Triamcinolone with chlortetracycline ointment

About triamcinolone with chlortetracycline

Aurecort® ointment contains two ingredients - triamcinolone and chlortetracycline. Triamcinolone is classed as a potent topical corticosteroid. Topical corticosteroids are also referred to as topical steroids. Topical steroids are used in addition to moisturisers (emollients) for treating inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Triamcinolone relieves inflammation, itching and redness. Chlortetracycline is an antibacterial agent for treating infected areas of skin.

You will have been prescribed Aurecort® ointment because your skin is inflamed and infected. This may be because patches of eczema or dermatitis have become infected, or because you have an insect bite that has become infected. It is typically used twice a day for one week only. Potent topical steroids like triamcinolone are not generally suitable for children, although short courses may occasionally be prescribed for an older child by a skin specialist doctor.

Before using Aureocort® ointment

To make sure this is the right treatment for you, before you start using the ointment it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you have rosacea or acne.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a skin preparation, or to an antibacterial medicine known as a 'tetracycline'.

How to use Aureocort® ointment

• Before you start using the preparation, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about topical steroids and will provide you with a full list of side-effects that you may experience from using them.

• Apply a small amount to the areas of skin which are infected. Then gently rub it into the skin until it has disappeared.

• Use it regularly twice daily for one week only, unless you have been directed otherwise by your doctor.

• The amount of topical steroid that you should apply is commonly measured by fingertip units (FTUs). One FTU is the amount of cream or ointment that is squeezed out along an adult's fingertip (that is, from the very end of the finger to the first crease in the finger). As a guide, one FTU is enough to cover an area twice the size of an adult hand. Your doctor will give you an idea of how many FTUs you will need to cover the area of your skin which is affected.

• If you are using more than one topical corticosteroid, make sure you know when and where to use each one. If you are unsure, check with your doctor or ask your pharmacist for further advice.

• After you have applied the ointment, remember to wash your hands (unless your hands are the treated area).

• If you are using the ointment for infected psoriasis, make sure you follow your doctor's instructions carefully. It should not be used for large areas of psoriasis or for long periods of time, as these can cause your symptoms to flare up again afterwards.

Getting the most from your treatment

• If you are using a moisturiser along with this preparation, apply the moisturiser first. Then wait 10-15 minutes before applying Aureocort® ointment. This allows time for the moisturiser to be absorbed before the topical corticosteroid is applied. Your skin should be moist but not slippery when you apply Aureocort®.

• Do not use Aureocort® on your face unless a skin specialist doctor has said you should. If you have been told to use it on your face, be careful not to get any preparation near your eyes and do not use it for longer periods of time than you have been advised.

• Unless advised to do so by your doctor, do not apply a bandage or dressing to the area being treated, as this will increase absorption of the preparation and increase the risk of side-effects.

• Continue to use Aureocort® until the flare-up has gone and then stop it. A course of treatment for seven days is usually sufficient. If your symptoms have not improved after this time (or if they get worse), speak again with your doctor for further advice. Topical corticosteroids like triamcinolone should not be used for long periods of time or on large areas of the body.

• Be careful not to let the preparation come into contact with your clothing, as it may stain.

Can Aureocort® ointment cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. You can reduce the risk of side-effects from topical steroids like triamcinolone by applying the preparation thinly, no more than twice a day, and applying it to the affected areas only.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the ointment, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How to store Aureocort® ointment

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines