onsumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Elocon.

It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Elocon against the benefits it is expected to have for you. If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with your medicine.

You may need to read it again. What Elocon is used for The name of your medicine is Elocon. It contains the active ingredient called mometasone furoate. It is a type of cortisone and belongs to the group of medicines called corticosteroids. Elocon is classified as a high potency topical corticosteroid. There are three forms of Elocon: cream, ointment and lotion. Elocon is used on the skin to relieve the redness, swelling, itching and discomfort of many skin problems such as:
psoriasis
eczema
other types of dermatitis

Elocon Lotion is also used on the scalp and hairy parts of the body.

Your doctor, however, may have prescribed Elocon for another purpose. Ask you doctor if you have any questions about why Elocon has been prescribed for you.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription. Before you use Elocon When you must not use it

Do not use Elocon if you have had an allergic reaction to:


mometasone furoate
any other corticosteroid
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.

Do not use Elocon if you have:


a viral skin infection (such as cold sores, shingles or chicken pox)
a fungal skin infection (such as thrush, tinea or ringworm)
tuberculosis of the skin
acne rosacea
inflammation around the mouth
skin conditions with ulcers

unless your doctor tells you.

Ask your doctor if you are not sure whether you have any of these conditions.

Do not use Elocon after the expiry date on the pack.

If you use it after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.

Do not use Elocon if the packaging shows signs of tampering.

Before you start to use it

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:


any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, dyes or preservatives.

Tell you doctor if:


you are pregnant or breast feeding.

Your doctor will tell you if you can use Elocon during pregnancy or while you are breast feeding.
you have any other medical conditions, especially if you have an infection.

Using other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using other creams, ointments or lotions or taking any other medicines. This includes any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

How to use Elocon How to use it

Apply a thin film of Elocon Cream or Ointment or a few drops of Elocon Lotion to the affected skin or scalp once daily. Massage gently until it disappears.

It is important to use Elocon exactly as your doctor has told you. If you use it less often than you should, it may not work as well and your skin problem may not improve. Using it more often than you should may not improve your skin problem any faster and may cause or increase side effects. How long to use it

Do not use Elocon for more than four weeks at a time unless your doctor tells you.

If you forget to use it

If you forget to use Elocon, use it as soon as you remember and then go back to your normal time for applying Elocon. Do not try to make up for the amount you missed by using more than you would normally.

If you swallow it

Telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) or go to the accident and emergency centre at your nearest hospital immediately if you think that you or anyone else may have swallowed Elocon.

Keep the telephone numbers of these places handy.

While you are using Elocon Things you must do

Tell all doctors and pharmacists who are treating you that you are using Elocon.

Tell your doctor if you feel that Elocon is not helping your condition or if your skin condition worsens or appears to be infected.

Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not used Elocon exactly as prescribed.

Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily. Things you must not do

Do not use Elocon under dressings or on large areas of skin unless your doctor tells you.

Do not use plastic pants or tight fitting nappies if Elocon is to be used on the nappy area of young children.

Do not use Elocon in or near the eyes.

Do not give Elocon to anyone else even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.

Do not use Elocon to treat other conditions unless your doctor tells you.

Your doctor has prescribed Elocon specially for you and your condition. If you use it for another condition, it may not work or make the condition worse. Things to be careful of

Do not use large amounts for a long time.

If you use large amounts for a long time, the chance of absorption through the skin and the chance of side effects increases. Only use Elocon on skin areas that rub together such as under the arm or in the groin area if your doctor tells you.

Only use Elocon on the face if your doctor tells you.

If improvement does not occur within one week, tell your doctor. Side Effects Tell your doctor if you do not feel well while you are using Elocon.

Elocon helps most people with skin problems but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. Elocon is generally well tolerated. However, unwanted effects that have been reported by some people using Elocon include:
itching
burning
tingling/stinging
thinning of the skin
appearance of small blood vessels on the surface on the skin
stretch marks or streaks on the skin
acne/pimples/lumps on the skin/blisters containing pus
redness
boils/abscesses
dermatitis
increased size of affected area/worsening of disease
numbness
dry skin
inflamed hair roots

Elocon may cause other side effects.

If you have any other side effects, check with your doctor.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them. After using Elocon Storage

Keep Elocon in a cool dry place.

Elocon Cream, Ointment and Lotion should be stored where the temperature stays below 25 °C. Do not refrigerate Elocon.

Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Keep Elocon where children cannot reach it. Keep the medicine away from pets.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines. Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop using Elocon or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that is left over.

Product Description What it looks like

Elocon Cream is a white to off-white cream. It is packed in 15 g, 30 g and 45 g tubes.

Elocon Ointment is a white to off-white ointment. It is packed in 15 g, 30 g and 45 g tubes. Elocon Lotion is a colourless to light yellow lotion. It is packed in 30 mL bottles. Ingredients

Elocon Cream contains:


mometasone furoate 1 mg/g
soft white paraffin
hexylene glycol
aluminium starch octenylsuccinate
propylene glycol monostearate
stearyl alcohol
ceteareth-20
white beeswax
purified water
titanium dioxide
phosphoric acid

Elocon Cream does not contain any preservatives.

Elocon Ointment contains:
mometasone furoate 1 mg/g
soft white paraffin
hexylene glycol
white beeswax
purified water
propylene glycol monostearate
phosphoric acid

Elocon Ointment does not contain any preservatives.

Elocon Lotion contains:
mometasone furoate 1 mg/g
isopropyl alcohol
propylene glycol
hydroxypropylcellulose
sodium phosphate monobasic dihydrate
phosphoric acid
purified water

Elocon Lotion does not contain any preservatives.

Supplier

In Australia:
Schering-Plough Pty Limited
Level 4, 66 Waterloo Road,
North Ryde NSW 2113
AUSTRALIA

In New Zealand:
Schering-Plough
a division of Schering-Plough Animal Health Limited
36 Kitchener Street
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND

Australian Registration Numbers

Cream - AUST R 43342
Ointment - AUST R 43344
Lotion - AUST R 53472

Date of Preparation

5 February 2008