Dritho-Scalp (Topical)

Anthralin is used to treat psoriasis. Your doctor may also use it to treat other skin conditions.

In the U.S., you can get this medicine only with your doctor's prescription.

Anthralin may stain your skin, hair, fingernails, clothing, bed linens, or bathtub or shower. The stains on your skin or hair will fade in several weeks after you stop using this medicine. Here are some ways to prevent or reduce staining from anthralin:

• Wear plastic gloves when applying this medicine.
• Avoid getting the medicine on your clothing or bed linens. Ask your doctor if you can wear a plastic cap while sleeping if you apply the medicine to your scalp at bedtime.
• Remove any medicine from the surface of the bathtub or shower stall by rinsing it with hot water immediately after bathing or showering. Then, clean the bathtub or shower stall with a household cleanser to remove any remaining deposits.

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor need to consider the risks against the benefits. For this medicine, keep the following in mind:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also inform your healthcare professional about any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Studies on this medicine have only been done in adults, and there is no specific information comparing the use of anthralin in children to its use in other age groups.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older adults. Therefore, it may not be clear if they work the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older adults. There is no specific information comparing the use of anthralin in the elderly with its use in other age groups.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication while breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication if you are breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines can be used together even if there might be an interaction. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose or take other precautions. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be taken around the time of eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also cause interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional how to take your medicine in relation to food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical problems may affect how you can use this medicine. Make sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Skin diseases or problems (other)—Anthralin may make the condition worse.

Anthralin can cause tumors in animals, but there have been no reports of it causing tumors in humans.

Like all medicines, anthralin can cause some unwanted effects. Not everyone will experience these side effects, but if they do happen, you may need medical help.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of these side effects:

More common

• Redness or other skin irritation on areas treated with this medicine or on unaffected skin that was not there before using this medicine

Rare

• Skin rash

Other side effects not mentioned may also happen in some patients. If you notice any other effects, talk to your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Drithocreme
• Dritho-Scalp
• Psoriatec
• Zithranol
• Zithranol-RR

In Canada

• Anthraforte 2%
• Anthraforte 3%
• Anthrascalp

Available Dosage Forms:

• Shampoo
• Cream

Therapeutic Class: Antipsoriatic

Keep this medicine away from the eyes and mucous membranes, such as the mouth and the inside of the nose.

Do not apply this medicine to blistered, raw, or oozing areas of the skin or scalp.

Do not use this medicine on your face or sex organs or in the folds and creases of your skin. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Use this medicine only as directed. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Anthralin may be used in different ways. In some cases, it is applied at night and allowed to remain on the affected areas overnight, then washed off the next morning or before the next application. In other cases, it may be applied and allowed to remain on the affected areas for a short period of time (usually 10 to 30 minutes), then washed off. (This is called short contact treatment.) Make sure you understand exactly how you are to use this medicine. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Anthralin may cause irritation of normal skin. If it does, petrolatum may be applied to the skin or scalp around the affected areas for protection.

Apply a thin layer of anthralin to only the affected area of the skin or scalp and rub in gently and well.

Immediately after applying this medicine, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.

For patients using anthralin for short contact (usually 10 to 30 minutes) treatment:

• After applying anthralin, allow the medicine to remain on the affected area for 10 to 30 minutes or as directed by your doctor. Then remove the medicine by bathing, if the anthralin was applied to the skin, or by shampooing, if it was applied to the scalp.

For patients using the cream form of anthralin for overnight treatment:

• If anthralin cream is applied to the skin, any medicine remaining on the affected areas the next morning should be removed by bathing.
• If anthralin cream is applied to the scalp, shampoo to remove the scales and any medicine remaining on the affected areas from the previous application. Dry the hair and, after parting, rub the cream into the affected areas. Check with your doctor to see when the cream should be removed.

For patients using the ointment form of anthralin for overnight treatment:

• If anthralin ointment is applied to the skin at night, any ointment remaining on the affected areas the next morning should be removed with warm liquid petrolatum followed by bathing.
• If anthralin ointment is applied to the scalp at night, shampoo the next morning to clean the scalp.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For psoriasis: For cream dosage form: Adults—Apply to the dry, affected area(s) of the skin once a day, preferably at night, or as directed by your doctor. Wash medicine off skin at the proper time. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor. For ointment dosage form: Adults—Apply to the dry, affected area(s) of the skin once a day or as directed by your doctor. Wash medicine off skin at the proper time. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.