Clobetasol Propionate
Clobetasol Propionate Prescribing Information
Clobetasol propionate cream, USP is a super-high potency corticosteroid formulation indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. Treatment beyond 2 consecutive weeks is not recommended, and the total dosage should not exceed 50 g/week because of the potential for the drug to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Use in pediatric patients under 12 years of age is not recommended.
As with other highly active corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control has been achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of the diagnosis may be necessary.
Apply a thin layer of clobetasol propionate cream to the affected skin areas twice daily and rub in gently and completely (see
Clobetasol propionate cream is super-high potency topical corticosteroids; therefore,
As with other highly active corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control has been achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of diagnosis may be necessary.
Clobetasol propionate cream USP, 0.05% is contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the components of the preparations.
In controlled clinical trials, the most frequent adverse reactions reported for clobetasol propionate cream were burning and stinging sensation in 1% of treated patients. Less frequent adverse reactions were itching, skin atrophy, and cracking and fissuring of the skin.
Cushing syndrome has been reported in infants and adults as a result of prolonged use of topical clobetasol propionate formulations.
The following additional local adverse reactions have been reported with topical corticosteroids, and they may occur more frequently with the use of occlusive dressings and higher potency corticosteroids. These reactions are listed in an approximately decreasing order of occurrence: dryness, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, irritation, striae, and miliaria.
Clobetasol Propionate Cream USP, 0.05% contain the active compound clobetasol propionate, USP a synthetic corticosteroid, for topical dermatologic use. Clobetasol, an analog of prednisolone, has a high degree of glucocorticoid activity and a slight degree of mineralocorticoid activity.
Chemically, clobetasol propionate, USP is Pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, 21-chloro-9-fluoro-11-hydroxy-16-methyl-17-(1-oxopropoxy)-, (11β,16β), and it has the following structural formula:
Clobetasol propionate, USP has the molecular formula C25H32ClFO5 and a molecular weight of 466.97. It is a white to almost white crystalline powder insoluble in water.
Clobetasol Propionate Cream USP, 0.05% contains clobetasol propionate, USP 0.5 mg/g in a cream base composed of anhydrous citric acid, cetyl alcohol, glycol stearate, lanolin oil, methylparaben, PEG-8 stearate, polysorbate 60, propylene glycol, propylparaben, purified water, sodium citrate, stearyl alcohol, and white petrolatum. Sodium hydroxide may be used to adjust pH.
Like other topical corticosteroids, clobetasol propionate has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of the topical steroids, in general, is unclear. However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor, arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2.