Common side effects
Some people get a burning or stinging feeling for a few minutes when they put clobetasone cream or ointment on their skin. This usually stops after you've been using it for a few days.
Clobetasone cream contains cetostearyl alcohol and chlorocresol, which may cause local skin reactions or allergic reactions.
Speak to a doctor if your condition gets worse while you're using clobetasone, or comes back within 2 weeks of stopping treatment. Do not start using clobetasone again without speaking to a doctor.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects are rare and happen to less than 1 in 10,000 people who use clobetasone.
Stop using clobetasone and tell your doctor or call 111 now if:
- your skin becomes swollen or red (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin), you get white patches on your skin or yellow fluid is weeping from your skin – these could be signs of a new skin infection or an existing one getting worse
- you are using clobetasone for psoriasis and you get raised bumps filled with pus (pustules) under the skin
- you have vomiting, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, you feel dizzy, faint or very tired, or your mood changes – these can be signs of adrenal gland problems
- you feel confused, sleepy, more thirsty or more hungry than usual, you pee more often, have hot flushes or your breath smells of fruit – these can be signs of high blood sugar
- you have any new problems with your eyesight
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to clobetasone.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Long-term side effects
You're more likely to have a serious side effect if you use clobetasone over a large patch of skin for a long time.
Using clobetasone continuously for a long time can mean some of the medicine gets into your blood. If this happens, there's a very small risk of it causing serious side effects, such as adrenal gland problems, high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) or problems with your eyesight.
It can also make your skin thinner or give you stretch marks. Stretch marks are likely to be permanent, but they usually fade over time.
If you've been using clobetasone for a long time, your doctor may tell you to gradually reduce the amount you use before stopping completely.
If you've been using clobetasone for a long time, you may have a skin reaction within a few days or weeks after stopping treatment (topical steroid withdrawal reaction). You might have a burning feeling and redness, although this may be more difficult to see on brown or black skin. If this happens, ask your doctor for advice.
Children and teenagers
In very rare cases, using clobetasone for a long time can slow down the normal growth of children and teenagers. This is because it is a steroid.
Your child's doctor will monitor their height and weight carefully while they are using this medicine. This will help them spot any slowing down of your child's growth and change their treatment if needed.
Even if your child's growth slows down, it does not seem to have much effect on their eventual adult height.
Talk to your doctor if you're worried. They will be able to explain the benefits and risks of your child using clobetasone.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of clobetasone. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.