Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone is a depigmenting agent used to lighten areas of darkened skin such as freckles, age spots, chloasma, and melisma caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone medicine, or injury to the skin. Hydroquinone decreases the formation of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment in skin that gives it a brown color.

• Hydroquinone is available under the following different brand names: Lustra, Melquin, Melquin HP 4%, Melquin-3 Topical Solution, Lustra-AF, Lustra-Ultra, Alphaquin, Claripel, Clarite, Eldopaque, Eldoquin, Epiquin Micro, Esoterica, Melanex, Melpaque, Nuquin HP Cream, Nuquin HP Gel, and Solaquin.

Dosages of Hydroquinone:

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Topical cream

• 2%
• 4%

Lotion

• 2%

Emulsion

• 4%

Topical Solution

• 2%
• 3%

Topical Gel

• 2%
• 4%

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Reduce Melanin Hyperpigmentation

• Adults and children over 12 years: Apply to affected areas and rub in thoroughly every 12 hours
• Children under 12 years: Safety and efficacy not established

Common side effects of hydroquinone include:

• Mild skin irritation and sensitization (burning, stinging)
• Dermatitis
• Dryness
• Redness
• Inflammatory reaction

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, 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, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Hydroquinone has no known severe, serious, moderate, or mild interactions with other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of 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 health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns, or for more information about this medicine.

Warnings

This medication contains hydroquinone. Do not take Lustra, Melquin, Melquin HP 4%, Melquin-3 Topical Solution, Lustra-AF, Lustra-Ultra, Alphaquin, Claripel, Clarite, Eldopaque, Eldoquin, Epiquin Micro, Esoterica, Melanex, Melpaque, Nuquin HP Cream, Nuquin HP Gel, or Solaquin if you are allergic to hydroquinone or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Sunburn
• Use as depilatory drug

Effects of Drug Abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Hydroquinone?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Hydroquinone?"

Cautions

• Contain sulfites that may cause allergic-type reactions
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight
• Do not apply near eyes, to cut, abraded, or sunburned skin, after shaving or using a depilatory agent; or over miliaria rubra (prickly heat)

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use hydroquinone with caution during pregnancy if benefits outweigh risks
• Animal studies show risk and human studies are not available or neither animal nor human studies were done
• It is unknown if hydroquinone is distributed in breast milk; use caution if breastfeeding