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Amcinonide
What is Amcinonide
- Amcinonide is a topical high-potency synthetic fluorinated corticosteroid. It is used to relieve the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of moderate to severe corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses and psoriasis.
- The high potency of amcinonide is advantageous for treating affected areas with thicker skin such as the palms and soles.
- Like other high potency topical agents, amcinonide application should be avoided, if possible, on areas of thinner skin, such as the face and intertriginous areas, because of potential toxicities inherent in fluorinated compounds.
- Amcinonide was first approved by the FDA in 1979.
- Brand Name– Cyclocort
What are the uses/Indications?
- alopecia
- atopic dermatitis
- contact dermatitis
- dermatitis
- discoid lupus erythematosus
- eczema
- exfoliative dermatitis
- granuloma annulare
- keloids
- lichen planus
- lichen simplex
- lichen striatus
- necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum
- pemphigus
- pityriasis rosea
- pruritus
- Rhus dermatitis
- sarcoidosis
- sunburn
- urticaria
What are the Side Effects of Amcinonide?
- Acneiform rash
- Adrenocortical insufficiency
- Cataracts
- Contact dermatitis
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Erythema
- Folliculitis
- Glycosuria
- Growth inhibition
- Headache
- Hyperglycemia
- Hypertension
- Hypertrichosis
- Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) suppression
- Impaired wound healing
- Increased intracranial pressure
- Infection
- Maculopapular rash
- Miliaria
- Ocular hypertension
- Papilledema
- Pruritus
- Pseudotumor cerebri
- Purpura
- Skin atrophy
- Skin hypopigmentation
- Skin irritation
- Skin ulcer
- Striae
- Telangiectasia
- Tolerance
- Visual impairment
- Withdrawal
- Xerosis
What are the Monitoring Parameters?
- Laboratory monitoring not necessary
What are the contraindications for Amcinonide?
- acne rosacea
- acne vulgaris
- breast-feeding
- children
- corticosteroid hypersensitivity
- Cushing’s syndrome
- diabetes mellitus
- fungal infection
- geriatric
- growth inhibition
- herpes infection
- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) suppression
- increased intracranial pressure
- infants
- infection
- measles
- neonates
- occlusive dressing
- ocular exposure
- ophthalmic administration
- perioral dermatitis
- peripheral vascular disease
- pregnancy
- skin abrasion
- skin atrophy
- varicella
- viral infection
What are the drug to drug interactions
There are no drug interactions associated with Amcinonide products.
What is the mechanism of action?
- The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of the topical steroids, in general, is unclear. However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins.
- It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor, arachidonic acid.
- Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2.
- This molecule has affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor. It has weak affinity for the progesterone receptor, and virtually no affinity for the mineralocorticoid, estrogen, or androgen receptors.
Pharmacodynamics
- Amcinonide is a topical corticosteroid. The topical corticosteroids constitute a class of primarily synthetic steroids used as anti-inflammatory and antipruritic agents.
- Amcinonide reduces or inhibits the actions of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation, redness, and swelling.
- 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. When in an ointment form, amcinonide also helps the skin maintain moisture.
