Patient leaflet - Amorolfine 5 % w/v medicated Nail Lacquer
1. What Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer is and what it is used for
Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer is used to treat fungal infections affecting up to 2 nails and affecting the upper half or sides of the nail (as shown in the first picture below). If the infection appears to be more like pictures 2 or 3, you should consult your doctor. The active substance in Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer is amorolfine (as the hydrochloride) which belongs to a group of medicines known as antifungals. Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer kills a wide variety of fungi that can cause nail infections. A fungal nail infection is likely to result in discoloured (white, yellow or brown), thick or brittle nails, although their appearance can vary considerably as the following pictures show:
2. What do you need to know before you use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail
Lacquernail lacquer
Do not use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer
If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to the active ingredient (amorolfine) or any of the other ingredients of Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer (see section 6 for other ingredients) If you are under the age of 18
Warnings and precautions
You must get urgent medical help if you have any of the following symptoms:
- You have difficulty breathing
- Your face, lips, tongue or throat swell
- Your skin develops a severe rash
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Amorolfine,
if you suffer from diabetes
if you are being treated because you have a weak immune system
if you have poor circulation in your hands and feet
if your nail is severely damaged or infected
If you get Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer in your eyes or ears wash it out with water immediately and contact your doctor, pharmacist or nearest hospital straight away. Avoid the lacquer coming into contact with mucous membranes (e.g. mouth and nostrils). Do not breathe it in.
Wear impermeable gloves when using organic solvents to stop the nail lacquer from being removed. Do not use cosmetic nail lacquer or artificial nails during treatment with amorolfine. This medicine contains 55.4%w/w alcohol (ethanol).
It may cause burning sensation on damaged skin.
Other medicines and Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer
You can use the nail lacquer whilst you are taking other medicines.
Using other nail products
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
You should not use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer and tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Your doctor will then decide whether you should use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
3. How to use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer
Always use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Adults and the Elderly
Before Commencing Treatment
In the diagram below, shade the area affected by the fungal nail infection. This will help you in remembering how the nail looked originally when your treatment is reviewed. Every three months, shade the area now affected until the infected nail has completely grown out. If more than one nail is affected, select the worst affected nail for this exercise. Take this leaflet to the pharmacist or podiatrist when treatment is being reviewed to inform them of treatment progress to date.
before treatment Three Months Six Months Nine Months
Instructions for use
Treat your infected nails as described below. NAILS SHOULD BE TREATED ONCE A WEEK. Once weekly application should continue for 6 months for finger nails and 9 to 12 months for toe nails. A review of the treatment is recommended at intervals of approximately three months. Nails grow slowly so it may take 2 or 3 months before you start to see an improvement. It is important to carry on using the nail lacquer until the infection has cleared and healthy nails have grown back.
The following steps should be followed carefully for each affected nail:
Step 1: File the nail
Before the first application, file down the infected areas of nail,
including the nail surface, as much as possible using the nail file
provided.
CAUTION: Do not use nail files used for infected nails on healthy
nails, otherwise you may spread the infection. To prevent the
spread of infection take care that no one else uses the files from
your kit.
Step 2: Clean the nail
the nail surface. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each affected nail.
Step 3: Apply the lacquer
Dip one of the re-usable applicators into the bottle of nail lacquer.
The lacquer must not be wiped off the edge of the bottle before it is
applied. Apply the lacquer evenly over the entire surface of the nail.
Repeat this step for each affected nail.
Let the treated nail(s) dry for approximately 3 minutes.
Step 4: Clean the applicator
The applicators provided are re-usable. However, it is important to
clean them thoroughly after completing each treatment procedure,
using the same swab you used for nail cleansing. Avoid touching
newly treated nails with the swab. Close the nail lacquer bottle
tightly. Dispose of the swab carefully as it is inflammable.
Before using the nail lacquer again, first remove the old lacquer from your nails using a swab, then file down the nails again if necessary.
Re-apply the lacquer as described above.
When dry the nail lacquer is unaffected by soap and water, so you can wash your hands and feet as normal. If you need to use chemicals such as paint thinners or white spirit, rubber or other impermeable (waterproof) gloves should be worn to protect the lacquer on your fingernails.
It is important to carry on using the nail lacquer until the infection has cleared and healthy nails have grown back. This usually takes 6 months for fingernails and 9 to 12 months for toenails. You will see a healthy nail growing as the diseased nail grows out.
Before treatment After treatment
If you accidentally swallow Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer
If you, or anyone else, accidentally swallows the lacquer contact your doctor, pharmacist or nearest hospital straight away.
If you forget to use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer
Do not worry if you forget to use the lacquer at the right time. When you remember, start using the product again, in the same way as before.
If you stop using Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer
Do not stop using Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer before your doctor tells you to or your infection could come back. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)
Your nail may become discoloured, broken or brittle.
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
A burning sensation may occur in the area around the nail.
Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
Redness, itching, hives, blisters and allergic skin reaction (contact dermatitis).
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 national reporting system listed in Appendix V.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer
Keep out of the reach and sight of children
Do not use Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer after the expiry date which is stated on the pack. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
Store below 30ºC. Protect from heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed and upright
This product is flammable! Keep the solution away from fire and flames!
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer contains
1 ml of Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer contains 55.74 mg amorolfine hydrochloride (equivalent to 50mg amorolfine). The other ingredients are Eudragit RL 100 (ammonio methacrylate copolymer A), triacetin, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate and 55.4%w/w ethanol (anhydrous).
What Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer looks like and contents of the pack
Amorolfine 5 % w/v Medicated Nail Lacquer is a clear, colourless to pale yellow solution. It is available in 2.5 ml and 3 ml packs; 1 bottle packed with cleansing swabs, spatulas and nail files. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited,
103-105 Bath Road
Slough, SL1 3UH
United Kingdom
This leaflet was last reviewed in: 01/2022