INDICATIONS AND USAGE Halobetasol propionate ointment, 0.05% is a super-high potency corticosteroid indictated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses.

Treatment beyond two consecutive weeks is not recommended, and the total dosage should not exceed 50 g/week because of the potential for the drug to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

ADVERSE REACTIONS In controlled clinical trials, the most frequent adverse events reported for halobetasol propionate ointment, 0.05% included stinging or burning in 1.6% of the patients.

Less frequently reported adverse reactions were pustulation, erythema, skin atrophy, leukoderma, acne, itching, secondary infection, telangiectasia, urticara, dry skin, miliaria, paresthesia, and rash.

The following additional local adverse reactions are reported infrequently with topical corticosteroids, and they may occur more frequently with high potency corticosteroids, such as halobetasol propionate ointment, 0.05%.

These reactions are listed in an approximate decreasing order of occurrence: folliculitis, hypertrichosis, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, striae and miliaria.