What are the key benefits of Dovobet?
Dovobet works to bring the rate of skin growth back to normal. It also calms the inflammation. Most patients see obvious results within 2 weeks, even if the psoriasis is not cleared completely.
How does Dovobet work?
Calcipotriol is similar to vitamin D. When applied to the skin, it slows down the rate of growth of the skin cells, to stop them forming scaly and inflamed patches. This is how it helps the symptoms of psoriasis.
Betamethasone dipropionate has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic (reduces itching), vasoconstrictive (reduces redness and heat) and immunosuppressive (dampens down the immune response) properties. In this way, it helps to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis but it does not address the underlying problem.
This combination of both calcipotriol and betamethasone is applied to the affected areas of skin for a short period of time, usually around a month, and then calcipotriol is recommended to be used on its own (in a product such as Dovonex).
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How to use Dovobet
It’s important to read the enclosed leaflet carefully before using Dovobet.
Dovobet should be applied to affected areas with psoriasis once daily. Only use it on your psoriasis and not on unaffected skin. Do not use Dovobet on your face or genitals. The recommended treatment period is 4 weeks for scalp areas and 8 weeks for skin (non-scalp). Your doctor may decide on a longer treatment period or repeated treatment periods.
In order to get the best effect, it is recommended not to take a bath or shower immediately after application.
For use on the scalp, all the affected scalp areas may be treated with Dovobet gel. Usually, an amount between 1 g and 4 g per day is sufficient for treatment of the scalp (4 g corresponds to one teaspoon).
Do not use more than 15 grams in one day. If you use other calcipotriol containing medicines, the total amount of calcipotriol medicines must not exceed 15 grams per day and the area treated should not exceed 30% of the total body surface.
Is Dovobet suitable for me?
During your consultation, it is important to tell us if you are taking any other medicines, either from your doctor or purchased from a pharmacy without a prescription. If you are using other medicines that contain corticosteroids you may get side effects.
It’s very important to give a full picture of your general health in the consultation, to make sure the doctor has all the information required to assess the suitability of Dovobet for you. If you have diabetes mellitus (diabetes) your blood sugar/glucose level may be affected by the steroid, so it’s important you tell us.
Do not use Dovobet:
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to calcipotriol, betamethasone or any of the other ingredients of
Dovobet
- If you have problems with calcium levels in your body (ask your doctor)
- If you have certain types of psoriasis: these are erythrodermic, exfoliative and pustular (ask your
doctor).
As Dovobet contains a strong steroid do NOT use it on skin affected by:
- skin infections caused by viruses (e.g. cold sores or chicken pox), a fungus (e.g. athlete’s foot or ringworm), bacteria, parasites (e.g. scabies) or tuberculosis (TB)
- perioral dermatitis (red rash around the mouth)
- thin skin, easily damaged veins, stretch marks
- ichthyosis (dry skin with fish-like scales)
- acne (pimples)
- rosacea (severe flushing or redness of the skin on the face)
- ulcers or broken skin.
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What are the side effects of Dovobet?
Like all medicines, Dovobet can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor/nurse immediately or as soon as possible if any of the following happens. You may have to stop your treatment. The following serious side effects have been reported for Dovobet
- Worsening of your psoriasis. If your psoriasis gets worse, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
- Your adrenal glands may stop working properly. Signs are tiredness, depression and anxiety.
- Cataracts (signs are cloudy and foggy vision, difficulty seeing at night and sensitivity to light) or an increase in pressure inside the eye (signs are eye pain, red eye, decreased or cloudy vision)
- Infections (because your immune system, which fights infections, may be suppressed or weakened)
- Pustular psoriasis (a red area with yellowish pustules usually on the hands or feet). If you notice this, stop using Dovobet and tell your doctor as soon as possible
- Impact on the metabolic control of diabetes mellitus (if you have diabetes you may experience fluctuations in the blood glucose levels).
- Allergic reactions with deep swelling of the face or other parts of the body such as the hands or feet.Swelling of the mouth/throat and trouble breathing may occur. If you have an allergic reaction, stop using Dovobet, tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital.
- Treatment with this gel may cause the level of calcium in your blood or urine to increase (usually, when too much gel has been used). Signs of increased calcium in blood are excessive secretion of urine, constipation, muscle weakness, confusion and coma. This can be serious, and you should contact your doctor immediately. However, when the treatment is stopped, the levels return to normal.
The following less serious side effects have been reported for Dovobet
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- Itching. Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Eye irritation
- Burning sensation of the skin
- Skin pain or irritation
- Inflammation or swelling of the hair root (folliculitis)
- Rash with inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
- Redness of the skin due to widening of the small blood vessels (erythema)
- Acne (pimples)
- Dry skin
- Rash
- Pustular rash
- Infection of the skin
There are other more rare side effects. For a full list of potential side effects and other important information, please read the patient information leaflet provided in the pack before starting any course of treatment. The leaflet can also be viewed online below:
Dovobet gel
Dovobet Ointment
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