Calcipotriol

Your doctor has prescribed one of the following medications for you:

• Calcipotriol (Daivonex®)
• Calcipotriol with betamethasone diproprionate steroid (Daivobet®)

Topical vitamin D derivatives can be used to treat psoriasis, an inflammatory condition of the skin with increased turnover of skin cells, creating red, scaly patches of skin.  The medication works by slowing down cell growth in the skin. The addition of steroids in the medication helps to reduce the signs of inflammation (such as redness, swelling) at the same time.   

This medication may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

For use on your skin:

• 1. Clean the skin before applying this medication
  2. Shake bottle well before use and remove the cap (for Daivobet® gel only)
  3. Apply on the affected areas as directed by your doctor and rub in gently with your fingertips. Do not apply on broken or infected skin.
  4. Wash your hands thoroughly after each application
• Do not apply more than 15g in one day or 100g in one week, and the treated areas should not exceed 30% of your entire body surface. Applying more than the recommended amounts can increase calcium levels in the body and lead to serious side effects.
• Do not wrap, bandage or cover the affected area after applying the medicine unless directed by the doctor
• For best results, do not shower immediately after applying the medication. Let the medication stay on the skin during the day or night.
• Avoid application of medicines to face, genitals or mucous membranes unless specified by your doctor.

For use on the scalp (Daivobet® gel):

• 1. Shake bottle well before use and remove the cap.
  2. Comb your hair first to remove any loose scales. It may help to part your hair before applying the medication. Washing your hair before applying the medication is not necessary.                                             3. Apply on the affected areas as directed by your doctor and rub in gently with your fingertips. If the medication accidentally gets onto your face or into your eyes, wash it off immediately.
• Usually an amount between 1g and 4g per day is sufficient for treatment of the scalp (4g is approximately one teaspoon).
• For best results, do not wash the hair immediately after applying the medication. Let the medication stay on the scalp for a few hours, such as overnight or during the day.
• To wash off the medication, apply shampoo to dry hair and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing off. 

Duration of use

• For Daivobet® gel, it may be used for up to 4 weeks (for scalp areas) and 8 weeks (for non-scalp areas) and thereafter as needed under medical supervision.

If you forgot to apply a dose of this medication, apply it as soon as you remember. Skip the dose if it is almost time for the next dose. Apply your next dose at the usual time. Do not apply two doses to make up for the missed dose.

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• You have high blood calcium levels, skin infections, diabetes, liver or kidney disease

Certain side effects of this medication are common and may even disappear during treatment. If the side effects do not go away or becomes severe, consult your doctor.

These side effects include:

• Skin irritation such as itch, redness, peeling (most common)
• Burning sensation of skin
• Rashes
• Increased risk of sunburn
• Avoid staying directly under sunlight for long durations. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen product with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 and wear protective clothing when you are exposed to direct sunlight.

For Daivobet® gel, using this medication for long durations may cause additional side effects from the steroid ingredient. Some of these additional side effects include thinning of the skin, easy bruising, reddish stretch marks and acne.

• Keep away from children
• Keep in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight

• For Daivobet® gel, throw the bottle away 6 months after first opening.

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.