Fluocinonide

What is Fluocinonide?

Fluocinonide is a high-to-super-high-potency topical corticosteroid. It can be used to decrease itching and inflammation due to skin disorders that react to corticosteroids applied topically, like plaque psoriasis.

It is suitable for adults and children up to 12 years of age and is not recommended to be used for longer than two weeks in a row. The strength varies based on the substance and its concentration.

Fluocinonide topical can be found in gel, cream, ointment, and solution.

• Fluocinonide 0.1% cream: Vanos cream (super high potency)
• Fluocinonide 0.05% cream, gel, ointment/solution: generic only (high potency)

The fluocinonide drug was first approved on June 30, 1971.

Warnings

Follow the instructions on the medicine label and on the label of your package. Be sure to inform your health care providers about your medical issues, allergies, and the medicines you are taking.

Fluocinonide is a highly potent Class I or Class II corticosteroid that can be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream and cause reversible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression with the possibility of glucocorticosteroid insufficiency. This includes Cushing's syndrome and hyperglycemia as well as glucosuria. Don't use it for more than two weeks, and don't overdose on the recommended dosage. Regular monitoring for HPA suppression might be necessary.

Fluocinonide could affect the growth of teenagers and children in certain instances. It is possible that they will require regular checks for growth. Discuss this with your doctor.Be careful when applying topical fluocinonide to large areas of skin or to areas with open wounds.

Avoid using fluocinonide on scratches, cuts, or damaged skin on wounds that are open.

Before you Take this Drug

Do not apply the topical fluocinonide if you are intolerant to it. Don't apply it to lesions that have a tendency to release serum or to folds of the skin (where two skin areas meet).

Speak to your doctor if you are ever diagnosed with:

• any skin condition;
• The skin reacts to any medicine containing steroids.
• liver disease or
• an adrenal gland disorder of the adrenal gland.

Topical corticosteroids may increase glucose (sugar) levels in urine or blood. Inform your doctor if you are suffering from diabetes.Children are more vulnerable to the systemic absorption of corticosteroids applied to the skin. Topical fluocinonide is not approved to be used by children less than 12 years old.

It isn't known if the topical fluocinonide can cause harm to a baby who is not yet born. Inform your physician if you are expecting. If you're advised to apply fluocinonide topically, do so only in a small amount and for the shortest amount of time.It might not be safe to breastfeed when using this medication. If you're advised to apply topical fluocinonide, only use a very small amount for as short a time as you can. Avoid applying it to the breasts.

How to Take Fluocinonide?

Utilize fluocinonide as directed by your physician. Follow the directions on the prescription label and study all medication guides or instruction sheets. Follow the medication exactly as prescribed.Do not consume it orally. Topical medicine should be used exclusively on the skin. Avoid using wounds that are open, sunburned, dry, windburned, or inflamed. Wash it off with water if the medication gets into your mouth or eyes.

Cleanse your hands prior to and after you use fluocinonide, except if you are using the medication to treat the surface of your hands.

Spread a small amount of the medication on the affected area of skin and gently rub it into the skin. Avoid applying fluocinonide to an entire area of your skin unless your physician has advised you to.

• The 0.05 percent cream or gel is generally used two to four times per day.
• The 0.1 percent cream is generally used once or twice a day to treat eczema or atopic dermatitis, as well as once a day for psoriasis.

Don't cover the treated skin region with a bandage or any other form of cover-up unless you are advised to do so by your doctor. Covering areas that have been treated may make it more difficult for medication to be absorbed by your skin, which can have negative consequences.

Stop using fluocinonide and consult your doctor if you notice that your symptoms don't improve after two weeks of treatment or if they become worse.

What Happens If I Miss a Dose?

Take the medication as quickly as you can; however, avoid the missed dose if you think it is getting close to the time of the next dose. Don't apply two doses at once.

What Happens If I Overdose?

Get medical attention immediately or contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if you have accidentally swallowed the medicine.

Long-term or high-dose use of topical fluocinonide can result in thin skin, easy bleeding, changes to body fat (especially on your neck, face, back, and waist), a rise in facial hair or acne menstrual disorders, as well as impotence or losing interest in sexual activity.

What Should be Avoided?

• Avoid contact with fluocinonide in your eyes. If contact occurs, wash your eyes with water.
• Do not apply fluocinonide to your scalp, face, underarms, groin, or underarms.
• Do not apply topical fluocinonide for any skin condition that hasn't been examined by your physician.
• Do not apply other steroid-based topical medications to the areas that you treat with fluocinonide unless your doctor recommends it.
• Don't exceed 60g per day (1/2 of 120g in a tube).

Side effects of Fluocinonide

Seek medical attention immediately in the event that you experience symptoms warning signs of an allergy reaction with fluocinonide, a topical, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling or redness of the lips, face, or tongue.

Contact your doctor immediately. If you suffer from:

• Your skin's condition is becoming more uncomfortable.
• Redness, warmth, swelling, bleeding, or extreme irritation on any treatment skin
• Blurred vision blurred vision, pain in the eyes, or seeing halos around light sources;
• High blood sugar, increased thirst, increased urination rate, dry mouth, odor of fruity breath, or
• Possible signs of absorption of the medication through your skin, such as weight growth (especially on your face or in your upper back and torso), Slow healing of wounds, thin or uneven skin tone, an increase in the amount of body hair on your skin, weakness in muscles nausea, vomiting, fatigue, mood changes, and menstrual changes.

Common side effects from topical fluocinonide could be:

• Headache
• The skin is burned after treatment.
• Nasopharyngitis
• Nasal congestion
• Other sites react to applications.

Other adverse side effects that could be experienced with corticosteroids applied to the skin include:

• Acne
• Skin discoloration where the tape has been placed
• Dryness
• Excessive hair growth
• Miliaria
• Eye-related side effects like cataracts or glaucoma
• Contact dermatitis
• The appearance of a crust or redness around your hair follicles (folliculitis)
• The skin is becoming thinner.
• Spider veins
• Stretch marks
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• High blood sugar levels.

Topical corticosteroids can cause reversible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, with the potential for glucocorticosteroid insufficiency.If you suffer from an infection on your skin while applying fluocinonide to it, your doctor might prescribe an antimicrobial cream in addition. If this is not enough to cure the problem, your physician might decide to stop using this tape until the infection has gone away.If irritation develops, stop using fluocinonide topical.

This is not a comprehensive list of all the side effects. Other side effects could occur. Contact your doctor to seek medical advice on adverse effects. You may report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Topical fluocinonide is not likely to be a drug that interacts with any other medication you use. But it is not recommended to mix it with other oral or topical corticosteroids because they could have an adverse impact.

Discuss with your healthcare provider the medicines you take, such as prescription and over-the-counter supplements, vitamins, and herbs.