Dovonex Ointment 30G

Psoriasis Doctor Service

Dovonex belongs to a group of medicines called anti-psoriatics and is used to treat Plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris).

Dovonex contains the active substance calcipotriol. It is a type of vitamin D. Vitamin D controls how the cells in your skin grow.

Treating Skin With Dovonex:

• After about two weeks you may see a change in your skin. The scaly or flaky patches usually clear up first. They will feel smoother.
• The redness of the skin will start to clear up next. It may clear up in the centre first.

Suitable for adults and children 6 years of age and above. Do not use this medicine on children under 6 years old.

You can order Dovonex online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, complete the online assessment and checkout. Our UK registered doctors will review the order and after approval pass the prescription to the Pharmacy team. We will then dispense and dispatch your order to your chosen address.

About Psoriasis

If the cells in your skin grow too much you may get psoriasis. Psoriasis is a condition where your skin develops raised red patches and silver coloured scaly patches. The scaly patches are dead cells that would normally fall off your skin without you noticing.

These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body.  Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.

Psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the UK. It can start at any age, but most often develops in adults under 35 years old, and affects men and women equally.

The severity of psoriasis varies greatly from person to person. For some it's just a minor irritation, but for others it can majorly affect their quality of life.

Psoriasis is a long-lasting (chronic) disease that usually involves periods when you have no symptoms or mild symptoms, followed by periods when symptoms are more severe.

• Dovonex works by reducing the amount of cells your skin makes. This means your skin symptoms will reduce too.
• Suitable for adults and children 6 years of age and above
• Do not use this medicine on children under 6 years old

A good self care guide and information for psoriasis is available on the NHS website. 

NHS - Psoriasis

Psoriasis Triggers

Many people's psoriasis symptoms start or get worse because of a certain event, called a trigger. Knowing your triggers may help you avoid a flare-up.

Common Psoriasis Triggers Include:

• an injury to your skin, such as a cut, scrape, insect bite or sunburn – this is called the Koebner response
• drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
• smoking
• stress
• hormonal changes, particularly in women – for example, during puberty and the menopause
• certain medicines – such as lithium, some antimalarial medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines including ibuprofen, and ACE inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure)
• throat infections – in some people, usually children and young adults, a form of psoriasis called guttate psoriasis develops after a streptococcal throat infection, but most people who have streptococcal throat infections don't develop psoriasis
• other immune disorders, such as HIV, which cause psoriasis to flare up or appear for the first time.

Psoriasis is not contagious, so it cannot be spread from person to person.

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

Important side effects to look out for:

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.

You should tell your doctor straight away if you spot any of the following signs which may be due to too much calcium in your blood or urine:

• You need to pass water (urine) more often
• You feel thirsty or have lost your appetite
• You have a dry mouth or a metallic taste in your mouth
• You feel weak or have pain in your muscles or bones
• You have a headache or pain in your stomach
• You feel sick or have constipation.

Other possible side effects: The possible side effects in the following section of this leaflet 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 or stinging feeling
• Itchy rash and skin inflammation in the area where the medicine is used
• Itching skin
• Pain in the area where the medicine is used.

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Folliculitis (infection in the hair follicle)
• Rash
• Red, itchy, scaly rash. Blisters may form. These may weep or become crusty (eczema)
• Dry skin
• Changes in skin colour where the medicine is used.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

For a full list of side effects, please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Dovonex Ointment 30g

Other medicines and Dovonex
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes any medicines which you have bought without a prescription or herbal medicines.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine. If your doctor has agreed that you can breastfeed, do not apply Dovonex to the breast area.

Driving and using machines
This medicine should not have any effect on your ability to drive or use machines. Check with your doctor if you develop any effects that may interfere with your ability to drive, operate machinery or take part in any other activity where they may put you or others at risk.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Dovonex
Dovonex contains propylene glycol. Propylene glycol may cause skin irritation.

• Please ask your doctor if you are worried about any of the ingredients in this medicine.

How to store Dovonex

• Do not use Dovonex ointment after the expiry date which is stated on the tube and carton (EXP). The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
• The tube should be discarded 6 months after first opening. Write the date you first opened the tube in the space provided on the carton.
• Do not store above 25°C.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or in household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

How to use Dovonex

Always use Dovonex exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Do not use this medicine in babies less than 4 weeks old or with open wounds or large areas of broken or damaged skin (such as burns) without talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

• This medicine is only for using on your skin or the skin of a child.
• Do not put it inside your body.
• Do not swallow it.
• Never put this medicine on your face or the face of your child as it may cause irritation.
• Do not mix Dovonex with any other medicines.

Directions:

1. Remove the cap. Check the seal is not broken before you first use the ointment. If you have a 15 gram, 30 gram, 60 gram, 100 gram or 120 gram tube, you will need to break the seal by using the point in the back of the  cap.
2. Always wash your hands before using Dovonex.
3. Apply the ointment on the skin which has psoriasis. You can squeeze your medicine onto your skin directly. You can squeeze it onto your finger first if you wish.
4. Put your medicine on thickly. Then rub it in gently to cover the psoriasis.

Unless you are using the ointment to treat your hands, always wash your hands after using Dovonex. This will stop any medicine accidentally spreading to other parts of your body. Do not worry if you accidentally get any ointment on your normal skin, but wash it off if it spreads too far. 

You should try to keep your skin well moisturised particularly after a bath or shower. If you use a moisturiser, wait for it to soak in before you use your medicine.

How much Dovonex to use

For adults 

Your dose will depend on how bad your psoriasis is. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you. Use the medicine once or twice each day. Follow the advice of your doctor.

For the best results you should use Dovonex twice each day. If you are an adult, your doctor may suggest you use the medicine once a day. If you use it twice a day, use it in the morning and in the evening. To remind you
to use your medicine it may help to use it when you do another regular action, such as brushing your teeth.

• Do not use more than 100 grams each week.

For children and adolescents

Do not use it on children under 6 years of age.

For children, the right amount depends on their age. Your doctor will tell you how much Dovonex to use or give to your child. The dose will depend on how bad the psoriasis is. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for your child.

Children over 12 years old: Use the medicine twice each day.

• Do not use more than 75 grams each week.

Children between 6 and 12 years old: Use the medicine twice each day.

• Do not use more than 50 grams each week.

If you use more Dovonex than you should

Tell your doctor straight away. 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.

If you forget to use Dovonex
If you forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you remember. Then use your medicine at the usual time.

If you have any further questions about using this medicine, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not use Dovonex

• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to calcipotriol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• If you have been told by a doctor that you have high or low levels of a substance called calcium in your body (calcium metabolism disorders)
• If you have severe liver problems
• If you have severe kidney problems
• Do not use on your face
• Do not use it on children under 6 years old.

Warnings and precautions:
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Dovonex

• If you are already having ultraviolet (UV) light treatment.
• If you have guttate, erythrodermic, exfoliative or pustular psoriasis. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.

Excess calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia)
This medicine can cause an increase in calcium levels in the body so it is important that you do not exceed the recommended dose. Raised calcium levels can produce:

• 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.

If you get any of these, tell your doctor straight away.

• Do not use Dovonex on your face as it may irritate the skin on your face or accidentally get in your eyes.
• 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.
• Your doctor may tell you to limit your exposure to natural or artificial sunlight, e.g. sunbathing and sunbeds, while you are using this medicine.
• Do not smoke or go near naked flames - risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings etc) that has been in contact with this product burns more easily and is a serious fire hazard. Washing clothing and bedding may reduce product build-up but not totally remove it.
• Do not use this medicine on children under 6 years old.

What Dovonex Ointment contains

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, all-rac-α-tocopherol, liquid paraffin, macrogol (2) stearyl ether, propylene glycol, purified water and white soft paraffin.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Dovonex
Dovonex contains propylene glycol. Propylene glycol may cause skin irritation.

• Please ask your doctor if you are worried about any of the ingredients in this medicine.

What Dovonex looks like and contents of the pack

Dovonex is an off white to yellowish white translucent ointment. Dovonex comes in aluminium tubes of 5 grams, 15 grams, 30 grams, 60 grams, 100 grams, 120 grams and 240 grams. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.