Calcipotriol cream discontinued
The manufacturer of calcipotriol cream (Dovonex®) has advised that this product has been discontinued for economic reasons.
The Psoriasis Association note that there are no safety or quality concerns. Current supplies of the cream can continue to be dispensed and used.
Calcipotriol ointment remains available, both as a generic product and as Dovonex. This may be a suitable alternative after consideration of patient acceptability of a greasier product.
Action: Clinicians should be aware of this product discontinuation and make arrangements to switch patients to suitable alternatives.
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My wife is in the same state as most of all the subscribers to this site. There is probably only 20% of her body not affected. A 120g tube of cream last 5/6 days but a 60g tube of ointment only lasts 1 day & is hard to rub in, she feels like covered in oil /grease & clothes when washed still feel greasy. So double washing? Leo saves money but not us!
While on holiday in Spain at a local pharmacy we found we could purchase 'THE CREAM' for about €28 for a 100ml tube & the practitioner said they could get more if ordered.
My wife was so ecstatic she ordered 6 tubes, which she now has at home hidden (Rocking horse poo)
Our neighbour is going is going to Spain soon & my wife has asked her if she will go into the same pharmacy to pick up 4 more tubes which she has already ordered. The assistant can speak very good English.
This is expensive, does not need a prescription, but why, why, why, has it been discontinued in the UK when there is obviously a big market force. We are retired & are entitled to free prescriptions, but if we can get what is necessary abroard we will pay.
It must be lack of NHS pressure or the government will not pay the high cost of about £20
Comment by Michael Digby — November 13, 2012 #
Hi, it would be appreciate give me the pharmacy address in Spain, I am really suffering the illness at moment
Comment by Xiu Chen Lee — April 21, 2014 #
Having done some research - Dovonex Cream is still produced in Ireland.
If you are prepared to get a private prescription from your GP and make
a journey to a pharmacy in Dublin - they have to pre-order it. But, it is available in 30gm at a cost of 20+ euros per tube! If you have a friend travelling to Ireland they could collect it for you?
I have spoken to both Leo Labs in Bucks, England and Dublin. While supposedly being sympathetic, both will not get involved and help. I hope this is useful.
Kevin
Comment by Kevin Edwards — September 19, 2012 #
I have had psoriasis for 15 years and have just tried Dovonex for the first time. It seems to be the first thing that has worked. The first chemist said it was discontinued but the second local one to me got in small 30g tubes which I got 5 of. Having read this thread I'm worried that I won't be able to carry on getting it.... Will ask my local chemist if they can keep getting this product. What's going on?
Comment by Sug — November 4, 2012 #
@Sug,
It really depends on whether your tubes contain cream or ointment. The situation as I understand it is that the cream has been discontinued but the ointment is still available (and in 30g tubes).
Comment by Matthew Robinson — November 4, 2012 #
Thanks, makes sense having read more of the thread too.
Comment by Sug — November 4, 2012 #
Hi Kevin, do you know if it's still true that Dovonex cream (or any other calcipotriol cream) is still manufactured in Dublin? My friend has really troublesome psoriasis and can't get the cream anymore and I want to help her out.
Thanks in advance,
Habib
Comment by Habib — February 18, 2017 #
I was interested to see the many conversations concerning DOVONEX CREAM. I have just been put to a lot of inconvenience but not by the withdrawal of the cream version! I had been prescribed the ointment in 120 gram tubes but was told by my Pharmacist (Rowlands Rugby) that the ointment had been discontinued and that I would have to have the cream. The doctor couldn't prescribe this and it took a month, a letter + 2 visits to the surgery to sort it out. I have now been informed by the GP that the ointment is available and given a prescription.
I think the ointment is now only prescribed in 30 gram tubes with the 120 gram being discontinued.
I had a bad experience with DOVOBET a few years ago and gave it up. At the time I was told that it is about 4 times more expensive than DOVONEX - maybe this is a reason for dropping the cream. Whilst the cream is more acceptable to use I have found that the ointment is more effective in suppressing the skin condition.
Comment by Ken Eyre — September 14, 2012 #
@Ken,
It seems like you have been given a bit of a run around. Dovonex Ointment is not discontinued at all, simply a pack size change so I think you have been misinformed by your pharmacy.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — September 14, 2012 #
It's just way too sad this product has been discontinued. I could cry and have cried.
I need help and would like to know what is a similar product that I can use as its now becoming painful to walk and do daily things 🙁
Dovonox Cream was a fabulous working treatment, nothing comes close....
If you know of a similar product please let me know
Comment by Miss T — September 6, 2012 #
@Miss T,
You really need to discuss this with your doctor, there are alternatives but finding one that works and that you find acceptable may take a little time and effort. You doctor can help you find an alternative.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — September 6, 2012 #
ask for the same stuff but in ointment form - it still works apply straight after bath, then moisturise then apply and it work it gently into each bit, it is not as greasy then. (its better than nothing)
Comment by Andrea — September 10, 2012 #
Me again, after years of snubbing the Dovonex Ointment - I have now started to use it for the past three days. I had a massive flare up due to not being able to use the cream. The inflammation has started to go down (thank goodness) but still shedding skin quite a lot but it has calmed down a little. If this helps anyone, I moisturise - let it soak - then apply ointment and sit for about 20 mins to let it soak in - I wear black trousers and tops that dont show the grease marks, if any. My message to follow sufferers is, be thankful that this stuff is still going and make the best of it. I am so grateful, as the steriod flared me up in weeks...
Good luck and any tips pass them on.
Comment by Andrea — September 3, 2012 #
@Andrea,
I'm very pleased to hear that you are getting some satisfaction from your new treatment and thanks for coming back to report your positive experiences.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — September 3, 2012 #
My doctor has said give him a month to see what else he can offer me, I need to make an appointment, having read all the above, I will be wasting my time. I too have now had a 50% flare up as I have no more cream - with painful inflamation and scabby skin.
I'm sick fed up, how could they remove a cream that lets face it, didn't work but kept it at bay. There are so many people that suffer with this disease and still after all these years they want to get rid of us out of the surgery and shove methotrexate down our necks or give us dangerous steroid creams!!
No one cares!!
Comment by Andrea — August 28, 2012 #
@Andrea,
There are alternatives to calcipotriol cream available but if you won't even considering discussing them with your doctor never mind using them I can't see how you can expect your skin to improve. Your doctor has asked you for some time to find a solution and yet you think he wants to get rid of you out of the surgery. At the very least I think you should give your doctor the chance he's asking for.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — August 29, 2012 #
I will be calling the doctor this week when he is back from leave and I merely meant, having read all the comments on here, it looks unlikely that he has found an alternative. However, I had not realised that they have the ointment still available, although its not practical I will give it another bash - will put it on once a day at night and lie perfectly still with no duvet on, so that I dont stick to the sheets ugh!
Comment by Andrea — August 30, 2012 #
Just like to add that I'm another upset former user of the Dovonex cream. I only have psoriasis of the scalp, and have been very pleased with Dovonex cream for over 10 years. The ointment is cosmetically completely unacceptable!!
Comment by Bo Todos — August 8, 2012 #
They also discontinued the cream in Belgium. I think it is unethical for a pharmaceutical company not to look for alternatives for their patients by granting an earlier usage as generic. By imposing Dovobet with steroids Leo is triggering a lot of side effects. For example, insuline resistance could come up, nad trigger diabetes.
In Germany the calcipotriol cream is available and will stay available under the name Hexal calcipotriol 0.005 . It costs around 72 Euro for a 120 grammes tube. It is produced and marketed by a subsidiary of Sandoz, called Hex. If you get a prescription from a UK doctor and contact a German Pharmacy, then you should get hold on it. Even better would be to create a purchase group at your local psoriasis association to buy in bulk from German wholesellers. Meanwhile, you should lobby Sandoz to take over this cream as soon as possible
Comment by Michel from Belgium — August 4, 2012 #
@Michel,
It's interesting that there is a generic available in Germany. I wonder if availability might spread if the generic companies feel there is a market.
As a note for UK readers, any prescription for supply from Germany would be a private script, rather than an NHS one, which means you'd be liable for the 72€ charge.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — August 4, 2012 #
I have been contacted directly by Leo Pharmaceuticals and at my request they have prepared the following statement:
This statement makes it very clear that the cream is discontinued and that this decision will not be reversed. Upsetting though that may be to previous users of the product suggestions that groups are set up to lobby for a reversal are, in my opinion, counterproductive.
I would like to leave the comments on this thread open to allow discussion of possible alternatives that may be available. In order to do this I will delete on sight any future comments that suggest or endorse lobbying for a return of the cream.
I have also been made aware of two patient resource web sites that you may find useful, these are http://www.touchpsoriasis.co.uk and http://www.morethanpsoriasis.co.uk.
Comment by Matthew Robinson — July 19, 2012 #
This response points out that LEO pharma are committed to focusing resources into research and development. Very commendable but why discontinue the only cream based treatment available? Why not discontinue the ointment based treatments that it would seem nobody wants to be stuck with. I have suffered with psoriasis for over 20 years and the Dovonex cream was the only treatment I found acceptable (despite it not actually working at least it kept it at bay). I am now stuck with ointment based treatments which have an extremely negative affect on my (and it would seem many others) quality of life. It is bad enough knowing that you are probably going to have to suffer with this condition for the rest of your life without someone making a financially based decision which reduces your quality of life even further.
I have been led to believe that the Department of Health need to be convinced that there are suitable alternatives available before a treatment can be discontinued? Perhaps they would like to point out the alternatives that are available because ointment based treatments are NOT suitable alternatives. I think the impact on the people who used this cream has been completely overlooked by LEO pharma for financial considerations. You should not have to alter the clothes you wear or change when you can apply the treatment.
Comment by Shaun — September 10, 2012 #
Maybe someone could set up a Facebook page or group and try to get some interest that way?
Comment by Emily — July 16, 2012 #
Hi,
I am very annoyed at discovering this - the ointment is not practical for twice daily use, if anything I am amazed at this and the fact they still do not manufacture dovobet as a cream formula.
Does anyone know of an alternative cream?
Comment by Ian — July 17, 2012 #