Betnovate Ointment
10000000110356
GlaxoSmithKline
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Betnovate® Ointment
betamethasone valerate
Face and neck:
2 Vi fingertip units. Back: 7 fingertip units. Front: 7 fingertip units. One arm (not including the hand):
3 fingertip units.
Both sides of one hand:
1 fingertip unit.
One leg (not including the foot):
6 fingertip units.
One foot:
2 fingertip units.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you
start using this medicine because it contains
important information for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only.
Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1 What Betnovate is and what it is used for
2 Whatyouneed to know before youuse Betnovate
3 How to use Betnovate
4 Possible side effects
How to store Betnovate
Contents of the pack and other information
1 What Betnovate is and what it is used for
Betnovate contains a medicine called betamethasone valerate. It belongs to a group of medicines called steroids. It helps to reduce swelling and irritation. Betnovate is used to help reduce the redness and itchiness of certain skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.
2 What you need to know before you use Betnovate
Do not use Betnovate:
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to betamethasone valerate or any of the other ingredients of Betnovate (listed in Section 6)
• on a child under 1 year
• to treat any of the following skin problems, it could make them worse:
- acne
- severe flushing of skin on and around your nose (rosacea)
- spotty red rash around your mouth (perioral dermatitis)
- itching around your back passage or private parts
- infected skin (unless the infection is being treated with an anti-infective medicine at the same time)
- itchy skin which is not inflamed Do not use if any of the above apply to you. Ifyou are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Betnovate. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Betnovate if:
• you have previously had an allergic reaction with another steroid
• you are applying the ointment under an airtight dressing, including a child's nappy. These dressings make it easier for the active ingredient to pass through the skin. It is possible to accidentally end up using too much.
you have psoriasis, your doctor will want to see you more often.
using for a chronic leg ulcer as you may be at increased risk of local allergic reaction or infection, you are applying to a large surface area you are applying the ointment on broken skin or within the skin folds.
you are applying near eyes or on eyelids, as cataracts or glaucoma may result if the ointment repeatedly enters the eye. you are applying to thin skin such as the face or on children as their skin is thinner than adults and as a result may absorb larger amounts.
-•—Dressing or bandages should not be used on children or on the face where the ointment is applied.
• Use on children or on the face should be limited to 5 days.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine. Other medicines and Betnovate
Tell your doctor or pharmacist ifyou are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicine, especially if you are taking ritonavir and itraconazole medications.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding and fertility
Ifyou are pregnant or are breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
3 How to use Betnovate
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has
told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you
are notsure.
Using this medicine
• You usually apply Betnovate once or twice a day. This may be reduced as your skin begins to get better.
• This ointment is for use on your skin only.
• Donotuse more than the amount prescribed for you.
• Do not use on large areas of the body for a long time (such as every day for many weeks or months) - unless your doctor tells you to.
• The germs that cause infections like warm, moist conditions under bandages or dressings so always clean the skin before a fresh dressing is put on.
• If you are applying the ointment on someone else make sure you wash your hands after use or wear disposable plastic gloves.
• If your skin problem does not improve in2to4 weeks, talk to your doctor.
Guidance on how to apply the ointment
1 Wash your hands.
2 Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) and gently rub into the skin until it has all disappeared. You can measure how much Betnovate to use with your fingertip. For children you will need to use less ointment but still use an adult finger to measure out the fingertip unit. This picture shows one fingertip unit.
your hands as a part of the treatment, wash them again after using the ointment.
For an adult
Do notworry ifyou find you need a little more or less than this. It is only a rough guide.
For a child aged 1 - 10
|
Number of fingertip units needed | |||||
|
Child's age |
Face |
Arm |
Leg |
Back | |
|
and neck |
and hand |
and foot |
Front |
including buttocks | |
|
1-2 years |
1 'h |
1 'h |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
3-5 years |
1 'h |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 'h |
|
6-10 years |
2 |
2'h |
41/2 |
3 'h |
5 |
• veins under the surface of your skin may become more noticeable
• an increase or reduction in hair growth or hair loss and changes in skin colour
• weight gain, rounding of the face
• delayed weight gain or slowing of growth in children
• bones can become thin, weak and break easily
• cloudy lens in the eye (cataract) or increased pressure in eye (glaucoma)
• increased blood sugar levels or sugar in the urine
• high blood pressure Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
• Do not use it on children under 1 year of age.
• It is especially important in children not to exceed the prescribed amount.
• A course of treatment for a child should not normally last more than 5 days - unless your doctor has told you to use it for longer.
If you have psoriasis
If you have thick patches of psoriasis on your elbows or knees, your doctor may suggest applying the ointment under an airtight dressing. It will only be at night to help the ointment to start working. After a short period of time you will then apply the ointment as normal.
If you apply Betnovate to your face
You should only apply the ointment to your face if your doctor tells you to. It should not be used for more than 5 days, as the skin on your face thins easily. Do not let the ointment get into your eyes.
If you use more Betnovate than you should
If you apply too much or if accidentally swallowed, it could make you ill. Talk to your doctor or go to the hospital assoon as possible.
If you forget to use Betnovate If you forget to apply your ointment, apply it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time you are next meant to apply it, wait until this time.
If you stop using Betnovate If you use Betnovate regularly make sure you talk to your doctor before you stop using it as your condition may get worse if stopped suddenly.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube or carton after (Exp). The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• Do not store above 30°C.
• Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicinesyou no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side
effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop using Betnovate and tell your doctor
immediately if:
• you find that your skin condition gets worse, you develop a generalised rash or your skin becomes swollen during treatment. You may be allergic to Betnovate, have an infection or need other treatment.
• you have psoriasis and get raised bumps with pus under the skin. This can happen very rarely during or after treatment and is known as pustular psoriasis.
Other side effects you may notice when using
Betnovate include:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
• a feeling of burning, pain, irritation or itching where the ointment is applied.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• an increased risk of infection
• an allergic skin reaction where the ointment is applied
• rash, itchy bumpy skin or redness of the skin
• thinning and dryness of your skin and it mayalso damage or wrinkle more easily
• stretch marks may develop
What Betnovate ointment contains
• The active ingredient is betamethasone valerate. Each 1 g contains 1 mg of betamethasone (0.1%w/w) asvalerate.
• The other ingredients are liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin.
What Betnovate looks like and contents of the pack
Within each carton is a tube with a plastic screw cap, which contains either 30or100gof ointment. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Product Licence held by Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd, Stockley ParkWest, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB11 1BT Manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome Operations, Barnard Castle, Durham DL12 8DT If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist who will advise you.
You may be able to find out more information from books in public libraries.
Other formats:
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK Only)
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name:
Betnovate Ointment
Reference number 10949/0020
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
This leaflet was last revised in:
July 2013
Betnovate is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.
© 2013 GlaxoSmithKline group of companies. All rights reserved.
GlaxoSmithKline
10000000110356