BETNOVATE RD CREAM - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Patient leaflet - BETNOVATE RD CREAM

Betnovate RD Cream

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

betamethasone valerate

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet:

1 What Betnovate RD is and what it is used for
2 What you need to know before you use Betnovate RD
3 How to use Betnovate RD
4 Possible side effects
5 How to store Betnovate RD
6 Contents of the pack and other information

1 What Betnovate RD is and what it is used for

Betnovate RD contains a medicine called betamethasone valerate. It belongs to a group of medicines called steroids that reduce swelling and irritation.

Betnovate RD is used to help reduce the redness and itchiness of certain skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

RD stands for ‘Ready Diluted’, it contains less active ingredient than Betnovate. It is used:

for milder skin problems, or
to keep your skin problem under control after Betnovate has improved it.

3 How to use Betnovate RD

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Using this medicine

You usually apply Betnovate RD once or twice a day. This may be reduced as your skin begins to get better.
This cream is for use on your skin only.
Do not use more than the amount prescribed for you.
Do not use on large areas of the body for a long time (such as every day for many weeks or months) – unless your doctor tells you to.
The germs that cause infections like warm, moist conditions under bandages or dressings so always clean the skin before a fresh dressing is put on.
If you are applying the cream on someone else make sure you wash your hands after use or wear disposable plastic gloves.
If your skin problem does not improve in 2 to 4 weeks, talk to your doctor.

Guidance on how to apply the cream

1 Wash your hands.
2 Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) and gently rub into the skin until it has all disappeared. You can measure how much Betnovate to use with your fingertip. For children you will need to use less cream but still use an adult finger to measure out the fingertip unit. This picture shows one fingertip unit.

2 What you need to know before you use Betnovate RD

Do not use Betnovate RD:

if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to betamethasone valerate or any of the other ingredients of Betnovate RD (listed in Section 6)
on a child under 1 year
to treat any of the following skin problems, it could make them worse:
– acne
– severe flushing of skin on and around your nose (rosacea)
– spotty red rash around your mouth (perioral dermatitis)
– itching around your back passage or private parts
– infected skin (unless the infection is being treated with an anti-infective medicine at the same time)
– itchy skin which is not inflamed.

Do not use if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Betnovate RD.

Warnings and precautions

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before using your Betnovate RD if:

you have previously had an allergic reaction with another steroid
you are applying the cream under an airtight dressing, including a child’s nappy. These dressings make it easier for the active ingredient to pass through the skin. It is possible to accidentally end up using too much.
you have psoriasis, your doctor will want to see you more often.
using for a chronic leg ulcer as you may be at increased risk of local allergic reaction or infection.
you are applying to a large surface area
you are applying the cream on broken skin or within the skin folds.
you are applying near eyes or on eyelids, as cataracts or glaucoma may result if the cream repeatedly enters the eye.
you have an infection of the skin as this will need to be treated
you are applying to thin skin such as the face or on children as their skin is thinner than adults and as a result may absorb larger amounts.

Dressing or bandages should not be used on children or on the face where the cream is applied.

Use on children or on the face should be limited to 5 days. Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.

Do not smoke or go near naked flames due to the risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressing 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.

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.

Other medicines and Betnovate

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicine, especially if you are taking ritonavir and itraconazole medications.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or are breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Betnovate RD Cream contains chlorocresol and cetostearyl alcohol

Betnovate RD Cream contains chlorocresol which may cause allergic reactions and cetostearyl alcohol which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis).

3 Unless you are meant to apply the cream to your hands as a part of the treatment, wash them again after using the cream.

For an adult

Face and neck:

21/2 fingertip units.

Back: 7 fingertip units.
Front: 7 fingertip units.

One arm (not including the hand):

3 fingertip units.

Both sides of one hand:

1 fingertip unit.

One leg (not including the foot):

6 fingertip units. '

One foot:

2 fingertip units.

Do not worry if you find you need a little more or less than this. It is only a rough guide.

For a child aged 1 – 10

Number of fingertip units needed
Child’s age	Face and neck	Arm and hand	Leg and foot	Front	Back including buttocks
1–2 years	1 %	1 %	2	2	3
3–5 years	1 %	2	3	3	3 %
6–10 years	2	2 %	4 %	3 %	5

Do not use it on children under 1 year of age.
It is especially important in children not to exceed the prescribed amount.
A course of treatment for a child should not normally last more than 5 days – unless your doctor has told you to use it for longer.

If you have psoriasis

If you have thick patches of psoriasis on your elbows or knees, your doctor may suggest applying the cream under an airtight dressing. It will only be at night to help the cream to start working. After a short period of time you will then apply the cream as normal.

If you apply Betnovate RD to your face

You should only apply the cream to your face if your doctor tells you to. It should not be for more than 5 days, as the skin on your face thins easily. Do not let the cream get into your eyes.

If you use more Betnovate RD than you should

If you apply too much or if accidentally swallowed, it could make you ill. Talk to your doctor or go to the hospital as soon as possible.

If you forget to use Betnovate RD

If you forget to apply your cream, apply it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time you are next meant to apply it, wait until this time.

If you stop using Betnovate RD

If you use Betnovate RD regularly make sure you talk to your doctor before you stop using it as your condition may get worse if stopped suddenly.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4 Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop using Betnovate RD and tell your doctor immediately if:

you find that your skin condition gets worse, you develop a generalised rash or your skin becomes swollen during treatment. You may be allergic to Betnovate RD, have an infection or need other treatment.
you have psoriasis and get raised bumps with pus under the skin. This can happen very rarely during or after treatment and is known as pustular psoriasis.

Other side effects you may notice when using Betnovate RD include:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

a feeling of burning, pain, irritation or itching where the cream is applied.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

an increased risk of infection
an allergic skin reaction where the cream is applied
rash, itchy bumpy skin or redness of the skin
thinning and dryness of your skin and it may also damage or wrinkle more easily
stretch marks may develop
blood vessels under the surface of your skin may become more noticeable
an increase or reduction in hair growth or hair loss and changes in skin colour
weight gain, rounding of the face
delayed weight gain or slowing of growth in children
bones can become thin, weak and break easily
cloudy lens in the eye (cataract) or increased pressure in eye (glaucoma)
a decrease in the level of the hormone cortisol in your blood
increased blood sugar levels or sugar in the urine
high blood pressure

Not Known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

blurred vision

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 Yellow Card Scheme Website: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5 How to store Betnovate RD

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube end or carton after (EXP). The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C.
Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6 Contents of the pack and other information

What Betnovate RD cream contains

The active ingredient is betamethasone valerate. Each

1 g contains 0.25 mg of betamethasone (0.025% w/w) as valerate.

The other ingredients are cetostearyl alcohol, cetomacrogol 1000, white soft paraffin, liquid paraffin, chlorocresol, disodium hydrogen phosphate, citric acid monohydrate and purified water.

What Betnovate RD looks like and contents of the pack

Within each carton is a tube with a plastic screw cap, which contains 100 g of cream.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Product Licence held by Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS

Manufactured by

Glaxo Wellcome Operations, Barnard Castle, Durham DL12 8DT

If you have any questions or are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist who will advise you.

You may be able to find out more information from books in public libraries.

Other formats:

To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:

0800 198 5000 (UK Only)

Please be ready to give the following information:

Product name: Betnovate RD Cream

Reference number 10949/0021

This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

This leaflet was last revised in: August 2020

Trade marks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies.

62000000055657