Precautions and Warnings With Calcipotriene/Betamethasone Dipropionate

• High blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia)
• Any allergies, including to medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
   

• Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Breastfeeding.
   

• Calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate may increase the level of calcium in the blood. It is possible that using too much may cause hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood). Let your healthcare provider know if you develop signs or symptoms of hypercalcemia, such as:
   
  • Constipation, nausea, or vomiting
  • Muscle achiness or weakness
  • Kidney stones
  • Abdominal (stomach) pain or side pain
  • Confusion or lethargy
  • Increased thirst and frequent urination.

• Calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate should not be applied to the face, underarms, or groin areas. Wash your hands after applying it (unless you are treating your hands), and make sure to keep it out of the eyes.
   
• Avoid exposing any treated area of the body to excessive sunlight (including artificial sunlight, such as sun lamps or tanning booths).
   
• Calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate is a steroid and can cause serious steroidal side effects, such as Cushing's syndrome or diabetes. Although this is more likely to occur with oral or injected steroids, it is still possible with topical steroids such as calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate. The more you apply and the longer you use it, the more likely these problems become. Covering the medication with a dressing, which is usually not recommended, may also increase the risk.
   
• If you use this medication for an extended period or over an extended area of the body, be sure to watch for any signs of Cushing's syndrome (a group of symptoms caused by prolonged exposure to steroids), such as:
   
  • A rounded face
  • Unusual body fat distribution (more fat in the trunk, face, and neck, and less fat in the arms and legs)
  • High blood sugar.

Let your healthcare provider know if you think you have signs of this problem.

• Calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate can suppress the body's ability to make natural steroids. Usually, this happens when large doses are used over a long time, which is not recommended. In such circumstances, the medication should be stopped slowly to give your body a chance to begin making natural steroids again. If this is not feasible, you might need to be given an oral steroid for a while, after which you will be slowly weaned from the oral steroid.
   
• Like all steroids, calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate may slow down the growth rate of children and teenagers. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you are concerned about this. In general, children may be more susceptible to side effects of steroids. Close monitoring is necessary for any child receiving long-term steroids. Calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate is not approved for use in children, as it has not been adequately studied in this group.
   
• This medication can suppress the immune system, perhaps leading to infections or other problems.
   
• Calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate may react with a few medications (see Drug Interactions With Calcipotriene/Betamethasone Dipropionate).
   
• This product is a pregnancy Category C medication, which means that it might not be safe during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, check with your healthcare provider before using calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate (see Taclonex and Pregnancy for more information).
   
• It is unknown if calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, check with your healthcare provider (or your child's healthcare provider) before beginning treatment (see Taclonex and Breastfeeding).