Clocortolone

Clocortolone is a prescription medication indicated for the relief of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.

• Clocortolone is available under the following different brand names: Cloderm

Common side effects of Clocortolone include:

• stinging
• burning
• itching
• irritation
• dryness
• peeling
• redness at the application site when this medication is first applied to the skin
• thinning or softening of the skin
• skin rash or irritation around the mouth
• swollen hair follicles
• changes in the color of treated skin
• blisters
• pimples
• crusting of treated skin
• stretch marks
• blurred vision
• seeing halos around lights
• mood changes
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• weight gain
• puffiness in the face
• muscle weakness
• feeling tired

Serious side effects of Clocortolone include:

• stretch marks
• skin thinning/discoloration 
• acne
• extreme/unwanted hair growth
• small red bumps on the skin (folliculitis)

Rare side effects of Clocortolone include:

• none 

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, coordination loss, unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights
• Serious heart symptoms include fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, light-headedness, or passing out

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Cream

• 0.1%

Dermatoses

Adult dosage

• Apply sparingly to the affected area(s) once a day to every 6 hours; discontinue when control achieved

Pediatric dosage

• Children are susceptible to systemic toxicity; apply the minimum amount necessary for therapeutic efficacy

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

• See "Dosages"

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacist first.

• Clocortolone has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs
• Clocortolone has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs
• Clocortolone has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs
• Clocortolone has no noted minor interactions with any other drugs

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your healthcare professional or doctor for additional medical advice, health questions, or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Underlying infection (viral, fungal, or tubercular)
• Ophthalmic use

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Clocortolone?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Clocortolone?”

Cautions

• Children may exhibit greater susceptibility to corticosteroid-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression and Cushing's syndrome owing to larger skin surface area to body weight ratio
• Use medium to very high potency for less than 2 weeks to reduce local and systemic side effects
• Contact dermatitis may occur that causes treatment failure
• Kaposi's sarcoma reported with prolonged corticosteroid therapy
• Use low potency for chronic therapy
• Children may absorb proportionally larger amounts that result in systemic effects
• Avoid medium to very high potency on the face, folds, and groin because can increase steroid absorption

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use with caution if the benefits outweigh the risks during pregnancy
• Lactation
  • Excretion in milk unknown; use with caution