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Drug Details

Elocon Cream

• Drug Class Description
  Corticosteroids
• Generic Name
  Mometasone furoate
• Presentation
  Cream
• Description
  Mometasone Furoate 0.1% w/w Propylene glycol stearate 8.0% w/w Stearyl alcohol 68.5-74.5 %w/w
• Indications
  

  Elocon Cream is indicated for the treatment of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of psoriasis (excluding widespread plaque psoriasis) and atopic dermatitis.

• Adult Dosage
  

  Adults, including elderly patients and Children : A thin film of Elocon Cream should be applied to the affected areas of skin once daily.

  Use of topical corticosteroids in children or on the face should be limited to the least amount compatible with an effective therapeutic regimen and duration of treatment should be no more than 5 days.

• Contra Indications
  

  Elocon is contraindicated in facial rosacea, acne vulgaris, skin atrophy, perioral dermatitis, perianal and genital pruritis, napkin eruptions, bacterial (e.g. impetigo, pyodermas), viral (e.g. herpes simplex, herpes zoster and chickenpox verrucae vulgares, condylomata acuminata, molluscum contagiosum), parasitical and fungal (e.g. candida or dermatophyte) infections, varicella, tuberculosis, syphilis or post-vaccine reactions. Elocon should not be used on wounds or on skin which is ulcerated. Elocon should not be used in patients who are sensitive to mometasone furoate or to other corticosteroids or to any of the ingredients in this medicine.

• Special Precautions
  

  If irritation or sensitisation develop with the use of Elocon, treatment should be withdrawn and appropriate therapy instituted.

  Should an infection develop, use of an appropriate antifungal or antibacterial agent should be instituted. If a favourable response does not occur promptly, the corticosteroid should be discontinued until the infection is adequately controlled.

  Systemic absorption of topical corticosteriods can produce reversible hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis suppression with the potential for glucocorticosteroid insufficiency after withdrawal of treatment. Manifestations of Cushing's syndrome, hyperglycemia, and glucosuria can also be produced in some patients by systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids while on treatment. Patients applying a topical steroid to a large surface area or areas under occlusion should be evaluated periodically for evidence of HPA axis suppression.

  Pediatric patients may be more susceptible to systemic toxicity from equivalent doses due to their larger skin surface to body mass ratios. As the safety and efficacy of Elocon in paediatric patients below 2 years of age have not been established, its use in this age group is not recommended.

  Local and systemic toxicity is common especially following long continued use on large areas of damaged skin, in flexures and with polythene occlusion. If used in childhood, or on the face, occlusion should not be used. If used on the face, courses should be limited to 5 days and occlusion should not be used. Long term continuous therapy should be avoided in all patients irrespective of age.

  Topical steroids may be hazardous in psoriasis for a number of reasons including rebound relapses following development of tolerance, risk of centralised pustular psoriasis and development of local or systemic toxicity due to impaired barrier function of the skin. If used in psoriasis careful patient supervision is important.

  As with all potent topical glucocorticoids, avoid sudden discontinuation of treatment. When long term topical treatment with potent glucocorticoids is stopped, a rebound phenomenon can develop which takes the form of a dermatitis with intense redness, stinging and burning. This can be prevented by slow reduction of the treatment, for instance continue treatment on an intermittent basis before discontinuing treatment.

  Glucocorticoids can change the appearance of some lesions and make it difficult to establish an adequate diagnosis and can also delay the healing.

  ELOCON Cream contains propylene glycol which may cause skin irritation. ELOCON Cream contains stearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis).

  Elocon topical preparations are not for ophthalmic use, including the eyelids, because of the very rare risk of glaucoma simplex or subcapsular cataract.

• Interactions
  

  None stated

• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  Table 1: Treatment-related adverse reactions reported with Elocon by body system and frequency Very common (1/10); common (1/100, <1/10); uncommon (1/1,000, <1/100); rare (1/10,000, <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10 000,); not known (cannot be estimated from available data)
  Infections and infestations Not known Very rare Nervous system disorders Not known Very rare Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Not known Very rare General disorders and administration site conditions Not known	Infection, furuncle Folliculitis   Paraesthesia, burning sensation   Dermatitis contact, skin hypopigmentation, hypertrichosis, skin striae, dermatitis acneiform, skin atrophy Pruritus   Application site pain, application site reactions

  Local adverse reactions reported infrequently with topical dermatalogic corticosteroids include: skin dryness, irritation, dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, maceration of the skin, miliaria and telangiectasiae.

  Paediatric patients may demonstrate greater susceptibility to topical corticosteroid-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression and Cushing's syndrome than mature patients because of a larger skin surface area to body weight ratio.

  Chronic corticosteroids therapy may interfere with the growth and development of children.