and bilateral papilledema.

Alclometasone cream products are not for ophthalmic use.

Instruct patients not to smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

None Known.

4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

Since safety of topical corticosteroid use in pregnant women has not been established, drugs of this class should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus. Drugs of this class should not be used extensively in large amounts for prolonged periods of time in pregnant patients.

Breast-feeding

It is not known whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in breast milk. Alclometasone should be administered to nursing mothers only after careful consideration of the benefit/risk relationship.

4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines

Not applicable.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Adverse reactions reported rarely with alclometasone dipropionate are itching, burning, erythema, dryness, irritation, and papular rashes.

Other local adverse reactions associated with topical corticosteroids, especially under occlusive dressings, include folliculitis, hypertrichosis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, skin maceration, secondary infection, skin atrophy, striae and miliaria.

Excessive prolonged use may result in local atrophy of the skin, striae and superficial vascular dilation, particularly on the face.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store).

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Reporting of suspected adverse reactions 

Drug Licencing

Drugs appearing in this section are approved by UK Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), & the European Medicines Agency (EMA).