Taclonex

Generic Name: betamethasone and calcipotriene (Topical application route)

bay-ta-METH-a-sone dye-PROE-pee-oh-nate, kal-si-poe-TRYE-een

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Taclonex


• Taclonex Scalp

Available Dosage Forms:

• Ointment


• Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Antipsoriatic

Pharmacologic Class: Betamethasone

Uses For Taclonex

Betamethasone and calcipotriene combination is used on the skin and scalp to treat psoriasis.

Betamethasone is a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid). It helps relieve redness, pain, itching, swelling, or other discomfort caused by certain skin problems.

Calcipotriene is a form of Vitamin D. It works by changing how the skin cells are produced in areas affected by psoriasis.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using Taclonex

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of betamethasone and calcipotriene combination in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of betamethasone and calcipotriene combination in the elderly.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Rotavirus Vaccine, Live

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aldesleukin


• Bupropion


• Quetiapine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alatrofloxacin


• Alcuronium


• Aspirin


• Atracurium


• Balofloxacin


• Cinoxacin


• Ciprofloxacin


• Clinafloxacin


• Desogestrel


• Dienogest


• Drospirenone


• Enoxacin


• Estradiol Cypionate


• Estradiol Valerate


• Ethinyl Estradiol


• Ethynodiol Diacetate


• Etonogestrel


• Fleroxacin


• Flumequine


• Fosphenytoin


• Gallamine


• Gemifloxacin


• Grepafloxacin


• Hexafluorenium


• Itraconazole


• Levofloxacin


• Levonorgestrel


• Licorice


• Lomefloxacin


• Medroxyprogesterone Acetate


• Mestranol


• Metocurine


• Moxifloxacin


• Norelgestromin


• Norethindrone


• Norfloxacin


• Norgestimate


• Norgestrel


• Ofloxacin


• Pefloxacin


• Phenobarbital


• Phenytoin


• Primidone


• Prulifloxacin


• Rifampin


• Rifapentine


• Rosoxacin


• Rufloxacin


• Saiboku-To


• Sparfloxacin


• Temafloxacin


• Tosufloxacin


• Trovafloxacin Mesylate

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Atrophy (thin skin) at the site to be treated or


• Skin or scalp infection—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Erythrodermic (severe redness) psoriasis or


• Exfoliative (peeling skin) psoriasis or


• Hypercalcemia (high calcium in the blood) or


• Hypercalciuria (high calcium in the urine) or


• Pustular (with pus) psoriasis—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Proper Use of betamethasone and calcipotriene

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain betamethasone and calcipotriene. It may not be specific to Taclonex. Please read with care.

This medicine is for use on the skin or scalp only. Do not get it in your eyes, nose, mouth, or apply it on your face, under your arms, or on your groin area. Do not use it on skin or scalp areas that have cuts or scrapes. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away.

This medicine comes with a patient information insert. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if your symptoms have disappeared. Do not miss any doses. However, do not use this medicine more often or for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.

The treated areas should not be bandaged or covered after the medicine is applied.

Do not use this medicine for treating skin problems other than the one for which it was prescribed by your doctor.

To use the ointment form:

• Apply enough medicine to the affected areas of your skin and rub in gently.


• Do not use the ointment for more than 4 weeks unless your doctor has told you to.

To use the topical liquid form:

• Shake the bottle before using the medicine.


• Apply enough medicine to the affected areas on your scalp and rub it in gently.


• Do not wash your hair right after applying this medicine.


• Do not apply this medicine in the 12 hours before or after using any hair chemical treatments. Talk with your doctor first about it.


• Do not use the topical liquid for more than 8 weeks unless your doctor has told you to.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For psoriasis:
  
  • For topical dosage form (ointment):
    
    • Adults—Apply to the affected areas of the skin once a day. Treatment may be continued for up to 4 weeks or as determined by your doctor.
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  
  • For topical dosage form (liquid):
    
    • Adults—Apply to the affected areas on the scalp once a day for 2 weeks or until the area is cleared. Treatment may be continued for up to 8 weeks or as determined by your doctor.
    
    
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Keep the bottle of topical liquid in the carton when not in use. Use it within 3 months after it has been opened.

Precautions While Using Taclonex

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using too much of this medicine or using it for a long time may increase your risk of having adrenal gland problems. Talk to your doctor if you have more than one of these symptoms while you are using this medicine: darkening of the skin; diarrhea; dizziness; fainting; loss of appetite; mental depression; nausea; skin rash; unusual tiredness or weakness; or vomiting.

This medicine may cause too much calcium to build up in your body. Talk to your doctor if you have more than one of these symptoms while you are using this medicine: abdominal pain; confusion; constipation; depression; dry mouth; headache; incoherent speech; increased urination; loss of appetite; a metallic taste; muscle weakness; nausea; thirst; unusual tiredness; vomiting; or weight loss.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also having ultraviolet (UV) light treatments (phototherapy) for your psoriasis before using this medicine.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Taclonex Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas


• burning sensation of skin


• flushing or redness of skin


• itching skin


• pus at root of hair


• red, scaling, or crusted skin


• scaly rash


• skin irritation


• thinning of skin with easy bruising


• unusually warm skin

Rare

• Body aches or pain


• chills


• cough


• darkening of skin


• diarrhea


• difficulty in breathing


• ear congestion


• fever


• general feeling of discomfort or illness


• headache


• joint pain


• lightening of normal skin color


• lightening of treated areas of dark skin


• loss of appetite


• loss of voice


• muscle aches and pains


• nasal congestion


• nausea


• raised, dark red, or wart-like spots on skin


• runny nose


• shivering


• sneezing


• sore throat


• spots on your skin that look like a blister or pimple


• sweating


• trouble sleeping


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• Bruising


• large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin


• pain


• stuffy or runny nose

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Taclonex side effects (in more detail)

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More Taclonex resources

• Taclonex Side Effects (in more detail)
• Taclonex Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Taclonex Drug Interactions
• Taclonex Support Group
• 14 Reviews for Taclonex - Add your own review/rating

• Taclonex Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Taclonex Ointment MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Taclonex Consumer Overview


• Taclonex Scalp Suspension MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

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