Diprosone Ointment
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER ra™
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Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine, because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Diprosone Ointment is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Diprosone Ointment
3. How to use Diprosone Ointment
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Diprosone Ointment
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Diprosone Ointment is and what it is used for
Diprosone Ointment contains the active ingredient 0.064% w/w betamethasone dipropionate.
Betamethasone dipropionate belongs to a group of medicines called topical corticosteroids which are used on the surface of the skin to reduce the redness and itchiness caused by certain skin problems.
In adults and children, Diprosone Ointment is used to treat skin problems, including eczema, all types of dermatitis and psoriasis of the scalp, hands and feet.
Eczema is a common skin disease, which causes the skin to become red and itchy. Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin. Psoriasis is a skin disease in which itchy, scaly, pink patches develop on the elbows, knees, scalp and other parts of the body.
2. What you need to know before you use Diprosone Ointment Do not use Diprosone Ointment
- if you are allergic to betamethasone dipropionate or any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6).
- on any other skin problem as it could make it worse especially rosacea (a skin condition affecting the face), acne, dermatitis (skin inflammation) around the mouth, genital itching, nappy rash, cold sores, chickenpox, shingles or other skin infections.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using diprosone cream. This medicine should not be used under bandages or plasters.
Side effects that may happen with oral or injectables corticosteroids may also occur with corticosteroids used on the skin, especially in infants and children.
Children
- If the cream is used more often than it should, or more than prescribed, it can affect some of your child's hormones. This may affect their growth and development.
- If Diprosone Ointment is used in children, it should not be used on any part of their body for more than 5 days.
- Do not put the ointment under your child's nappy, as this makes it easier for the active ingredient of the medicine to pass through the skin and possibly cause some unwanted effects.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
3. How to use Diprosone Ointment
Always use Diprosone Ointment exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Recommended dose
Usually for adults and children, a thin layer of Diprosone Ointment should be rubbed into the affected area of skin twice a day.
You should always follow these instructions when using Diprosone Ointment:
- Do not use the ointment on your face for more than 5 days.
- Do not use a large amount of ointment on large areas of the body, open wounds or areas of the body where joints bend for a long time (for example every day for many weeks or months).
- Avoid getting the ointment in your eyes.
Use in children
- Use as stated above. Do not use Diprosone Ointment on any part of your child's body for more than 5 days.
- Do not put the ointment under your child's nappy, as this makes it easier for the active ingredient of the medicine to pass through the skin and possibly cause some unwanted effects.
If you use more Diprosone Ointment than you should
If you (or somebody else) accidentally swallows the ointment, it should not cause any problems. However, if you are worried, you should see your doctor.
If you use the ointment more often than you should, or on large areas of your body, it can affect some of your hormones. In children this may affect their growth and development. If you have not used the ointment as you were told to do and have used it too often and/or for a long time, you should tell your doctor.
If you forget to use Diprosone Ointment
If you forget to use your ointment at the right time, use it as soon as you remember, then carry on as before.
If you stop using Diprosone Ointment
If you have been using the ointment for a long time and your skin problem seems to have got better, you should not suddenly stop using the ointment. If you do, you may find that your skin becomes red and you may notice stinging or burning. To avoid this, you should speak to your doctor who will gradually reduce how often you need to use the ointment until you stop treatment altogether.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Diprosone Ointment can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Most people find that when the ointment is used correctly, it does not cause any problems. However, if you use the lotion more than you should, particularly on your face, it can cause redness, stinging, blistering, peeling, swelling, itching, burning, skin rash, dryness of the skin, in the skin, inflammation of the hair follicles; excessive hair growth, reduced skin pigmentation; allergic skin reactions; dermatitis (skin inflammation); other skin infections, thinning of the skin and red marks.
This can happen more easily in infants and children. If you are worried by these or any other effects, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Diprosone Ointment
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton after 'Use by'. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
Do not store the ointment above 25°C.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information What Diprosone Ointment contains
- The active substance is betamethasone dipropionate Ph.Eur 0.064% w/w (equivalent to 0.05% w/w betamethasone)
- The other ingredients are liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin.
What Diprosone Ointment looks like and contents of the pack
Diprosone Ointment is a smooth, opaque (not clear) ointment. It is available in tubes containing 30g or100g.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The holder of the Marketing Authorisation is: Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited,
Hertford Road, Hoddesdon,
Hertfordshire, EN11 9BU, UK.
The manufacturer is: Schering-Plough Labo NV, Heist-op-den Berg, Belgium.
This leaflet was last revised in January 2015.
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