Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) is a prescription combination medication containing clotrimazole (an antifungal) and betamethasone (a corticosteroid). It's applied to the skin to treat conditions like athlete's foot, ringworm, and jock itch. Children under age 17 years old shouldn't use Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) due to the risk of serious corticosteroid-related side effects, such as hormone changes, growth problems, and skin problems.
Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) is a combination of two medications that treat fungal infections.
Clotrimazole is an azole antifungal that works by stopping the fungus from being able to make a protective covering. This makes it difficult for the fungus to grow or survive.
Betamethasone is a 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.
Source: DailyMed
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:
Less common
Blistering, burning, itching, peeling, dryness, redness, or other signs of skin irritation not present before use of this medicine
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
Incidence not known
Blindness
blurred vision
change in vision
decreased vision
full or round face, neck, or trunk
headache
irritability
reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
redness and scaling around the mouth
softening of the skin
stomach pain
tearing
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
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.
Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) cream works better at getting rid of the fungal infection than clotrimazole cream alone alone
Easier to use a product that's a combination of two medications
Available as a lower-cost generic
Not meant for long-term use
Can raise your risk of developing serious side effects (e.g., cataracts, hormone changes) if used for too long
Not a good choice for children under 17 years old because of steroid-related side effects
Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) contains a moderate-to-high potency steroid, depending on whether you're prescribed the lotion or the cream. 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 Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) as prescribed by your provider.
Don't apply other topical steroid or antifungal medications while using Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) unless your provider specifically said it was safe for you to do so.
Only apply Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) onto your skin. Don't apply it on broken skin, near your eyes, or in your mouth or vagina. Applying Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) to these sensitive areas can cause pain and more medication to be absorbed into your body, which can raise your risk of side effects.
Before applying Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone), 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 you're done.
After applying, don't place bandages or dressings over the areas where Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) is applied unless your provider has instructed you to do so. This can cause more medication to get absorbed into your body than intended and raise your risk of side effects.
Make sure to apply Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) for the entire time your prescriber told you to. Stopping treatment too early can cause your infection to come back or be harder to treat.
Wash your hands well after applying Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) to prevent it from getting in your eyes. If Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) gets in your eyes, rinse them well with water.
You should begin to see improvement in your symptoms within 1 to 2 weeks of starting Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) treatment, depending on what condition you're being treated for. If not, let your provider know so they can decide whether you should continue to apply this medication or consider other options
If you're applying Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) to treat athlete's foot, be sure to wear shoes that fit well and circulate air, and change your shoes and socks daily. This will help your infection clear up as quickly as possible.
Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) 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.
Risk factors: Applying Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) to large areas of the body | Applying Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) for a long time | Covering the medicated area | Damaged skin | Liver problems | Children
If you apply Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) to larger areas of skin over longer periods of time, this can cause your body to absorb too much medication. Having too much Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) in your body can cause your body to make less stress hormones. This can affect many important bodily functions and lead to symptoms such as tiredness, nausea, muscle aches. This problem usually goes away after you stop using Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone), but you might need additional medical treatment if it's severe.
Apply Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) only as directed. Don't apply too much of the medication and don't use it 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. If your provider thinks that Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) is affecting your body's hormone production, then they might recommend that you apply this medication less frequently or switch you to a different medication.
Risk factors: History of cataracts or glaucoma | Vision issues
Though rare, Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone) can raise your risk of developing vision problems, like cataracts or glaucoma. Make sure your provider knows if you have any issues with your vision or eyes before you start using this medication. If you start noticing vision problems while you are using Lotrisone (clotrimazole / betamethasone), let your healthcare provider know.
Athlete's foot: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) twice daily for 2 weeks. The maximum weekly dose is 45 grams of cream (or 45 mL of lotion) per week. Don't use longer than 4 weeks.
Ringworm and jock itch: Apply a thin layer to the affected area(s) twice daily for 1 week. The maximum weekly dose is 45 grams of cream (or 45 mL of lotion) per week. Don't use longer than 2 weeks.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Jock itch
Ringworm - 1% strength
Jock itch - 1% strength
Athlete's foot - 1% strength
Athlete's foot between the toes - 2% strength
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Alexandraki, K. I., et al. (2018). Adrenal suppression. Endotext.
Andersson, N. W., et al. (2021). Evaluation of topical corticosteroid use in pregnancy and risk of newborns being small for gestational age and having low birth weight. JAMA Dermatology.
Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (2022). Clotrimazole and betamethasone dipropionate cream [package insert]. DailyMed.
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