Desoximetasone

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# Overview
Desoximetasone is an adrenal glucocorticoid that is FDA approved for the {{{indicationType}}} of inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses..   Common adverse reactions include burning, itching, irritation, dryness, folliculitis, hypertrichosis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, and perioral dermatitis.

# Adult Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
- Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% is indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.
- Apply a thin film of Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% to the affected skin areas twice daily. Rub in gently.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Desoximetasone in adult patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of Desoximetasone in adult patients.

# Pediatric Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
- *Apply a thin film of Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% to the affected skin areas twice daily. Rub in gently.
- Administration of topical corticosteroids to pediatric patients should be limited to the least amount compatible with an effective therapeutic regimen. Chronic corticosteroid therapy may interfere with the growth and development of pediatric patients.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Desoximetasone in pediatric patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of Desoximetasone in pediatric patients.

# Contraindications
- Topical corticosteroids are contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the components of the preparation.

# Warnings
- Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% is not for ophthalmic use.

### Precautions
- Systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids has produced reversible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, manifestations of Cushing's syndrome, hyperglycemia, and glucosuria in some patients. Conditions which augment systemic absorption include the application of the more potent steroids, use over large surface areas, prolonged use, and the addition of occlusive dressings.
- Therefore, patients receiving a large dose of a potent topical steroid applied to a large surface area or under an occlusive dressing should be evaluated periodically for evidence of HPA axis suppression by using the urinary free cortisol and ACTH stimulation tests. If HPA axis suppression is noted, an attempt should be made to withdraw the drug, to reduce the frequency of application, or to substitute a less potent steroid. Recovery of HPA axis function is generally prompt and complete upon discontinuation of the drug. Infrequently, signs and symptoms of steroid withdrawal may occur, requiring supplemental systemic corticosteroids.
- Pediatric patients may absorb proportionally larger amounts of topical corticosteroids and thus be more susceptible to systemic toxicity. If irritation develops, topical corticosteroids should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted.
- In the presence of dermatological infections, the use of an appropriate antifungal or antibacterial agent should be instituted. If a favorable response does not occur promptly, the corticosteroid should be discontinued until the infection has been adequately controlled.

# Adverse Reactions

## Clinical Trials Experience
- The following local adverse reactions are reported infrequently with topical corticosteroids, but may occur more frequently with the use of occlusive dressings. These reactions are listed in an approximate decreasing order of occurrence: burning, itching, irritation, dryness, folliculitis, hypertrichosis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, maceration of the skin, secondary infection, skin atrophy, striae, miliaria
- In controlled clinical studies, the incidence of adverse reactions was low (0.8%) for desoximetasone cream 0.25%, and included burning, folliculitis and folliculo-pustular lesions.

## Postmarketing Experience
There is limited information regarding Postmarketing Experience of Desoximetasone in the drug label.

# Drug Interactions
There is limited information regarding Desoximetasone Drug Interactions in the drug label.

# Use in Specific Populations

### Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category (FDA):
- Pregnancy Category C
- Corticosteroids are generally teratogenic in laboratory animals when administered systemically at relatively low dosage levels. The more potent corticosteroids have been shown to be teratogenic after dermal application in laboratory animals.
- Desoximetasone has been shown to be teratogenic and embryotoxic in mice, rats, and rabbits when given by subcutaneous or dermal routes of administration in doses 3 to 30 times the human dose of Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25%.
- There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women on teratogenic effects from topically applied corticosteroids. Therefore, Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Drugs of this class should not be used extensively on pregnant patients, in large amounts, or for prolonged periods of time.
Pregnancy Category (AUS):
- Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) Pregnancy Category
There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Desoximetasone in women who are pregnant.

### Labor and Delivery
There is no FDA guidance on use of Desoximetasone during labor and delivery.

### Nursing Mothers
- It is not known whether topical administration of corticosteroids could result in sufficient systemic absorption to produce detectable quantities in breast milk. Systemically administered corticosteroids are secreted into breast milk in quantities not likely to have a deleterious effect on the infant. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when topical corticosteroids are administered to a nursing woman.

### Pediatric Use
- Pediatric patients may demonstrate greater susceptibility to topical corticosteroid-induced HPA axis suppression and Cushing's syndrome than mature patients because of a larger skin surface area to body weight ratio. HPA axis suppression, Cushing's syndrome, and intracranial hypertension have been reported in pediatric patients receiving topical corticosteroids. Manifestations of adrenal suppression in pediatric patients include linear growth retardation, delayed weight gain, low plasma cortisol levels, and absence of response to ACTH stimulation. Manifestations of intracranial hypertension include bulging fontanelles, headaches, and bilateral papilledema.
- Administration of topical corticosteroids to pediatric patients should be limited to the least amount compatible with an effective therapeutic regimen. Chronic corticosteroid therapy may interfere with the growth and development of pediatric patients.

### Geriatic Use
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Desoximetasone with respect to geriatric patients.

### Gender
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Desoximetasone with respect to specific gender populations.

### Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Desoximetasone with respect to specific racial populations.

### Renal Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Desoximetasone in patients with renal impairment.

### Hepatic Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Desoximetasone in patients with hepatic impairment.

### Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Desoximetasone in women of reproductive potentials and males.

### Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of Desoximetasone in patients who are immunocompromised.

# Administration and Monitoring

### Administration
- Topical

### Monitoring
There is limited information regarding Monitoring of Desoximetasone in the drug label.

# IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding IV Compatibility of Desoximetasone in the drug label.

# Overdosage

## Chronic Overdose
There is limited information regarding Chronic Overdose of Desoximetasone in the drug label.

# Pharmacology

## Mechanism of Action
- Topical corticosteroids share anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic and vasoconstrictive actions. The mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of the topical corticosteroids is unclear. Various laboratory methods, including vasoconstrictor assays, are used to compare and predict potencies and/or clinical efficacies of the topical corticosteroids. There is some evidence to suggest that a recognizable correlation exists between vasoconstrictor potency and therapeutic efficacy in man.

## Structure
- Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% contains the active synthetic corticosteroid desoximetasone. The topical corticosteroids constitute a class of primarily synthetic steroids used as anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic agents.
- Each gram of Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% contains 2.5 mg of desoximetasone in an emollient cream consisting of aluminum monostearate, cetostearyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, lanolin alcohols, magnesium stearate, mineral oil, paraffin wax, purified water, and white petrolatum.
- The chemical name of desoximetasone is Pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione,9-fluoro-11,21-dihydroxy-16-methyl-,(11,16)-. Desoximetasone has the molecular formula C22H29FO4 and a molecular weight of 376.47. The CAS Registry Number is 382-67-2. The chemical structure is:

## Pharmacodynamics
There is limited information regarding Pharmacodynamics of Desoximetasone in the drug label.

## Pharmacokinetics
- The extent of percutaneous absorption of topical corticosteroids is determined by many factors including the vehicle, the integrity of the epidermal barrier, and the use of occlusive dressings.
- Topical corticosteroids can be absorbed from normal intact skin. Inflammation and/or other disease processes in the skin increase percutaneous absorption. Occlusive dressings substantially increase the percutaneous absorption of topical corticosteroids. Thus, occlusive dressings may be a valuable therapeutic adjunct for treatment of resistant dermatoses.
- Once absorbed through the skin, topical corticosteroids are handled through pharmacokinetic pathways similar to systemically administered corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are bound to plasma proteins in varying degrees. Corticosteroids are metabolized primarily in the liver and are then excreted by the kidneys. Some of the topical corticosteroids and their metabolites are also excreted into the bile.
- Pharmacokinetic studies in men with desoximetasone cream 0.25% with tagged desoximetasone showed a total of 5.2%  2.9% excretion in urine (4.1%  2.3%) and feces (1.1%  0.6%) and no detectable level (limit of sensitivity: 0.005 g/mL) in the blood when it was applied topically on the back followed by occlusion for 24 hours. Seven days after application, no further radioactivity was detected in urine or feces. The half-life of the material was 15  2 hours (for urine) and 17  2 hours (for feces) between the third and fifth trial day. Studies with other similarly structured steroids have shown that predominant metabolite reaction occurs through conjugation to form the glucuronide and sulfate ester.

## Nonclinical Toxicology
- Long-term animal studies have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential or the effect on fertility of topical corticosteroids.
- Studies to determine mutagenicity with prednisolone and hydrocortisone have revealed negative results. Desoximetasone did not show potential for mutagenic activity in vitro in the Ames microbial mutagen test with or without metabolic activation.

# Clinical Studies
There is limited information regarding Clinical Studies of Desoximetasone in the drug label.

# How Supplied
- Desoximetasone Cream USP, 0.25% is available as follows:
- 15 g tube (NDC 45802-495-35)
- 60 g tube (NDC 45802-495-37)
- Store at 20-25C (68-77F).

## Storage
There is limited information regarding Desoximetasone Storage in the drug label.

# Images

## Drug Images

## Package and Label Display Panel

# Patient Counseling Information
- Patients using topical corticosteroids should receive the following information and instructions:
- This medication is to be used as directed by the physician. It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes.
- Patients should be advised not to use this medication for any disorder other than for which it was prescribed.
- The treated skin area should not be bandaged or otherwise covered or wrapped as to be occlusive unless directed by the physician.
- Patients should report any signs of local adverse reactions, especially under occlusive dressing.
- Parents of pediatric patients should be advised not to use tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants on a child being treated in the diaper area, as these garments may constitute occlusive dressings.

# Precautions with Alcohol
- Alcohol-Desoximetasone interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.

# Brand Names
- DESOXIMETASONE

# Look-Alike Drug Names
There is limited information regarding Desoximetasone Look-Alike Drug Names in the drug label.

# Drug Shortage Status

# Price