Prednicarbate is a synthetic glucocorticoid or corticosteroid which is used as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medication. It is a prodrug of prednisolone, and works by being converted into active prednisolone in the liver. Prednicarbate is used to help relieve redness, itching, swelling, or other discomfort caused by skin conditions.
What is Prednicarbate used for?
Prednicarbate may be used to treat a number of skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. It can help to decrease inflammation and redness, and promote healing. Prednicarbate can be applied topically (to the skin) as a cream, ointment, gel, or solution. It can also be injected into the skin or used as a tape.
Prednicarbate brand names
Common brand names for prednicarbate used around the world are Dermatop and Dermatop E.
Which body parts should be avoided when using Prednicarbate?
Only the skin should be used for this medication. Avoid getting it in your mouth, nose, eyes, or vagina. It should not be applied to skin that has been burned, scraped, or cut. Rinse it off with water as soon as possible if it does get on these locations.
How long does Prednicarbate stay in your system?
The amount of time that Prednicarbate stays in your system is dependent on the duration of use of the medicine. Some research suggests that suppression of cortisol levels is still apparent 96 hours after topical use of corticosteroid creams, which implies that Prednicarbate can stay in your system for long periods of time, possibly for up to a few weeks. Prednicarbate is not recommended for long term use. More research is required about the half-life of Prednicarbate and how long it stays in your system.
According to the NHS, for people who use Prednicarbate for extended periods of time (more than 12 months in adults), a withdrawal reaction may occur which can include:
- redness or changes in skin color (hyperpigmentation)
- burning, stinging, itching or peeling of the skin, or oozing, open sores
What are the side effects of Prednicarbate?
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
- Burning, itching, drying, scaling, or cracking of the skin
- irritation of the skin
- pain
- raised, dark red, or wart-like spots on the skin, especially when used on the face
- shininess or thinness of the skin
- thinning of the skin with easy bruising, especially when used on the face or where the skin folds together (e.g., between the fingers)
- Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
- hives or welts
- itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
- skin rash
- Irritation of the skin around the mouth
- redness and scaling around the mouth
Why does my skin burn when I apply Prednicarbate to my skin?
If your skin burns after applying Prednicarbate to your skin, you may have an allergic reaction to the steroid cream and your skin cannot tolerate it. Prednicarbate also contains cetostearyl alcohol which may cause acute allergic reactions.
How do I taper down from using Prednicarbate?
To taper down from using Prednicarbate many doctors advise adjusting to using a weaker steroid cream over an extended period of time. This is commonly known as climbing down the topical steroid ladder.
Which steroid creams are weaker than Prednicarbate?
Prednicarbate is a medium-strength topical steroid according to the Topical Steroid Potency Chart. Corticosteroids that are weaker than prednicarbate are as follows:
- Alclometasone dipropionate
- Desonide 0.05%
- Fluocinolone acetonide
- Hydrocortisone 0.5% – 2.5%
- Hydrocortisone
Which steroid creams are stronger than Prednicarbate?
The following corticosteroids are more potent than prednicarbate:
- Augmented betamethasone dipropionate
- Clobetasol propionate
- Desoximetasone
- Augmented diflorasone diacetate
- Diflorasone diacetate
- Fluocinonide
- Flurandrenolide 4 mcg/cm2
- Halobetasol propionate
- Amcinonide
- Betamethasone dipropionate
- Halcinonide
- Mometasone furoate
- Amcinonide
- Fluticasone propionate
- Triamcinolone acetonide 0.5%
- Betamethasone valerate
- Fluocinolone acetonide
- Flurandrenolide
- Hydrocortisone valerate
- Mometasone furoate
- Triamcinolone acetonide
- Betamethasone valerate 0.1%
- Clocortolone pivalate
- Fluticasone propionate
- Hydrocortisone butyrate
- Hydrocortisone probutate
- Hydrocortisone valerate 0.2%
What happens when you use Prednicarbate too often?
If you use Prednicarbate too frequently or for an extended period of time, tolerance or tachyphylaxis to that potency level of steroid cream may develop. Prednicarbate is not recommended for extended use which may result in some of the common side effects listed above. Consult with your doctor if you have concerns.
Does Prednicarbate cause topical steroid withdrawal?
More research is required to understand the complexity of Topical Steroid Withdrawal and its specific connection to Prednicarbate. Prednicarbate is a highly potent corticosteroid commonly used for skin conditions and the side effects of discontinuing the use of this topical steroid medicine is yet to be studied.
Throughout online groups and communities, there are serious concerns, accounts, discussions and images about corticosteroid creams (not just Prednicarbate) causing Topical Steroid Withdrawal. The accounts and experiences of the Topical Steroid Withdrawal community continues to grow and has gathered media wide attention for the aesthetic physical severity of many suffering.
Topical Steroid Withdrawal is an iatrogenic health phenomena that requires more research and studies. The International Topical Steroid Awareness Network (ITSAN) is currently building a patient registry to begin preliminary studies.
Is there treatment for Topical Steroid Withdrawal?
Currently, there is no global protocol or medical treatment for topical steroid withdrawal. However, medical advice favours the gradual reduction of topical steroids, rather than stopping usage abruptly.
At TSW Assist, we are identifying crowd sourced insights that can help manage the inflammation and symptoms during the withdrawal period from topical steroids. Currently, there is no quick cure for Topical Steroid Withdrawal.
Through the community, we are finding insights of the management of the symptoms of TSW, through the tracking of the efficacy of specific products, methods and therapies.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is not medical advice. There is no known medical cure for topical steroid withdrawal, but there are collective methods to manage the symptom and inflammation during the withdrawal period. It should not be mistaken that all usage of steroid creams will cause topical steroid withdrawal. More clinical research is required to understand the cause of Topical Steroid Withdrawal within an individual.
