Medication Information Leaflet
Your doctor has prescribed one of the following medications for you:
Topical vitamin D derivatives can be used to treat psoriasis, an inflammatory condition of the skin with increased turnover of skin cells, creating red, scaly patches of skin. The medication works by slowing down cell growth in the skin. The addition of steroids in the medication helps to reduce the signs of inflammation (such as redness, swelling) at the same time.
This medication may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
For use on your skin (Daivonex®, Daivobet®):
1. Clean the skin before applying this medication
2. Shake bottle well before use and remove the cap (for Daivobet® gel only)
3. Apply on the affected areas as directed by your doctor and rub in gently with your fingertips.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly after each application
For use on the scalp (Daivobet® gel):
1. Shake bottle well before use and remove the cap.
2. Comb your hair first to remove any loose scales. It may help to part your hair before applying the medication. Washing your hair before applying the medication is not necessary.
3. Apply on the affected areas as directed by your doctor and rub in gently with your fingertips. If the medication accidentally gets onto your face or into your eyes, wash it off immediately.
For use on the skin and scalp (Enstilar Foam®):
1. Wash and dry hands before starting
2. Remove the cap and shake for a few seconds before use
3. Spray onto the skin/scalp from at least 3 cm away. A 2-second application delivers approximately 0.5 g of medication. The foam can be sprayed holding the can in any orientation except horizontally.
4. Apply to the affected areas and rub gently into the skin. A 2-second application (0.5 g of medication) is generally enough to cover the area of a flat adult hand.
Note:
If you forgot to apply a dose of this medication, apply it as soon as you remember. Skip the dose if it is almost time for the next dose. Apply your next dose at the usual time. Do not apply two doses to make up for the missed dose.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
Certain side effects of this medication are common and may even disappear during treatment. If the side effects do not go away or becomes severe, consult your doctor.
These side effects include:
For Daivobet® gel and ointment as well as Enstilar Foam®, using this medication for long durations may cause additional side effects from the steroid ingredient. Some of these additional side effects include thinning of the skin, easy bruising, reddish stretch marks and acne.
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
Uncommon side effect of the medication include:
Some rare side effects of the medication include:
Some very rare side effects of the medication include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
Avoid applying this medication with salicylic acid preparations as they will make calcipotriol medications less effective.
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
For Daivobet® gel and Enstilar Foam®: Throw the bottle away 6 months after first opening.
For Daivobet® ointment: Throw 12 months after first opening of the container
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on Nov 2022
This article was last reviewed on Thursday, June 22, 2023