amcinonide
Amcinonide is one of many available topical steroids used to treat itching, redness, and inflammation (swelling) of several skin conditions. It's a highly potent (strong) steroid and available as a cream and an ointment.
What is Amcinonide?
What is Amcinonide used for?
- Skin inflammation conditions
How Amcinonide works
Amcinonide is a topical corticosteroid that is like cortisol, a natural hormone your body makes. It lowers certain chemicals in your body that cause inflammation (swelling, redness, and itchiness) in your skin.
Drug facts
Side effects of Amcinonide
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Burning
- Itching
- Skin irritation
- Dry skin
Less Common Side Effects
- Inflamed hair follicles
- Acne
- Lighter skin color
- Eczema (allergic irritation)
- Skin wrinkling or pruning (e.g., like when you're skin gets wet for too long)
- Skin thinning
- Stretch marks
- Heat rash
- Infection
Amcinonide serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Altered stress hormone levels
The following Amcinonide side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
irritation
itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
redness and scaling around the mouth
thinning of the skin with easy bruising, especially when used on the face or where the skin folds together (e.g. between the fingers)
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas, or pus at the root of the hair
increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs
lightening of normal skin color
lightening of treated areas of dark skin
reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
softening of the skin
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Amcinonide
Pros
- Good option for more severe skin conditions
- Available as a cream and ointment
- Available as a lower-cost generic form
Cons
- Not the best option for mild skin conditions since it's a strong steroid
- Might need to be used up to 3 times per day
- Shouldn't be used for a long time
Pharmacist tips for Amcinonide
- Before using amcinonide, wash and dry the affected areas of your skin well. Make sure to rub in the medication gently and then wash your hands well after using.
- Amcinonide is a highly potent steroid. Only use the least amount of medication possible for the shortest amount of time to avoid side effects, such as skin thinning and irritation. Only use amcinonide as prescribed by your provider.
- After using amcinonide, don't wrap the affected area with tight clothing or bandages unless your provider told you to do so. If you're using amcinonide in the diaper area for a child, don't use tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants. Doing so can cause more medication to be absorbed into your or your child's body, which can cause side effects, such as sweating, a rounder face, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, mood changes, and high blood sugar levels.
- Only apply amcinonide onto your skin. Don't use it on broken skin or anywhere near your eyes. Applying amcinonide to these sensitive areas can cause pain and more medication to be absorbed into your body, which can raise your risk of side effects. If you accidentally get the medication in your eyes, rinse your eyes out with water.
- It's common to experience burning, itchiness, or skin irritation where you applied amcinonide. But if you notice pus, red sores, or tenderness, contact your provider because this can be a sign of a skin infection. You might need to treat the infection with a topical antibiotic or antifungal medication while you use amcinonide. Don't wrap the infected area with bandages or tight clothing. If the infection doesn't improve, you'll likely have to stop using amcinonide until it goes away.
Common questions about Amcinonide
Amcinonide is a topical steroid that lowers inflammation in your skin. It's usually prescribed for a variety of skin conditions that cause itching, redness, scaling, inflammation, and discomfort. Since Amcinonide is a highly potent steroid, it's used for more severe skin conditions.
Amcinonide and hydrocortisone are both steroids, but they differ in how strong they are (potency). Amcinonide is considered a high potency steroid, while hydrocortisone is considered a low-to-medium potency steroid. Higher potency steroids are typically used for more severe skin conditions, whereas low-to-medium potency steroids are used for more mild-to-moderate skin conditions.
Yes, Amcinonide can be used in children, but they are at higher risk for side effects with topical steroids compared to adults. Lower-potency, topical steroids should be tried before Amcinonide. If your child needs to use Amcinonide, make sure to apply the smallest amount of medication for the shortest amount of time. Don't wrap the affected area in tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants after applying Amcinonide. Doing so can cause more medication to be absorbed into your child's body and raise the risk of side effects. Don't apply Amcinonide onto your child's skin without talking to a provider first.
There haven't been good studies looking at how Amcinonide specifically affects pregnant women and their unborn babies. If you're pregnant, discuss with your provider to see if Amcinonide is right for you.
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Risks and warnings for Amcinonide
Amcinonide can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Altered stress hormone levels
- Risk factors: Applying amcinonide to large areas of the body | Using amcinonide for a long time | Covering the medicated area | Using excessive amounts of amcinonide | Children
Applying amcinonide to large areas, using it for long periods of time, covering the medicated area with tight clothing or dressings, or using too much of the medication can cause more amcinonide to be absorbed into the body. Children are also more likely to absorb more medication through the skin. This can cause your body to make less of certain stress hormones that are important for many bodily functions. This problem usually goes away after you stop using amcinonide, but you might need additional medical treatment if it is severe. Use amcinonide only as directed. Don't apply too much of the medication and don't use for a longer period of time than prescribed. Don't cover the medicated area with bandages or dressings unless your provider tells you to do so.
Amcinonide dosage
Typical dosage for Amcinonide
Apply a thin layer to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day, depending on how bad your symptoms are.
Interactions between Amcinonide and other drugs
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 healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Amcinonide cost?
$39.48
What are alternatives to Amcinonide?
Amcinonide images
