Dovonex Ointment (Calcipotriol)

Dovonex is a treatment for psoriasis. It contains calcipotriol and is a vitamin D related medication. This is what causes the reduction inskin growth and improves symptoms.

Dovonex Ointment for psoriasis:

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. Dovonex will help reduce the symptoms of a psoriasis flare up. It will help to reduce the amount of skin growth so it helps reduce the amount of excess scaly skin. This also reduces the itching psoriasis can cause. 

Improvement Progress:

You will notice the scaly and flakey patches of skin will usually clear up first and will feel smoother. The redness of the skin will then start to clear up often from the centre of the plaques first.

DO NOT USE DOVONEX OINTMENT IF:

•  You are allergic (hypersensitive) to calcipotriol, betamethasone or any of the other ingredients of Dovonex
• You have problems with calcium levels in your body (ask your doctor)
• You have severe liver or kidney problems

TELL US IF:

• You are already having ultraviolet (UV) light treatment.
• You have guttate, erythrodermic, exfoliative or pustular psoriasis.

Warnings and Precautions:

• Dovonex may cause photosensitivity which increases the risk of sunburn. Avoid excessive exposure to natural or artificial light after applying.
• Over using Dovonex can cause hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels). This can cause your bones to weaken and increases the risk of kidney stones.
• Dononex should be applied to no more than 20% of the body.
• Products with salicylic acid in should NOT be use with dovonex.
• If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding please speak to you GP before using.

Ingredients:

The active substance is Calcipotriol. Dovonex ointment contains 50 micrograms of Calcipotriol in each gram of ointment.

The other ingredients are:

• Disodium Edetate
• Disodium Phosphate Dihydrate
• DL tocopherol, Liquid Paraffin 
• Macrogol (2) Stearyl Ether 
• Propylene Glycol
• Purified Water
• White Soft Paraffin

It’s important to read the information leaflet carefully before using Dovonex.

Dovonex should be applied to affected areas with psoriasis once or twice a day. Only use on your psoriasis and not on unaffected skin. Do not use Dovonex on your face. Be careful when using Dovonex in skin folds such as armpits or under the breasts. You may be more likely to get skin side effects in these areas.

Do not use more than 100 grams a week.

Like all medicines, Dovonex can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

You must get urgent medical help if you have any of the following symptoms. You may be having an allergic reaction:

• You have difficulty breathing

• Your face including around your eyes swell

• Your skin develops a severe rash, particularly if the skin is blistering or bleeding

Dovonex can cause increases in calcium levels in the body so it is important that you do not exceed the recommended dose. Raised calcium levels can produce the following. If you get any of these tell your doctor straight away:

• Increased amounts of urine (passing water more frequently or in greater quantities than usual) and/or increased thirst.

• Dry or metallic taste in the mouth

• Stomach upsets (including pain, nausea, vomiting and constipation)

• Weak muscles and/or pain in the bones

• Tiredness, fatigue and confusion

The following less serious side effects have been reported for Dovonex. These are usually mild

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

• Skin irritation

• Worsening of your psoriasis

• Dermatitis

• Redness

• Flaking skin

• Burning, pain or stinging feeling

• Itchy rash and skin inflammation in the area where the medicine is used

• Itching skin