Get your patient on Clobetasol Propionate - Clobetasol Propionate ointment (Clobetasol Propionate)
Clobetasol Propionate - Clobetasol Propionate ointment prescribing information
INDICATIONS AND USAGE:
Clobetasol propionate gel, cream and ointment are super-high potency corticosteroid formulations indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid responsive dermatoses. Treatment beyond 2 consecutive weeks is not recommended, and the total dosage should not exceed 50 g per week because of the potential for the drug to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Use in pediatric patients under 12 years of age is not recommended. As with other highly active corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control has been achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of the diagnosis may be necessary.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION:
Apply a thin layer of clobetasol propionate gel, cream or ointment to the affected skin areas twice daily and rub in gently and completely. (See INDICATIONS AND USAGE. )
Clobetasol propionate gel, cream and ointment are super-high potency topical corticosteroids; therefore, treatment should be limited to 2 consecutive weeks, and amounts greater than 50 g per week should not be used.
As with other highly active corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control has been achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of diagnosis may be necessary.
Clobetasol propionate gel, cream and ointment should not be used with occlusive dressings.
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Clobetasol propionate gel, cream and ointment are contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the components of the preparations.
ADVERSE REACTIONS:
In a controlled clinical trial with clobetasol propionate gel, the only reported adverse reaction that was considered to be drug related was a report of burning sensation (1.8% of treated patients). In controlled clinical trials, the most frequent adverse reactions reported for clobetasol propionate cream were burning and stinging sensation in 1% of treated patients. Less frequent adverse reactions were itching, skin atrophy, and cracking and fissuring of the skin. In controlled clinical trials, the most frequent adverse events reported for clobetasol propionate ointment were burning sensation, irritation, and itching in 0.5% of treated patients. Less frequent adverse reactions were stinging, cracking, erythema, folliculitis, numbness of fingers, skin atrophy, and telangiectasia.
Cushing's syndrome has been reported in infants and adults as a result of prolonged use of topical clobetasol propionate formulations. The following additional local adverse reactions have been reported with topical corticosteroids, and they may occur more frequently with the use of occlusive dressings and higher potency corticosteroids. These reactions are listed in an approximately decreasing order of occurrence: dryness, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, irritation, striae, and miliaria.
DESCRIPTION:
Clobetasol propionate gel, cream and ointment contain the active compound clobetasol propionate, a synthetic corticosteroid, for topical dermatologic use. Clobetasol, an analog of prednisolone, has a high degree of glucocorticoid activity and a slight degree of mineralocorticoid activity.
Clobetasol propionate is a white to cream-colored crystalline powder insoluble in water. Chemically, it is 21-chloro-9-fluoro-11β,17-dihydroxy-16β-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione 17-propionate, and it has the following structural formula:

Each gram of the 0.05% gel contains 0.5 mg clobetasol propionate in a base of propylene glycol, carbomer 934P, sodium hydroxide and purified water.
Each gram of the 0.05% cream contains clobetasol propionate 0.5 mg in a cream base of propylene glycol, glyceryl monostearate, cetostearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate/PEG 100 stearate, white wax, chlorocresol, sodium citrate anhydrous, citric acid anhydrous, and purified water.
Each gram of the 0.05% ointment contains clobetasol propionate 0.5 mg in a base of propylene glycol, sorbitan sesquioleate, and white petrolatum.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY:
Like other topical corticosteroids, clobetasol propionate has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of the topical steroids, in general, is unclear. However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A 2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor, arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A 2 .
Pharmacokinetics: The extent of percutaneous absorption of topical corticosteroids is determined by many factors, including the vehicle and the integrity of the epidermal barrier. Occlusive dressings with hydrocortisone for up to 24 hours has not been demonstrated to increase penetration; however, occlusion of hydrocortisone for 96 hours markedly enhances penetration. Topical corticosteroids can be absorbed from normal intact skin. Inflammation and/or other disease processes in the skin may increase percutaneous absorption. Greater absorption was observed for the clobetasol propionate gel formulation as compared to the cream formulation in in vitro human skin penetration studies. Studies performed with clobetasol propionate gel, cream and ointment indicate that they are in the super-high range of potency as compared with other topical corticosteroids.
HOW SUPPLIED:
Clobetasol Propionate Gel, 0.05% is supplied in tamper-evident tubes as follows:
15 g (NDC 0168-0293-15) | 30 g (NDC 0168-0293-30) |
60 g (NDC 0168-0293-60) |
Clobetasol Propionate Cream USP, 0.05% is supplied in tamper-evident tubes as follows:
15 g (NDC 0168-0163-15) | 30 g (NDC 0168-0163-30) |
45 g (NDC 0168-0163-46) | 60 g (NDC 0168-0163-60) |
Clobetasol Propionate Ointment USP, 0.05% is supplied in tamper-evident tubes as follows:
15 g (NDC 0168-0162-15) | 30 g (NDC 0168-0162-30) |
45 g (NDC 0168-0162-46) | 60 g (NDC 0168-0162-60) |
Store at controlled room temperature 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). DO NOT REFRIGERATE.
E. FOUGERA & CO. A division of Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. Melville, New York 11747
I2162H R08/12 #202