General Information
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about CORTIC-DS.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits.
Your doctor has weighed the risks of using CORTIC-DS against the benefits this medicine 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 is CORTIC-DS
The name of your medicine is CORTIC-DS.
It contains the active ingredient called hydrocortisone acetate.
It is available as a cream and an ointment.
CORTIC-DS is a type of cortisone and belongs to the group of medicines called corticosteroids.
What CORTIC-DS is used for
Indications
CORTIC-DS is a topical corticosteroid therapy for non-infective inflammatory conditions of the skin eg. eczema, dermatitis.
That is CORTIC-DS is used to relieve the redness, swelling, itching and other discomforts of the skin.
Your doctor however, may have prescribed CORTIC-DS for another purpose.
Ask your doctor (or pharmacist) if you have any questions about why CORTIC-DS has been prescribed for you.
A doctor's prescription is required for the 50 gram tube of CORTIC-DS cream or ointment.
The 30 gram tube of CORTIC-DS cream or ointment can be purchased without a doctor's prescription.
Before you use CORTIC-DS
When you must not use it
Do not use CORTIC-DS if you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
CORTIC-DS or hydrocortisone acetate.
Any of the ingredients in CORTIC-DS listed at the end of this leaflet.
Do not use CORTIC-DS if you have:
A viral skin infection (such as herpes simplex, cold sores, shingles or chicken pox)
A fungal skin infection (such as thrush, tinea or ringworm)
Tuberculous condition of the skin
Vaccinia (cowpox: a viral disease passed from cattle)
Varicella (a rare form of chicken pox)
Unless your doctor tells you to use it.
CORTIC-DS should not be used if you suffer from poor circulation of blood in the skin region, as it may result in skin ulcers.
Occlusive dressings should not be used if you have a skin infection.
Ask your doctor (or pharmacist) to be sure that you do not have any of these conditions.
Do not use CORTIC-DS after the expiry date printed on the pack. It may have no effect at all, or worse, it may give an entirely unexpected effect if you use after the expiry date.
Do not use CORTIC-DS if the packaging shows signs of tampering or the seal on the tube is broken, or if the product does not look quite right.
Before you start to use it
You must tell your doctor if:
You are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
You have any other health problems
You are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Do not apply CORTIC-DS to the breast before breast- feeding.
Using other medicines
Tell your doctor (or pharmacist) if you are using other creams, ointments or lotions or taking any medicine. This includes any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with CORTIC-DS if it is used excessively or for prolonged periods.
Your doctor or pharmacist has a list of medicines that may interfere with CORTIC-DS.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start using CORTIC-DS.
Use in Children
Do not use in children unless your doctor tells you to do so.
How to use CORTIC-DS
How to use it
Apply a thin smear to affected areas two to four times a day or as directed.
Occlusive dressings are not necessary unless advised by your doctor.
It is important to use CORTIC-DS exactly as your doctor (or pharmacist) has told you. If you use it less 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.
Use CORTIC-DS at the same time every day.
How long to use it
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how long to use CORTIC-DS.
Reduce the number of applications as the disorder subsides.
If you use CORTIC-DS for a long time, the chance of side effects increases.
If you forget to use it
If you forget to use CORTIC-DS, use it as soon as you remember and then go back to your normal times for applying CORTIC-DS.
Do not try to make up for the amount you missed by using more than you normally use.
If you swallow it
Telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (phone 13 11 26) for advice or go to the Accident and Emergency Centre at your nearest hospital immediately if anyone swallows CORTIC-DS. Keep the telephone numbers of these places handy.
While you are using CORTIC-DS
Things you must do
Tell all your doctors and pharmacists who are treating you that you are using CORTIC-DS.
Tell your doctor if you feel that CORTIC-DS is not helping your condition.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not used CORTIC-DS exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while using CORTIC-DS.
Things you must not do
Do not use CORTIC-DS under dressings or on large areas of skin unless your doctor tells you.
Do not use CORTIC-DS in or near the eyes.
Do not give CORTIC-DS to anyone else even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
Do not use CORTIC-DS to treat other conditions unless your doctor tells you. Your doctor has prescribed CORTIC-DS especially 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 of CORTIC-DS for a long time. If you use large amounts for long time, the chance of systemic absorption through the skin and the chance of side effects increase.
Ask your doctor (or pharmacist) if you are concerned about the length of time you have been using CORTIC-DS.
Only use CORTIC-DS under the arm or in the groin if your doctor tells you.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you do not feel well while you are using CORTIC-DS.
CORTIC-DS helps most people with skin problems but it may have some unwanted side effects in a few people.
Side effects reported by some people using CORTIC-DS include:
itching
burning
dryness
acne-form eruptions
In addition to the above side effects prolonged or over-use of this product may cause the following side effects in some people:
high blood pressure
elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood
cataracts
glaucoma
CORTIC-DS 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 CORTIC-DS
Storage
Keep CORTIC-DS where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Keep CORTIC-DS in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 °C.
Do not leave CORTIC-DS in the car or on windowsills. Heat can destroy some medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop using CORTIC-DS or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any CORTIC-DS left over.
Further Information
This is not all the information that is available on CORTIC-DS. If you need more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Product Description
What it looks like
CORTIC-DS cream is a soft white cream with faint odour of chlorocresol.
CORTIC-DS ointment is a yellowish-white ointment with a faint odour of paraffin and lanolin.
Both CORTIC-DS cream and ointment are packed in 30 g and 50 g tubes.
Ingredients
Hydrocortisone acetate (microfined) 1% or 10 mg/g is the active ingredient in both CORTIC-DS cream and ointment.
List of Inactive Ingredients
CORTIC-DS Cream
Paraffin - soft white
Paraffin - liquid
Cetomacrogol 1000
Cetostearyl alcohol
Chlorocresol (preservative)
CORTIC-DS Ointment
Paraffin - soft white
Paraffin - hard
Paraffin - liquid
Wool fat
CORTIC-DS ointment is preservative free.
The Australian Product Registration numbers are:
CORTIC-DS cream AUST R 91051
CORTIC-DS ointment AUST R 91052.
Sponsor
Fawns & McAllan Pty Ltd
(a member of Sigma group of companies) ACN 004 296 066
1408 Centre Road
Clayton Victoria 3168
Australia
Phone: (03) 9839 2800
This leaflet was prepared in June 2002.