Experiences with

Calcipotriol

Calcipotriol is used to treat plaque psoriasis, a skin problem where your body produces too many skin cells, causing patches of dry, itchy, scaly skin (plaques).

Calcipotriol is a type of vitamin D. Vitamin D controls how the cells in your skin grow. Calcipotriol reduces the amount of cells your skin makes and helps to clear the psoriasis plaques.

This medicine is only available on prescription. It comes as an ointment and a scalp solution.

Sometimes calcipotriol is mixed with a steroid called betamethasone to reduce swelling (inflammation) caused by psoriasis. This combined medicine comes as an ointment, gel or a foam. It's sometimes called by the brand names Daloney, Dovobet or Enstilar.

There is also a type of vitamin D called colecalciferol, which sounds similar to calcipotriol. Colecalciferol is used to treat vitamin D deficiency.

Who can use calcipotriol

Calcipotriol scalp solution is only suitable for adults.

Most adults and children aged 6 years and over can use calcipotriol ointment.

Who may not be able to use calcipotriol

Calcipotriol is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell a pharmacist or doctor before using it if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to calcipotriol or any other medicine
• have high levels of calcium or vitamin D in your blood
• have severe kidney or liver problems
• are having ultraviolet (UV) light treatment
• have a type of psoriasis called generalised pustular or erythrodermic exfoliative psoriasis – ask your doctor if you're unsure

Dosage

Calcipotriol scalp solution contains 0.05mg in 1ml.

Do not use more than 60ml (3mg) of calcipotriol scalp solution each week.

If you use the scalp solution together with calcipotriol ointment, do not use more than 5mg in total per week. For example, you could use either:

• 60ml of calcipotriol scalp solution plus 40g of ointment
• 40ml of calcipotriol scalp solution plus 60g of ointment

Dosage for ointment (if used without scalp solution)

The ointment contains 0.05mg in 1g.

The maximum amount to use per week is:

• adults – 100g
• children aged 12 to 17 years – 75g
• children aged 6 to 11 years – 50g

The tubes of ointment come in different sizes. Check the label to see how much ointment your tube contains.

How to use it

Use calcipotriol ointment 1 or 2 times a day, or calcipotriol scalp solution 2 times a day.

If you've been told to use it 2 times a day, try to leave a gap of 8 to 12 hours between using it. Do not use more than the dose recommended by your doctor.

Do not smoke or go near naked flames while using calcipotriol or just after using it. There is a risk of severe burns.

1. Tilt your head so the solution does not run on to your face. It may help to part your hair before you use the solution.
2. Place the nozzle through your hair onto an affected area of your scalp.
3. Squeeze the bottle gently and apply a few drops. 1 or 2 drops should cover an area about the size of a postage stamp.
4. Rub in gently.

If you accidently get the solution on your face, wash it off straight away.

Always wash your hands after using the scalp solution.

How to use ointment

Put the ointment on the areas of skin where you have psoriasis. You can squeeze the ointment straight onto your skin, or put it on your finger first if you prefer.

Put the ointment on thickly (but be careful not to go over the recommended dose), then rub it in gently to cover the psoriasis.

Always wash your hands after using the ointment. If you're using it to treat your hands, only wash the skin that is not affected.

If you're using other medicines or moisturisers on the same area of skin, it's best to leave 30 minutes between applying each product to allow them time to be absorbed and avoid them mixing on the skin.

How long to use it for

Your doctor will tell you how long to use calcipotriol for. It's important to keep using it until the psoriasis plaques are clear or nearly clear.

Once your skin is better your doctor will usually recommend that you stop using calcipotriol. Using it after your skin has healed will increase the risk of serious side effects such as high calcium levels in your body.

Psoriasis can sometimes come back after you stop treatment. You can use calcipotriol again to keep your psoriasis under control.

If you forget to use it

If you forget to use calcipotriol, use it as soon as you remember, unless it's less than 8 hours until your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and use the next dose at the usual time.

If you use too much

If you use more than your prescribed dose of calcipotriol repeatedly, you may get too much calcium in your blood. Your doctor may tell you to stop using your medicine until the amount of calcium in your blood goes back to normal.

Contact your GP or pharmacist if you need advice.

Common side effects

These common side effects of calcipotriol happen in around 1 in 10 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Keep using the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Call a doctor or call 111 now if you have any of these symptoms which may be a sign of too much calcium in your blood or pee:

• needing to pee more often
• feeling thirsty
• losing your appetite
• a dry mouth or a metallic taste in your mouth
• feeling weak or pain in your muscles or bones
• headache
• stomach pain
• feeling sick
• constipation

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, calcipotriol can cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

These are not all the side effects of calcipotriol. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Calcipotriol and pregnancy

You can continue to use calcipotriol during pregnancy. It is applied to the skin, so very little gets into your blood. It's not thought to be harmful if used in this way.

Calcipotriol and breastfeeding

You can use calcipotriol while breastfeeding. It's not known how much passes into breast milk, but it is likely to be a tiny amount. It would not be expected to cause any side effects in your baby.

Take care to avoid your baby having direct contact with any areas of your body where you have applied calcipotriol. If you're using it on your chest, thoroughly wash any ointment off your breasts and nipples and then wash your hands before feeding your baby.

Calcipotriol and fertility

There's no evidence that calcipotriol affects fertility in either men or women.

Cautions with other medicines

Using calcipotriol with other medicines that may increase the amount of calcium in your blood can increase the risk of side effects.

Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking or using:

• bendroflumethiazide, or other thiazide diuretics (tablets that make you pee more)
• oestrogens
• anabolic steroids
• parathyroid hormone or parathyroid hormone analogues such as teriparatide

Mixing calcipotriol with herbal remedies and supplements

Tell a pharmacist or doctor if you're taking or using:

• other vitamin D products
• calcium supplements

They may increase the risk of side effects.

There's not enough information to say that other herbal remedies or supplements are safe to take with calcipotriol. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy or prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Related links

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