In the U.S.—

In Canada—

Another commonly used name is MC 903.

• Antipsoriatic, topical

Calcipotriene (kal-si-poe-TRY-een) is used to treat psoriasis. It works by controlling the overproduction of skin cells in areas affected by psoriasis.

Calcipotriene is available only with your doctor's prescription in the following dosage forms:

Topical
• Cream (U.S. and Canada)
• Ointment (U.S. and Canada)
• Solution (U.S. and Canada)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For calcipotriene, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to calcipotriene or to other ingredients of the preparation, which you may find listed on the label. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Calcipotriene has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that calcipotriene taken in high doses by mouth causes problems in the mother and the fetus, including birth defects. Before using DOVONEX, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether calcipotriene passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using DOVONEX and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—DOVONEX has been tested in a limited number of children 2 to 14 years of age with psoriasis on less than 30% of the body. When used for 8 weeks or less, the medicine has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. However, more studies are needed.

Older adults—Skin-related side effects caused by calcipotriene may be more severe when they occur in patients over 65 years of age.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking or using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

• Highly irritated areas of psoriasis on the scalp—Calcipotriene topical solution may increase the skin irritation because of the alcohol in the product

• Hypercalcemia (high blood levels of calcium) or
• Hypercalciuria (high urine levels of calcium) or
• Hypervitaminosis D (high blood levels of vitamin D)—Calcipotriene may increase the chance of kidney stone formation

• Kidney stones (or history of)—Calcipotriene may make this condition worse

Calcipotriene is for external use only. Do not use DOVONEX orally and do not apply it in your vagina. Use DOVONEX only as directed. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

To help clear up your skin problem completely, it is very important that you keep using calcipotriene for the full time of treatment. Do not miss any doses.

Unless otherwise directed by your doctor, do not use more than 100 grams of calcipotriene ointment or cream in 1 week (that is, one 100-gram tube or three 30-gram tubes or six 15-gram tubes in 1 week). Do not use more than 60 milliliters of the topical solution for the scalp in 1 week.

Do not use DOVONEX on your face, near the eyes, inside your nose or mouth, or on unaffected areas of the skin. If you accidentally get some on these areas, wash it off with water right away.

Use DOVONEX sparingly in the folds of your skin because it is more likely to cause irritation there.

Wash your hands after using DOVONEX to avoid accidentally getting the medicine on your face or on unaffected areas of the skin.

Do not use DOVONEX for treating skin problems other than the one for which it was prescribed by your doctor.

For cream and ointment dosage forms:

• Apply enough medicine to cover the areas of your skin affected by psoriasis and rub in gently and well. The treated areas should not be covered (for instance, with a bandage or plastic wrap) after the medicine is applied.
• If you are being treated with calcipotriene ointment in combination with ultraviolet light (found in sunlight and some special lamps), do not apply the morning dose of calcipotriene before being treated with the ultraviolet light. It can be applied afterwards.

For solution dosage form:

• Before applying the medicine to your scalp, comb your dry hair to remove any flakes, then part your hair so that you can see the scalp lesions. Apply the solution to the lesions and rub it in gently but completely. Do not apply the medicine if the lesions are very irritated because the alcohol in the product may make the irritation worse. Try not to get any medicine on your forehead.

Dosing—

Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average dose of calcipotriene. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The length of time you use the medicine depends on the severity of your psoriasis.

• For topical dosage form (cream):
  • For psoriasis:
    • Adults—Apply to the affected area(s) of the skin two times a day, in the morning and evening. Treatment may be continued for six to eight weeks or as determined by your doctor.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For topical dosage form (ointment):
  • For psoriasis:
    • Adults—Apply to the affected area(s) of the skin one or two times a day, in the morning and evening. Treatment may be continued for six to eight weeks or as determined by your doctor.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For topical dosage form (solution):
  • For psoriasis:
    • Adults—Apply to the affected area(s) of the scalp two times a day, in the morning and evening. Treatment may be continued for six to eight weeks or as determined by your doctor.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of DOVONEX, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—

To store DOVONEX:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Keep the medicine from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
• Keep the topical solution away from open flame.