LOCOID CREAM - patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Locoid

Hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% w/w

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, pharmacist or nurse.
• 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, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet:

• 1. What Locoid Cream is and what it is used for

• 2. What you need to know before you use Locoid Cream

• 3. How to use Locoid Cream

• 4. Possible side effects

• 5. How to store Locoid Cream

• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. what locoid cream is and what it is used for

Locoid Cream contains the active substance hydrocortisone butyrate. This is a corticosteroid which when made up as a cream is for use on the skin. This is known as topical application. Topical corticosteroids are ranked as mildly potent, moderately potent, potent and very potent; Locoid Cream is classed as potent.

Topical corticosteroids are able to reduce the inflammation caused by a variety of skin conditions, and so allow it to get better. They can also affect the cause of the condition, which can lead to its healing.

Locoid Cream is indicated in adults, children and infants above 3 months of age. It is used to treat a variety of skin conditions which are not caused by micro-organisms. Among these are eczema and dermatitis (itching) of all types including atopic (childhood) eczema, photodermatitis (itching caused by exposure to light) and dermatitis caused by skin irritants and allergies.

It can also be used in the treatment of psoriasis, a condition resulting in thickening of areas of the skin. It is important that you follow your doctor’s instruc­tions particularly in psoriasis, and use it only on small areas on the scalp, hands or feet. The original symptoms may return if you stop using Locoid Cream prematurely.

2. what you need to know before you use locoid cream

Do not use Locoid Cream:

• if you are allergic to hydrocortisone butyrate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6), and see also the end of this section for some important information on some of the ingredients.
• if your skin disorder is caused by an untreated bacterial, viral (e.g. cold sores, herpes, chicken pox), fungal (e.g. athlete’s foot), yeast or parasitic (e.g. ringworm) infection. Locoid Cream may worsen or hide these disorders. Your doctor will check these.
• if you have skin problems associated with syphilis (a sexually transmitted disease) or tuberculosis.
• if the skin around your mouth is inflamed (perioral dermatitis). It might be the result of previous treatment with corticosteroids.
• if you have pimples or spots (acne).
• if you have redness of the facial skin.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor before using Locoid Cream. This is especially important if you intend to:

• treat facial skin, thin skin (e.g. skin of your genitals). These areas of your skin are particularly sensitive to corticosteroids. You should not apply to your eyes or your eyelids.
• use Locoid Cream at skin folds, under an airtight dressing or on large areas of your skin. If you are using Locoid Cream under bandages, it should only be on small areas for a short time, and only on the advice of your doctor. Bandages and dressings should not ----- be used on babies or children.
• treat your child (see further information below).
• ----- use it for psoriasis. Topical corticosteroids can be effective in psoriasis in the short term. The condition may relapse or significantly worsen on stopping treatment and there is a risk of widespread pustular psoriasis. This is a condition where the psoriasis spreads and becomes very inflamed. In order to minimise side effects Locoid Cream should only be used on small areas of psoriasis (e.g. scalp, hands and feet). If your doctor has prescribed Locoid Cream to treat psoriasis, you should let your doctor review your progress regularly as such treatment needs careful supervision.
• use it on an area where you have previously had a skin infection.

During treatment:

Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.

If there is a worsening of your condition during use consult your prescriber – you may be experiencing an allergic reaction, have an infection or your condition requires a different treatment. If you experience a recurrence of your condition shortly after stopping treatment, within 2 weeks, do not restart using the cream/ointment without consulting your-----

prescriber unless your prescriber has previously advised you to do so. If your condition has resolved and on recurrence the redness extends beyond the initial treatment area and you experience a burning sensation, please seek medical advice before restarting treatment.

Do not smoke or go near naked flames – risk of severe burns. Fabric (clothing, bedding, dressings 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.

Children and adolescents

Long term treatment of children should be avoided. In infants treatment should be limited to a maximum of seven days. Bandages and dressings should not be used on babies or children.

Other medicines and Locoid Cream

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 Locoid Cream if you are pregnant or breast-feeding unless clearly necessary. There may be a small risk of harm to your baby if you use any corticosteroid cream whilst pregnant, so if your doctor does prescribe it for you knowing you are pregnant, you should not use it in large amounts for a long time.

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

Driving and using machines

Locoid Cream is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Locoid Cream contains cetostearyl alcohol, propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) and butyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218)

Locoid Cream contains cetostearyl alcohol that may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis) and propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216) and butyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218) that may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).

3. how to use locoid cream

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure. If your skin problem does not improve, you should go back to your doctor.

The recommended dose of Locoid Cream is no more than twice daily. Thickened areas of psoriasis on elbows and knees may be treated with Locoid Cream under a dressing, but only if your doctor has told you so.

This medicine is for cutaneous use. Apply a thin layer of Locoid Cream to the affected skin. Gently massage the cream into the affected area.

On advice of your doctor you may have to apply Locoid Cream under an airtight dressing in order to obtain a better result.

Unless you are using Locoid to treat your hands, always wash your hands after using Locoid Cream.

If you use more Locoid Cream than you should

If you have used too much Locoid Cream the side effects (as described in Section 4) can occur.

Contact your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately.

If you forget to use Locoid Cream

Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop using Locoid Cream

The original symptoms may return if you stop using Locoid Cream prematurely.

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

4. possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

A small number of people may be hypersensitive (allergic) to the constituents of Locoid Cream. If your skin condition seems to get worse, the skin becomes red, itchy or irritated, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if this becomes troublesome.

If Locoid Cream is used in moist skin areas (e.g. skin folds) the skin may become thin and damaged. Tell your doctor if this happens.

Locoid Cream may cause the following:

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Thinning of the skin (atrophy)
• Redness of the skin (dermatitis)
• Bruising
• Stretch marks
• Facial spots (acne)
• Redness of the skin around the mouth (perioral dermatitis)
• Worsening of the skin condition during treatment (Bounce-back effect)
• Discolouration of skin

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

• Suppression of the release of the stress hormones

Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Allergic reaction (hypersensitivity)
• Blurred vision
• Itching (pruritus)
• Redness of the skin (erythema)
• Rash
• Application site pain
• Steroid withdrawal reaction: If used continuously for prolonged periods a withdrawal reaction may occur on stopping treatment with some or all of the following features: redness of the skin which can extend beyond the initial area treated, a burning or stinging sensation, intense itching, peeling of the skin, oozing open sores

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: 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 locoid cream

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original packaging. Do not refrigerate or freeze.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. contents of the pack and other informationwhat locoid cream contains the active substance is hydrocortisone butyrate. locoid cream contains 0.1% hydrocortisone butyrate.

• The other ingredients are cetostearyl alcohol, macrogol 25 cetostearyl ether, liquid paraffin, white soft paraffin, propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216), butyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218), citric acid (E330), sodium citrate (E331) and purified water.

What Locoid Cream looks like and contents of the pack

Locoid Cream is a white cream and is available in 30 g, 50 g, 100 g or 200 g tubes with white polyethylene screw caps. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder:

Neon Healthcare Ltd.

• 8 The Chase, John Tate Road,