Calcipotriene (Topical)

Brand Names : Dovonex, MC 903

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For calcipotriene, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to calcipotriene or to other ingredients of the preparation, which you may find listed on the label. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Calcipotriene has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that calcipotriene taken in high doses by mouth causes problems in the mother and the fetus, including birth defects. Before using this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether calcipotriene passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - This medicine has been tested in a limited number of children 2 to 14 years of age with psoriasis on less than 30% of the body. When used for 8 weeks or less, the medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. However, more studies are needed.

Older adults - Skin-related side effects caused by calcipotriene may be more severe when they occur in patients over 65 years of age.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking or using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of calcipotriene. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Highly irritated areas of psoriasis on the scalp - Calcipotriene topical solution may increase the skin irritation because of the alcohol in the product

• Hypercalcemia (high blood levels of calcium) or
• Hypercalciuria (high urine levels of calcium) or
• Hypervitaminosis D (high blood levels of vitamin D) - Calcipotriene may increase the chance of kidney stone formation

• Kidney stones (or history of) - Calcipotriene may make this condition worse