betamethasone-clotrimazole topical

Generic Name: betamethasone-clotrimazole topical
Other Brand Names: Lotrisone

What is betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Clotrimazole is an antifungal antibiotic that treats or prevents infection caused by fungus.

Betamethasone is a topical steroid that reduces itching, swelling, and redness of the skin.

The combination of betamethasone and clotrimazole topical is used to treat fungal skin infections such as athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm.

Betamethasone and clotrimazole topical may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to:

  • betamethasone (such as Betaderm, Diprolene, Luxiq, Taclonex, Uticort, Valisone);

  • clotrimazole (such as Desenex, Lotrimin, Mycelex);

  • other topical steroid medications such as alclometasone (Aclovate), clobetasol (Olux, Temovate), desonide (Desowen), desoximetasone (Topicort), diflorasone (Florone, Psorcon), fluocinolone (Capex, Dermotic, Fluonid, Fluorosyn, Synalar), fluocinonide (Dermacin, Lidex), fluticasone (Cutivate), halcinonide (Halog), halobetasol (Ultravate), mometasone (Elocon), triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenalog); or

  • other topical antibiotics such as econazole (Spectazole), ketoconazole (Kuric, Nizoral), miconazole (Cruex, Desenex, Fungoid, Lotrimin, Micatin, Monistat), sertaconazole (Ertaczo), or sulconazole (Exelderm).

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use betamethasone or clotrimazole, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether betamethasone and clotrimazole passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not use this medication on a child younger than 17 years old. Children are more likely to absorb the steroid through the skin. Never use betamethasone and clotrimazole to treat diaper rash.

How should I take betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

This medication comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Wash your hands before and after applying this medicine.

Shake the lotion form of this medication well just before you use it.

Apply a thin layer of the medication and rub it in completely.

Do not cover treated skin areas with a bandage or tight clothing, unless your doctor has told you to.

After applying this medication, allow your skin to dry completely before dressing. Wear loose-fitting clothing while you are treating jock itch. If you are treating athlete’s foot, wear clean cotton socks and keep your feet as dry as possible.

Do not use betamethasone and clotrimazole for longer than 2 weeks for jock itch or 4 weeks for athlete’s foot, unless your doctor has told you to.

It may take up to 1 or 2 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your groin symptoms do not improve after 1 week, or if your foot symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment.

Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the tube or bottle capped and tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose of betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Use the medication as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?
Your pharmacist has information about betamethasone and clotrimazole topical written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • swelling, redness, or any signs of new infection;

  • severe burning or stinging of treated skin;

  • weight gain, rounding of the face;

  • increased thirst or hunger, urinating more than usual; or

  • anxiety, depressed mood.

Keep using the medication and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

  • mild skin itching or irritation;

  • dry skin;

  • changes in skin color;

  • increased acne; or

  • scarring or thinning of the skin.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Do not cover treated skin areas with a bandage or tight clothing, unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not use this medication on a child younger than 17 years old. Children are more likely to absorb the steroid through the skin. Never use betamethasone and clotrimazole to treat diaper rash.

It may take up to 1 or 2 weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your groin symptoms do not improve after 1 week, or if your foot symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks of treatment.

What should I avoid while taking betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use betamethasone and clotrimazole topical on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin.

Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing that doesn’t allow air circulation. Until the infection is healed, wear clothing that is made of natural fibers such as cotton.

What other drugs will affect betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

There may be other drugs that can affect betamethasone and clotrimazole topical. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of betamethasone and clotrimazole topical?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of betamethasone and clotrimazole applied to the skin is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008