THE 50:50 OINTMENT - summary of medicine characteristics

Summary of medicine characteristics - THE 50:50 OINTMENT

SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT

The 50:50 Ointment.

2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

Active ingredient %w/w

White Soft Paraffin 50

Liquid Paraffin 50

3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM

Ointment for cutaneous use.

4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS

4.1 Therapeutic indications

For general use as an emollient in the symptomatic relief of dry skin conditions.

4.2. Posology and Method of Administration

Adults, Children and the Elderly.

Apply a thin film of the ointment to the affected area of the skin, in the direction of hair growth, as required. Repeat as necessary. Ideally the product should be applied three or four times a day, or at least twice a day.

In adults, where a large area of the body is affected, up to 500g a week may be used.

For topical administration.

4.3. Contra-indications

Hypersensitivity to either White Soft Paraffin or Liquid Paraffin.

4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use

The ointment should be applied in the direction of hair growth to reduce the incidence of folliculitis.

Instruct patients not to 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.

4.5. Interactions with other Medicaments and other forms of Interaction

No clinically significant interactions known.

4.6. Pregnancy and Lactation

The safety of White Soft Paraffin and Liquid Paraffin during pregnancy and lactation has not been established, but use during these periods is not considered to constitute a hazard.

4.7. Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

The ointment is greasy and if applied to the hands, appropriate care should be taken if driving or operating machinery.

4.8 Undesirable effects

Rarely hypersensitivity reactions. Prolonged use of large quantities may cause folliculitis, should this occur, use of the product should be discontinued.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

4.9. Overdose

The 50:50 ointment is of low toxicity and if ingested treatment should be supportive and symptomatic. Gastric lavage should not be attempted following ingestion of paraffin-based products, due to the risk of inhalation or aspiration into the lungs.

5 PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

White Soft Paraffin and Liquid Paraffin are emollients with occlusive properties for topical application.

5.2. Pharmacokinetic Properties

There is no significant systemic absorption of the active ingredients.

Following topical application, not all the product remains on the skin surface and there is substantial penetration into the stratum corneum.

5.3. Preclinical Safety Data

There are no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the Summary of Product Characteristics.

PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS

6.1 List of excipients

Not applicable.

6.2. Incompatibilities