Fluocinolone acetonide: What is it and what is it for?

What is fluocinolone acetonide?

Fluocinolone acetonide or fluocinolone acetonide is a synthetic drugthat belongs to a class of medications called corticosteroids withanti-inflammatory, antipruritic, vasoconstrictive and immunosuppressiveactions to treat the patient with some skin diseases.

Note: This medicine can be used alone orin association with other corticosteroids or antibiotics, to extend its therapeutic effect.

What is fluocinolone acetonide for?

• Fluocinolone acetonideis absorbed through the skinand reaches the systemic circulation, generating inhibition of the movement of macrophages and leukocytes, acting in the inflamed areareversing vascular dilation and permeability.
• It is used to treat:
  • Psoriasis. (1)
  • Contact dermatitis(pruritus, redness or dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, as well as crusting).
  • Atopic dermatitis.
  • Seborrheic dermatitis.
  • Eczematous dermatitis.
  • Lichen Planus.(2)
  • Neurodermatitis.
  • Severe uveitis. (3)
  • Discoid lupus erythematosus.
  • Exfoliative dermatitis.
  • Intertrigo and stasis dermatitis.
  • Tuberculous lesions of the skin.
  • Otitis externa. (4)

Dosage and routes of administration of fluocinolone acetonide

Fluocinolone acetonide presentations are generally in 20-gram, 30-gram, and 40-gramtopical cream or ointment ; vaginal ovules of 3.5 grams and in otic solution of 5, 10 and 15 ml.

Administration is by absorption through the skin and the dose presented below is only indicative, so it is recommended to consult a doctor:

• Cream: You can apply a thin layer of ointment on the area to be treated and rub it gently 3 times a day.
• Ovules: Place 1 intravaginal ovule at night before going to bed, for at least 3 days.
• Otic solution: Place 3 or 4 drops in the affected ear, 2 to 4 times a day.

What products contain fluocinolone acetonide?

Some of the medicines that contain fluocinolone acetonide are:

• Tests®
• Flucinol®
• Cortifung®
• Otomidrin®

Tests®

• Synalar® is a medicine in the form of a cream, which contains fluocinolone acetonide and clioquinol in its formulation.
• It is used to Treat local inflammatory , pruritic, allergic, bacterial and/or mycotic alterations of the skin and mucous membranes.

Flucinol®

• Flucinol®  is a medication in the form of a cream, which contains fluocinolone acetonide and Neomycin in its formulation .
• It is indicated for the treatment of contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis , childhood eczema, neurodermatitis, psoriasis and intertrigo and with the addition of neomycin to suppress infections secondary to the anti-inflammatory process.

Cortifung®

• Cortifung®  is a synthetic medication that contains fluocinolone and neomycin as active ingredients.
• It is used in the treatment of pruritus, atopic dermatitis , bacterial dermatitis, contact dermatitis and otitis.

Otomidrin®

• Otomidrin® is composed of fluocinolone acetonide, framycetin sulfate, and ® sulfate and Lidocaine hydrochloride.
• It is used to treat infectious processes of the middle and external ear, which cause pain and inflammation.

Fluocinolone Acetonide Side Effects

The use of fluocinolone acetonide may cause, in certain patients, any of the following Adverse reactions :

• Possible allergic reactions to contact with any component of the formula.
• May cause burning sensation, irritation and itching.
• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea .
• Dry, scaly skin or Folliculitis .
• Headache.
• Disorders in the female genital organs.
• Cushing’s syndrome, suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
• Edema, hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, glycosuria.

Important: Discontinue use and please notify your doctor if with fluocinolone acetonide treatment, you notice any of these symptoms or others not included in the list.

Contraindications and warnings of fluocinolone acetonide

Treatment with fluocinolone acetonide is contraindicated in the following cases:

• Hypersensitivity to any of the formula’s components.
• Children under 2 years of age.
• Ulcers of the extremities.
• During pregnancy or lactation .

To emphasize: Give your doctor all the information about your medical history, before starting treatment with fluocinolone acetonide.

Avoid if you have:

• Cutaneous tuberculosis.
• Untreated ear infections.
• Bacterial infections.
• Patients with chickenpox and herpes simplex.
• Medication with other antibiotics or local antimicrobials.

Warnings:

• Follow your prescribing doctor’s instructions when starting treatment with fluocinolone acetonide.
• This medicine must be administered with a prescription or prescription.
• The repeated and unsupervised application of this drug increases the side effects.
• Fluocinolone acetonide cream is not recommended for use in children due to adverse skin reactions.
• Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.