Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Coal tar, distilled, Coconut oil, Salicylic acid may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
How to take it
Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo 4. Possible side effects 5. How to store Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo
Possible side effects
not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra. gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION What Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo contains: The active ingredients are salicylic acid (0.5% w/w), coconut oil (1.0% w/w) and distilled coal tar (1.0% w/w). The other ingredients are lauric acid diethanolamide, coco amido propyl dimethyl betaine (contains sodium benzoate as a preservative), triethanolamine lauryl sulfate (contains methylchloroisothiazolinone/ methylisothiazolinone (3:1) as a preservative), ammonium sulfate, phenoxyethanol, and purified water. What Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo looks like and contents of the pack The product is a golden brown shampoo that smells of coal tar. The product is available in 250 ml plastic bottles fitted with dispensing caps. (30 ml bottles are also available to medical and allied professionals.) The Marketing Authorisation holder is Dermal Laboratories, Tatmore Place, Gosmore, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 7QR, UK. The Manufacturer is Aeropak, Viking Road, Great Yarmouth, NR31 0NU, UK. This leaflet was last revised in March 2024. To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio, please call free of charge: 0800 198 5000 (UK only). Please be ready to give the following information: Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo, PL 00173/0048. This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). FP38/24/1 202602
If the product gets into the eyes The product, or the lather, may cause irritation if it gets into the eyes. If this happens, rinse with plenty of water. If rinsing one eye, take care to avoid washing product into the other eye. If irritation persists, contact a doctor or hospital.
Contents of the pack and other information
continued…
Prints: Pantone 412
Flat size: 150mm x 240mm
used daily if required, reducing frequency of use to once or twice a week as your condition improves. Thereafter, occasional use may be necessary.
Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
For adults, the elderly, children, infants and babies:
- Wet the hair thoroughly.
- Apply a small amount of shampoo to the scalp (approximately a quantity the size of a fifty pence piece for short hair, adjusting up depending on length/thickness of hair).
- With the tips of the fingers, massage in thoroughly.
- Leave on for a few minutes.
- Remove as much lather as possible with the hands (this is important as it will take the scales with it).
- Rinse out.
- If necessary, repeat the steps above.
- Rinse out well under running water, then dry the hair as normal.
5. HOW TO STORE CAPASAL THERAPEUTIC SHAMPOO
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Always replace the cap tightly after use.
- Keep the bottle in the outer carton.
- Keep away from direct sunlight.
- Do not store the product above 25°C.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not throw away any unused medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away any medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
If you use more Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo than you should Do not worry if you use too much shampoo, simply rinse hair under running water and continue as instructed above. If you forget to use Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo Do not worry if you occasionally forget to use this product, just carry on using it when you remember. If there is no improvement after 4 weeks, or if your scalp condition seems to look or feel worse, discontinue use of the product and consult your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. 4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS Like all medicines, Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. This product has been specially designed for use on dry or problem skin, but in some rare cases it can cause irritant or allergic skin reactions on extremely sensitive skin. These rare effects tend to occur during or soon after the first few uses. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any
Frequently asked questions about Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo
What is the active substance in Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo?
The active substance in Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo is coal tar, distilled, coconut oil, salicylic acid.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: coal tar, distilled, coconut oil, salicylic acid
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
For use as a shampoo in the treatment of dry, scaly scalp conditions such as seborrhoeic eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis, pityriasis capitis, psoriasis and cradle cap in children. It may also be used to remove previous scalp applications.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
For adults, children and the elderly.
Use as a shampoo, daily if necessary, reducing the frequency of use to once or twice a week as the condition improves. Thereafter, occasional use may be necessary. Wet the hair thoroughly. Massage a small amount of the shampoo into the scalp (approximately a quantity the size of a fifty pence piece for short hair, adjusting up depending on length/thickness of hair), leaving on for a few minutes before washing out. If necessary, repeat, producing a rich lather. Rinse hair well and dry.
4.3. Contraindications
Not to be used in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Keep away from the eyes.
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
For external use only.
This medicine contains 0.15mg of sodium benzoate (E 211) per gram of shampoo. Sodium benzoate (E 211) may cause local irritation. Sodium benzoate may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old).
In case of irritation, or if there is no improvement after 4 weeks, or the scalp condition seems to look or feel worse, discontinue treatment and tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
No known side effects.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None known.
4.8. Undesirable effects
None known.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
There are no known toxic effects resulting from excessive use of Capasal.
🇵🇱 Known in Poland as
Medicines sold in Poland with the same active substance: W Polsce znany jako
⚠ Not the same combination. This medicine contains Coal tar, distilled, Coconut oil, Salicylic acid. The products below do not contain exactly the same set of active substances — they are not direct substitutes.
- Maść na odciski Gemi partial — not the same combinationAcidum salicylicum · skin / topical
- Maść przeciw odciskom i zgrubieniom skóry Rekord Łuszczy partial — not the same combinationAcidum salicylicum · skin / topical
- Plaster na odciski partial — not the same combinationAcidum salicylicum · skin / topical
Some of these do not contain exactly the same active substances — check each one. The strength, the form and whether you need a prescription can differ. Always ask a pharmacist before you switch. Polish medicines in the UK →
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.