DAIVOBET Calcipotriol Hydrate / Betamethasone Dipropionate 50mcg / 500mcg per g Ointment 15g
Indications/Uses
Gel: Topical treatment of scalp psoriasis. Topical treatment of mild to moderate "non-scalp" plaque psoriasis vulgaris.
Dosage/Direction for Use
When using calcipotriol containing medicinal products, the maximum daily dose should not exceed 15 g and the maximum weekly dose should not exceed 100 g.
The body surface area treated with calcipotriol containing medicinal products should not exceed 30%.
Special populations: Renal and hepatic impairment: The safety and efficacy of Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) in patients with severe renal insufficiency or severe hepatic disorders have not been evaluated.
Paediatric population: The safety and efficacy of Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) in children below 18 years have not been established.
Currently available data in children aged 12 to 17 years are described in Adverse Reactions and Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Method of administration: Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) should be applied to the affected area. In order to achieve optimal effect, it is not recommended to take a shower or bath immediately after application of Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet).
Gel: Posology: Daivobet Gel should be applied to affected areas once daily. The recommended treatment period is 4 weeks for scalp areas and 8 weeks for "non-scalp" areas. If it is necessary to continue or restart treatment after this period, treatment should be continued after medical review and under regular medical supervision. When using calcipotriol containing medicinal products, the maximum daily dose should not exceed 15 g and the maximum weekly dose should not exceed 100 g. The body surface area treated with calcipotriol containing medicinal products should not exceed 30%.
If used on the scalp: All the affected scalp areas may be treated with Daivobet Gel. Usually an amount between 1 g and 4 g per day is sufficient for treatment of the scalp (4 g corresponds to one teaspoon).
Special populations: Renal and hepatic impairment: The safety and efficacy of Daivobet Gel in patients with severe renal insufficiency or severe hepatic disorders have not been evaluated.
Paediatric population: The safety and efficacy of Daivobet Gel in children below 18 years have not been established. Currently available data in children aged 12 to 17 years are described in Adverse Reactions and Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions, but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Method of administration: Daivobet Gel should not be applied directly to the face or eyes. In order to achieve optimal effect, it is not recommended to take a shower or bath, or to wash the hair in case of scalp application, immediately after application of Daivobet Gel. Daivobet Gel should remain on the skin during the night or during the day.
When using the bottle: Shake the bottle before use and apply Daivobet Gel to the affected area. The hands should be washed after use.
Overdosage
Excessive prolonged use of topical corticosteroids may suppress the pituitary-adrenal functions, resulting in secondary adrenal insufficiency which is usually reversible. In such cases, symptomatic treatment is indicated.
In case of chronic toxicity, the corticosteroid treatment must be discontinued gradually.
It has been reported that due to misuse one patient with extensive erythrodermic psoriasis treated with 240 g of Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet Ointment) weekly (corresponding to a daily dose of approximately 34 g) for 5 months (maximum recommended dose 15 g daily) developed Cushing's syndrome during treatment and then pustular psoriasis after abruptly stopping treatment.
Contraindications
Due to the content of corticosteroid, Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) is contraindicated in the following conditions: Viral (eg. herpes or varicella) lesions of the skin, fungal or bacterial skin infections, parasitic infections, skin manifestations in relation to tuberculosis, rosacea, perioral dermatitis, acne vulgaris, atrophic skin, striae atrophicae, fragility of skin veins, ichthyosis, acne rosacea, ulcers and wounds.
Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) is contraindicated in erythrodermic, exfoliative and pustular psoriasis.
Special Precautions
Application under occlusive dressings should be avoided since it increases the systemic absorption of corticosteroids. Application on large areas of damaged skin, or on mucous membranes or in skin folds should be avoided since it increases the systemic absorption of corticosteroids.
In a study in patients with both extensive scalp and extensive body psoriasis using a combination of high doses of Daivobet gel (scalp application) and high doses of Daivobet ointment (body application), 5 of 32 patients showed a borderline decrease in cortisol response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge after 4 weeks of treatment.
Effects on calcium metabolism: Due to the content of calcipotriol, hypercalcaemia may occur if the maximum weekly dose (100 g for ointment and 15 g for gel) is exceeded. Serum calcium is normalised when treatment is discontinued. The risk of hypercalcaemia is minimal when the recommendations relevant to calcipotriol are followed.
Local adverse reactions: Daivobet contains a potent group III-steroid and concurrent treatment with other steroids on the same treatment area must be avoided.
Skin of the face and genitals are very sensitive to corticosteroids. The medicinal product should not be used in these areas.
The patient must be instructed in correct use of the medicinal product to avoid application and accidental transfer to the face, mouth and eyes. Hands must be washed after each application to avoid accidental transfer to these areas.
Concomitant skin infections: When lesions become secondarily infected, they should be treated with antimicrobiological therapy. However, if infection worsens, treatment with corticosteroids should be stopped.
Discontinuation of treatment: When treating psoriasis with topical corticosteroids, there may be a risk of generalised pustular psoriasis or of rebound effects when discontinuing treatment. Medical supervision should therefore continue in the post-treatment period.
Long-term use: With long-term use there is an increased risk of local and systemic corticosteroid adverse reactions.
The treatment should be discontinued in case of adverse reactions related to long-term use of corticosteroid.
Unevaluated use: There is no experience with the use of Daivobet in guttate psoriasis.
Concurrent treatment and UV exposure: Daivobet ointment for body psoriasis lesions has been used in combination with Daivobet gel for scalp psoriasis lesions, but there is limited experience of combination of Daivobet with other topical anti-psoriatic products at the same treatment area, other anti-psoriatic medicinal products administered systemically or with phototherapy.
During Daivobet treatment, physicians are recommended to advise patients to limit or avoid excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight. Topical calcipotriol should be used with UV radiation only if the physician and patient consider that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Adverse reactions to excipients: Ointment: Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) contains butylhydroxytoluene (E321) as an excipient. This may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis), or irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes.
Gel: Daivobet gel contains butylated hydroxytoluene (E321) as an excipient, which may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis), or irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes.
Effects on the ability to drive and use machines: Daivobet has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Use In Pregnancy & Lactation
Breastfeeding: Betamethasone passes into breast milk, but risk of an adverse effect on the infant seems unlikely with therapeutic doses. There are no data on the excretion of calcipotriol in breast milk.
Caution should be exercised when prescribing Daivobet to women who breastfeed. The patient should be instructed not to use Daivobet on the breast when breastfeeding.
Fertility: Studies in rats with oral doses of calcipotriol or betamethasone dipropionate demonstrated no impairment of male and female fertility.
Adverse Reactions
Adverse reactions are listed by MedDRA SOC and the individual adverse reactions are listed starting with the most frequently reported.
Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in the order of decreasing seriousness.
Very common (≥1/10); Common (≥1/100 to <1/10); Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1000); Very rare (<1/10,000).
The following adverse reactions are considered to be related to the pharmacological classes of calcipotriol and betamethasone, respectively: Calcipotriol: Adverse reactions include application site reactions, pruritus, skin irritation, burning and stinging sensation, dry skin, erythema, rash, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis aggravated, photosensitivity and hypersensitivity reactions including very rare cases of angioedema and facial oedema.
Systemic effects after topical use may appear very rarely causing hypercalcaemia or hypercalciuria.
Betamethasone (as dipropionate): Local reactions can occur after topical use, especially during prolonged application, including skin atrophy, telangiectasia, striae, folliculitis, hypertrichosis, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, depigmentation and colloid milia.
When treating psoriasis there may be a risk of generalised pustular psoriasis. Systemic effects due to topical use of corticosteroids are rare in adults, however they can be severe.
Adrenocortical suppression, cataract, infections and increase of intra-ocular pressure can occur, especially after long term treatment. Systemic effects occur more frequently when applied under occlusion (plastic, skin folds), when applied on large areas and during long term treatment.
Ointment: The most frequently reported adverse reactions during treatment are various skin reactions, like pruritus, and skin exfoliation. Pustular psoriasis and hypercalcaemia have been reported. (See Table 5.)
Gel: The most frequently reported adverse reaction during treatment is pruritus. (See Table 6.)
However, due to the size of the studies, no firm conclusion can be drawn as to the safety profile of Daivobet Gel in adolescents compared to that in adults.
Caution For Usage
Incompatibilities: Gel: In the absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.
Storage
Can be used for 12 months after opening.
Gel: Do not refrigerate. Keep the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Do not store above 30°C.
Can be used for 3 months after opening.
Action
Like other topical corticosteroids, betamethasone dipropionate has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, vasoconstrictive and immunosuppressive properties, however, without curing the underlying condition.
Through occlusion the effect can be enhanced due to increased penetration of the stratum corneum. The incidence of adverse events will increase because of this. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of the topical steroids, in general, is unclear.
Adrenal response to ACTH was determined by measuring serum cortisol levels in patients with both extensive scalp and body psoriasis, using up to 106 g per week combined Daivobet Gel and Daivobet Ointment. A borderline decrease in cortisol response at 30 minutes post ACTH challenge was seen in 5 of 32 patients (15.6 %) after 4 weeks of treatment and in 2 of 11 patients (18.2 %) who continued treatment until 8 weeks. In all cases, the serum cortisol levels were normal at 60 minutes post ACTH challenge. There was no evidence of change of calcium metabolism observed in these patients. With regard to HPA suppression, therefore, this study shows some evidence that very high doses of Daivobet Gel and Ointment may have a weak effect on the HPA axis.
Ointment: A safety study in 634 psoriasis patients has investigated repeated courses of Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) used once daily as required, either alone or alternating with Daivonex, for up to 52 weeks, compared with Daivonex used alone for 48 weeks after an initial course of Daivobet ointment. Adverse drug reactions were reported by 21.7 % of the patients in Calcipotriol hydrate and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet) group, 29.6 % in the Daivobet ointment/Daivonex alternating group and 37.9 % in the Daivonex group. The adverse drug reactions that were reported by more than 2 % of the patients in the Daivobet ointment group were pruritus (5.8 %) and psoriasis (5.3 %). Adverse events of concern possibly related to long-term corticosteroid use (e.g. skin atrophy, folliculitis, depigmentation, furuncle and purpura) were reported by 4.8 % of the patients in the Daivobet ointment group, 2.8 % in the Daivobet ointment/Daivonex alternating group and 2.9 % in the Daivonex group.
Paediatric population: The adrenal response to ACTH challenge was measured in an uncontrolled 4-week study in 33 adolescents aged 12-17 years with body psoriasis who used up to 56 g per week of Daivobet ointment. No cases of HPA axis suppression were reported. No hypercalcaemia was reported but one patient had a possible treatment-related increase in urinary calcium.
Gel: The efficacy of once daily use of Daivobet Gel was investigated in two randomised, double-blind, 8-week clinical studies including a total of more than 2,900 patients with scalp psoriasis of at least mild severity according to the Investigator's Global Assessment of disease severity (IGA). Comparators were betamethasone dipropionate in the gel vehicle, calcipotriol in the gel vehicle and (in one of the studies) the gel vehicle alone, all used once daily. Results for the primary response criterion (absent or very mild disease according to the IGA at week 8) showed that Daivobet Gel was statistically significantly more effective than the comparators. Results for speed of onset based on similar data at week 2 also showed Daivobet Gel to be statistically significantly more effective than the comparators. (See Table 1.)
Paediatric population: Effects on calcium metabolism were investigated in two uncontrolled open 8-week studies including in total 109 adolescents aged 12-17 years with scalp psoriasis who used up to 69 g per week of Daivobet Gel. No cases of hypercalcaemia and no clinically relevant changes in urinary calcium were reported. The adrenal response to ACTH challenge was measured in 30 patients; one patient showed a decrease in cortisol response to ACTH challenge after 4 weeks of treatment, which was mild, without clinical manifestations, and reversible.
Pharmacokinetics: Ointment: The human transdermal absorption of calcipotriol and betamethasone respectively has been shown to be less than 1% of the administered dose for both substances. The systemic absorption under normal conditions of use is not expected to have any influence on systemic parameters.
The pharmacokinetic behaviour of the two active constituents is not influenced by the presence of each other.
Gel: The systemic exposure to calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate from topically applied Daivobet Gel is comparable to Daivobet Ointment in rats and minipigs. Clinical studies with radio-labelled ointment indicate that the systemic absorption of calcipotriol and betamethasone from Daivobet Ointment formulation is less than 1% of the dose (2.5 g) when applied to normal skin (625 cm2) for 12 hours. Application to psoriasis plaques and under occlusive dressings may increase the absorption of topical corticosteroids. Following systemic exposure, both active ingredients - calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate - are rapidly and extensively metabolised. The main route of excretion of calcipotriol is via faeces (rats and minipigs) and for betamethasone dipropionate it is via urine (rats and mice). Calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate were below the lower limit of quantification in all blood samples of 34 patients treated for 4 or 8 weeks with both Daivobet Gel and Daivobet Ointment for extensive psoriasis involving the body and scalp. One metabolite of calcipotriol and one metabolite of betamethasone dipropionate were quantifiable in some of the patients.
Toxicology: Preclinical Safety Data: Studies of corticosteroids in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (cleft palate, skeletal malformations).
In reproduction toxicity studies with long-term oral administration of corticosteroids to rats, prolonged gestation and prolonged and difficult labour was detected. Moreover, reduction in offspring survival, body weight and body weight gain were observed. There was no impairment of fertility. The relevance for humans in unknown.
A dermal carcinogenicity study with calcipotriol in mice and an oral carcinogenicity study in rats revealed no special risk to humans.
Photo(co)carcinogenicity studies in mice suggest that calcipotriol may enhance the effect of UVR to induce skin tumours.
A dermal carcinogenicity study in mice and an oral carcinogenicity study in rats revealed no special hazard risk of betamethasone dipropionate to humans. No photocarcinogenicity study has been performed with betamethasone dipropionate.
Gel: In local tolerability studies in rabbits, Daivobet gel caused mild to moderate skin irritation and a slight transient irritation of the eye.
MedsGo Class
Features
- Betamethasone
- Calcipotriol