Fluocinonide Side Effects

Brand Names: Vanos, Lidex, Licon, Lidex-E, Lidex

Please note - some side effects for Fluocinonide may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Fluocinonide - for the Consumer

Fluocinonide Cream

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Fluocinonide Cream:

Dryness; itching.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); acne-like rash; burning, cracking, irritation, or peeling not present before you began using Fluocinonide Cream; excessive hair growth; inflamed hair follicles; inflammation around the mouth; muscle weakness; thinning, softening, or discoloration of the skin; unusual weight gain, especially in the face.

Fluocinonide Gel

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Fluocinonide Gel:

Dryness; itching.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); acne-like rash; burning, cracking, irritation, or peeling not present before you began using Fluocinonide Gel; excessive hair growth; inflamed hair follicles; inflammation around the mouth; muscle weakness; thinning, softening, or discoloration of the skin; unusual weight gain, especially in the face.

Fluocinonide Solution

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Fluocinonide Solution:

Dryness; itching.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); acne-like rash; burning, cracking, irritation, or peeling not present before you began using Fluocinonide Solution; excessive hair growth; inflamed hair follicles; inflammation around the mouth; muscle weakness; thinning, softening, or discoloration of the skin; unusual weight gain, especially in the face.

Fluocinonide Side Effects - for the Professional

Fluocinonide

The following local adverse reactions are reported infrequently with topical corticosteroids, but may occur more frequently with the use of occlusive dressings. These reactions are listed in an approximate decreasing order of occurrence:

Fluocinonide Gel

The following local adverse reactions are reported infrequently with topical corticosteroids, but may occur more frequently with the use of occlusive dressings. These reactions are listed in an approximate decreasing order of occurrence: burning, itching, irritation, dryness, folliculitis, hypertrichosis, anceiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, maceration of the skin, secondary infection, skin atrophy, striae and miliaria.

Side Effects by Body System

Local

Skin atrophy may become evident within one to two months of use and is due to the inhibitory effect of corticosteroids on collagen formation. Skin on the face, axilla, and groin appears to be most susceptible to the adverse long-term effects of topical fluocinonide. Use of high potency topical corticosteroids on these areas should be minimized or avoided.

Topical corticosteroid use may inhibit local immune response rendering the skin more susceptible to infections. Folliculitis is occasionally reported.

Perioral dermatitis or rosacea-like dermatitis has occurred in patients treated with potent topical corticosteroids who are of seborrheic skin type. This condition may flare temporarily upon discontinuation of topical steroids, prompting patients to continue their use. If topical corticosteroids are discontinued, this flare and the initial dermatitis generally resolves over a few weeks.

Worsening of psoriasis has occurred in a few patients.

Local side effects have commonly included burning, itching, dryness, or irritation, especially when applied to denuded skin. Long-term use of topical corticosteroids has resulted in skin atrophy and thinning, and the development of striae, telangiectasia, subcutaneous hemorrhage, easy bruising, and bleeding. Allergic contact dermatitis has been occasionally reported.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects have included rare reports of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression. These reports were generally cases when higher potency topical corticosteroids were used over extensive areas and when occlusive dressings were used. HPA axis suppression has not been reported with fluocinonide.

In one study, six patients received fluocinonide cream applied to 75% of their body (approximately 14 grams) every day for six days. No indication of HPA axis suppression was seen when compared with placebo.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache.

Respiratory

Respiratory system side effects have included nasopharyngitis and nasal congestion.

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