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Pharmacy Guide

Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.

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Catephen 10% Ointment

⚠ 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 Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.

Active substance: Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract
Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc)
Official leaflet: Read the PIL on emc

What it is and what it is used for

FOR Catephen is a herbal medicinal product for skin use only. Its active substance is an extract from green tea leaves. Catephen is used to treat warts (Condylomata acuminata) on the surface of the genitals (sexual organs) and around the anus. Catephen is used in adults with normal function of their immune system. You should talk to a doctor if you feel worse, or do not feel better after 4-6 weeks of treatment.

What you need to know before you take it

E CATEPHEN Talk to your doctor before using Catephen. Do not use Catephen

  • If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to green tea extract or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section '6. Contents of the pack and other information'). Warnings and precautions
  • Talk to your doctor if you have any problems with your liver or immune system. Catephen should not be used if your liver function is impaired (e.g. abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, yellow skin due to liver dysfunction) or when your immune system is compromised (either due to illness or due to other medicines you are taking).
  • Do not use Catephen until the area to be treated has completely healed after previous drug or surgical treatment.
  • Avoid contact with the eyes, nostrils, lips and mouth. If the ointment gets on any of these areas inadvertently, it should be wiped off and/or rinsed off with water.
  • Do not apply to open wounds, broken or inflamed skin.
  • Catephen must not be applied on mucous membranes, so it is not a treatment for warts in the vagina, cervix, urethra or inside the anus.
  • Female patients with genital warts in the vulvar region should use the ointment with caution as treatment in this area can cause severe local adverse reactions more often.
  • Uncircumcised male patients treating warts under the foreskin should retract the foreskin and clean the area daily to prevent phimosis (when the foreskin cannot be pulled back over the head of the penis). When early signs of stricture occur (e.g. open sores, hardening of the skin or increasing difficulty in retracting the foreskin), you should stop the treatment and consult your doctor.
  • Catephen does not eliminate the HPV-virus or prevent transmission of the disease, therefore special care should be taken before sexual activity; see section '3. How to use Catephen' of this leaflet.
  • In case your sexual partner is infected with genital warts his/her treatment is advisable and will help to prevent reinfection. You can ask your doctor for advice.
  • Do not expose the treated area to sunlight and do not use sunlamps and tanning beds.
  • Catephen stains clothing and bedding.
  • Mild local skin reactions such as redness, itching, irritation (mostly burning), pain and swelling at the site of application are very common and should not lead to discontinuation. They should decrease after the first weeks of treatment; see section '4. 'Possible side effects'. Children and adolescents Catephen is not recommended for use in children and adolescents below the age of 18 years. Other medicines and Catephen Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicine or if you have recently had other treatments for warts around the sexual organs or the anus. Catephen should not be used together with other treatment at the wart area. Catephen should not be used until your skin has healed from other treatments.

FOCUS

DESiGN KORA HEALTHCARE Client:

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Catephen with food and drink There is no interaction with food and drink. As a precaution to avoid interactions/side effects, Catephen should not be used with food supplements containing high amounts of extract from green tea leaves. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. Pregnancy There are no or limited data available on the use of Catephen in pregnant women. Reproductive studies in animals have shown toxic effects. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, although exposure to epigallocatechingallate (the main constituent of green tea) is expected to be low following application to the skin, the use of Catephen during pregnancy should be avoided. (see section '3. How to use Catephen'). Breast-feeding It is not known if Catephen or its metabolites are excreted in breast milk and therefore it is not known if there is a risk to a breast-fed baby. However following application of the product to the mother's skin, the risk of adverse effects in the breastfed baby are likely to be low. Fertility There is no evidence of an effect on fertility if you use Catephen as prescribed. Driving and using machines No studies on the effect on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However it is unlikely that treatment will have an effect on the ability to drive or use machines. Catephen contains isopropyl myristate and propylene glycol monopalmitostearate Catephen contains, among other ingredients, high amounts of isopropylmyristate (IPM), which can cause irritation and sensitization of the skin, and propylene glycol monopalmitostearate which may cause skin irritations.

How to take it

CATEPHEN Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The recommended dose is up to 0.5 cm of ointment strand (corresponding to 250 mg) for all warts together, applied three times daily (in the morning, at mid-day and in the evening).

  • Wash hands before and after applying the ointment.
  • Apply a small amount of Catephen to each wart using the fingers, dabbing it on to ensure complete coverage and leaving a thin layer of the ointment on the warts. Do not apply the ointment internally (into the anus, urethra or into the vagina).
  • Do not cover the treated area with bandages after you have applied the ointment.
  • It is not necessary to wash off the ointment from the treated area prior to the next application. When you wash the treatment area or bathe, apply the ointment afterwards.
  • Apply Catephen three times per day (in the morning, at mid-day and in the evening).
  • New warts may develop during treatment, which need to be treated in the same way.
  • Genital warts are a sexually transmitted disease; therefore you may infect your partner by sexual activity. Condoms should be used until complete clearance of all warts. The use of condoms prevents reinfection as well.
  • Catephen may weaken condoms and vaginal diaphragms. Before sexual activity, wash off the ointment carefully with warm water and mild soap and apply a condom thereafter. Ask your doctor for additional methods of contraception.
  • Female patients during menstruation using tampons: insert the tampon before applying the ointment. If you need to change your tampon while the ointment is on your skin, avoid getting the ointment into the vagina. In case of accidental application immediately wash-off the ointment with warm water and mild soap.

Origination: 16/07/2014 Product: Rev.1: 22/07/2014 Catephen 10% Ointment_UK Rev.2: 23/07/2014

Spec Code: 161-03

Dimensions: 148x420mm

Typefont: Myriad 9 point I

Rev.3: 18/02/2015 Rev.4: 19/02/2015 Rev.5: 05/03/2015 Rev.6: 13/04/2016 Rev.7: 15/04/2016 Rev.8: 26/01/2017 Rev.9: 01/02/2017 Rev.10: 12/07/2018 Rev.11: 13/08/2019 Rev.12: 07/12/2021 Rev.13: 29/03/22 Rev.14: 18/07/24

Pharma Code: 909

—

Registration:

111111111 ,

Date:

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Catephen PIL_UK 148x420_Catephen PIL_UK 140×420 18/07/2024 15:17 Page 2

  • Duration of treatment with Catephen should be continued until complete clearance of all warts, however no longer than 16 weeks, even if new warts develop during the treatment period. If the warts do not go away or if they come back after treatment please consult your doctor.

Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

Use in children and adolescents (below the age of 18 years) Catephen is not approved for use in children and adolescents below the age of 18 years.

UK United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store

Older people There is limited experience for the use of Catephen in older people. Hepatic impairment You should not use Catephen if your liver function is impaired (e.g. abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, yellow skin due to liver problems). If you use more Catephen than you should You may experience more intense local reactions (see sections '2. What you need to know before you use Catephen' and '4. Possible side effects'). Wash off the extra ointment with mild soap and water. If you have accidentally swallowed the ointment you should contact your doctor. If you forget to use Catephen Continue next dose when it's due. Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop using Catephen Clearance of warts may not be achieved. If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most of the side effects of Catephen are due to its local action on the skin and occur on or around the treated wart area. Many patients experience redness, itching, irritation, pain or swelling. Mild reactions are expected and should ease after the first weeks of treatment. If however, the intensity of local skin reactions is affecting your daily activities or if blisters occur, please consult your doctor. It may be necessary to interrupt treatment. Treatment can be resumed after the skin reaction has subsided. In case of vesicular local reactions please consult your doctor. If you experience severe local reaction causing unacceptable discomfort e.g. local inflammation/ infection, open sore, swelling of lymph nodes or any other serious reaction (e.g. constriction of foreskin or urethra, difficulty passing urine or severe pain) you should stop treatment, wash off the ointment with warm water and mild soap and consult your doctor straight away. For the assessment of the side effects the following frequency rating was used: Very common

may affect more than 1 in 10 people

Common

may affect up to 1 in 10 people

Uncommon

may affect up to 1 in 100 people

Very common:

  • Local skin reactions at the wart site where you have applied Catephen including: redness, itching, irritation/burning, pain, swelling, open sores, hardening of the skin, and blisters. Common:
  • Local skin reactions like flakiness, discharge, bleeding, swelling
  • Swelling of lymph nodes (in the groin)
  • Constriction of the foreskin of the penis Uncommon:
  • Local scarring, fissure, skin dryness, discomfort, erosion, increase or loss of sensation, nodule, papules, inflammation of the skin, and changes in skin colour at the application site, local necrosis, eczema
  • Pustules at the application site, infections at the application site, genital herpes infection, staphylococcal infection, fungal infection of the vagina, inflammation of the urethra or of the vulva and vagina
  • Pain, high frequency or urgency in urinating
  • Inflammation of the foreskin and head of the penis, painful sexual intercourse
  • Rash, hypersensitivity Adverse reactions that were observed with a higher strength (Catephen 15%) ointment only:
  • Bacterial skin infections (pyoderma), inflammation of vulva
  • Constriction of the urethra/difficulty passing urine, vaginal discharge

You can also report side effects directly via

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

How to store it

CATEPHEN Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children Do not store above 25°C Use within 6 weeks after first opening of the tube Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube and carton label after {EXP}. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Contents of the pack and other information

What Catephen contains The active substance is an extract from green tea leaves. 1 g of the ointment contains 100 mg of extract (as dry extract, refined) from Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, folium (green tea leaf) (24-56:1), corresponding to: 55-72 mg of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate. First extraction solvent: water The other ingredients are: White soft paraffin (contains all-rac-α-tocopherol), white beeswax, isopropyl myristate, oleyl alcohol, propylene glycol monopalmitostearate. What Catephen looks like and contents of the pack Catephen is a brown, smooth ointment, free from gritty particles presented in 2 tube sizes: 15 g and 30 g. Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder: Kora Corporation Ltd. t/a Kora Healthcare, 20 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2, D02 H364 Ireland Manufacturer: C.P.M. ContractPharma GmbH Frühlingsstraße 7 83620 Feldkirchen-Westerham Germany This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) under the following names: Austria: Veregen 10% Salbe Belgium: Veregen pommade Bulgaria: Вереген 10% маз Croatia: Veregen 100 mg/g mast Cyprus: Veregreen 10% Αλοιφή Czech Republic: Veregen 10% mast Estonia: Veregen France: VEREGEN 10%, pommade Germany: Veregen 10% Salbe Greece: Veregreen 10%Αλοιφή Hungary: Veregen 10% kenőcs Ireland: Catephen 10% ointment Italy: Veregen Latvia: Veregen 100 mg/g ziede Lithuania: Veregen 100 mg/g tepalas Luxembourg: Veregen 10 % Netherlands: Veregen 10%, zalf Poland: Veregen Portugal: Veregen Romania: Veregen 100 mg/g unguent Slovak Republic: Veregen 100 mg/g masť Slovenia: Veregen 100 mg/g mazilo Spain: Veregen 100 mg/g pomada United Kingdom (Northem Ireland): Catephen 10% ointment This leaflet was last revised in 07/2024

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HEALTHCARE 161-04

Frequently asked questions about Catephen 10% Ointment

How do I take Catephen 10% Ointment?

Catephen 10% Ointment comes as ointment. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.

What is the active substance in Catephen 10% Ointment?

The active substance in Catephen 10% Ointment is camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract.

Where does this information come from?

This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Catephen 10% Ointment, 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 Catephen 10% Ointment 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.

Medical disclaimer: This page is for information only and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the leaflet supplied with your medicine. If you are unwell, call NHS 111; in an emergency, call 999.

Medicines with the same active substance: Camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract (1 medicine)
See every medicine containing this substance, or browse the full A–Z of active substances.
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
Technical information intended for healthcare professionals (doctors and pharmacists). The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) is the official document approved by the MHRA/EMA. It does not replace the patient leaflet or a doctor’s advice.

4.1. Therapeutic indications

Catephen is indicated for the cutaneous treatment of external genital and perianal warts (condylomataacuminata) in immunocompetent patients from the age of 18 years.

4.2. Posology and method of administration

Posology for adults

Up to 250 mg Catephen ointment as total single dose, corresponding to about 0.5 cm of ointment strand to be applied three times per day to all external genital and perianal warts (750 mg total daily dose).

Duration of use

Treatment with Catephen should be continued until complete clearance of all warts, however, no longer than 16 weeks in total (max. duration), even if new warts develop during the treatment period.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of Catephen in children and adolescents below the age of 18 years have not been investigated. No data are available.

Older people

An insufficient number of older people were treated with Catephen ointment to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.

Patients with hepatic impairment

Patients with severe liver dysfunction(e.g. clinically relevant elevation of liver enzymes, increase of bilirubin, increase of INR) should not use Catephen due to insufficient safety data. (see sections 4.4 and 4.8)

Method of administration

A small amount of Catephen should be applied to each wart using the fingers, dabbing it on to ensure complete coverage and leaving a thin layer of the ointment on the warts (max. 250 mg in total for all warts/ per single dose).

Only apply to affected areas; any application into the vagina, urethra or anus must be avoided.

Do not apply to mucous membranes.

For cutaneous use only.

If a dose is missed, the patient should continue with the normal treatment regimen.

It is recommended to wash the hands before and after application of Catephen. It is not necessary to wash off the ointment from the treated area prior to the next application.

Catephen should be washed off the treated area before sexual activity.

Female patients using tampons should insert the tampon before applying Catephen.

4.3. Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use

Avoid contact with the eyes, nostrils, lips and mouth.

Catephen should not be applied to open wounds, broken or inflamed skin. Therapy with Catephen is not recommended until the skin has completely healed from any previous surgical or drug treatment.

Catephen has not been evaluated for the treatment of urethral, intra-vaginal, cervical, rectal or intra-anal warts and must not be used for the treatment of these conditions.

Female patients with genital warts in the vulvar region should use the ointment with caution as treatment in this area is associated more often with severe local adverse reactions (see section 4.8). Accidental application into the vagina must be avoided. In case of accidental application into the vagina immediately wash off the ointment with warm water and mild soap.

Uncircumcised male patients treating warts under the foreskin should retract the foreskin and clean the area daily to prevent phimosis. When early signs of stricture occur (e.g. ulceration, induration or increasing difficulty in retracting the foreskin) the treatment should be stopped.

New warts may develop during treatment.

Condoms should be used until complete clearance of all warts as Catephen does not eliminate the HPV-virus and does not prevent transmission of the disease.

Catephen may weaken condoms and vaginal diaphragms. Therefore, the ointment should be washed off the treated area before the use of condoms and sexual contact. Additional methods of contraception should be considered.

If the sexual partner of the patient is infected, treatment of the partner is advisable to prevent re-infection of the patient.

Do not expose the treated area to sunlight or UV irradiation, as Catephen has not been tested under these conditions.

The use of an occlusive dressing should be avoided (see section 4.8).

Catephen stains clothing and bedding.

Mild local skin reactions such as erythema, pruritus, irritation (mostly burning), pain and oedema at the site of application are very common and should not lead to discontinuation. They should decrease after the first weeks of treatment (see section 4.8).

An interruption of the treatment may be indicated in case of more intense local skin reaction causing unacceptable discomfort or increase in severity or associated with a lymph node reaction. The treatment with Catephen can be resumed after the skin reaction has diminished.

In case a vesicular local reaction occurs, the patient should be advised to consult a doctor to exclude a genital herpes infection.

The effectiveness and safety in patients taking immunomodulatory medicines have not been investigated. Those patients should not use Catephen ointment.

The safety and effectiveness for treatment beyond 16 weeks or for multiple treatment courses have not been investigated.

Patients with severe liver dysfunction (e.g. clinically relevant elevation of liver enzymes, increase of bilirubin, increase of INR) should not use Catephen due to insufficient safety data. (see section 4.8)

Catephen contains propylene glycol monopalmitostearate which may cause skin irritations and isopropyl myristate which may cause irritation and sensitization of the skin.

4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

No interaction studies have been performed.

Concomitant use of other local treatments in the wart area should be avoided (even like sitz baths, topically applied zinc or vitamin E etc.).

Concomitant intake of high-dosed oral green tea extract preparations (food supplements) should be avoided (see section 4.8).

4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

There are no or limited amount of data from the use of Catephen in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3).

As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of Catephen during pregnancy, although systemic exposure to epigallocatechingallate is expected to be low following dermal application of Catephen.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown whether Catephen or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. A risk to the suckling child cannot be excluded.

No effects on the breastfed newborn / infant are anticipated since systemic exposure to epigallocatechingallate is expected to be low following dermal application of Catephen.

Fertility

There is no evidence of an effect on the fertility in the rat following dermal (male) and vaginal (female) application, respectively (see section 5.3).

4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, it is unlikely that Catephen will have an effect on the ability to drive or use machines.

4.8. Undesirable effects

In pivotal clinical studies, 400 subjects were exposed to cutaneous Catephen 10% Ointment. (In addition 397 subjects were exposed to

Catephen 15% Ointment). The most frequently reported adverse drug reactions were local skin and application site reactions at the wart treatment site.

Overall, 83.5% of patients experienced such adverse reactions. Most commonly erythema, pruritus, irritation (mostly burning), pain, oedema, ulcer, indurations and vesicles were observed. Local reactions were of mild intensity in 24.8%, of moderate intensity in 32.0% (male 36.3%/female 27.1%); severe reactions were reported in 26.8% of patients at least once during treatment (male 20.8%/female 33.5%). The percentage of subjects with at least one severe, related local reaction was 26.3% (87/331) for subjects with genital warts only, 23.1% (6/26) for subjects with anal warts and 32.6% (14/43) for subjects with anal and genital warts.

Mild local skin reactions are related to the mode of action and should not lead to discontinuation.

Female patients with warts in the vulva had a higher incidence of local skin and application site reactions.

Four female patients (1%) interrupted their treatment once due to application site pain, anaesthesia and dermatitis. One female patient (0.3%) discontinued her treatment with Catephen 10% Ointment because of perineal burning sensation, pain and itching.

For one female patient serious vulvovaginitis was reported under treatment with Catephen 10% Ointment.

Phimosis occurred in 1.9% (4/212) of uncircumcised male subjects.

Hypersensitivity was observed in 5/209 subjects (2.4%) in a dermal sensitization study. In case of hypersensitivity to Catephen 10% treatment should be discontinued.

Table 1: Adverse reactions (reported pre- and postmarketing) that were at least possibly related to treatment with Catephen 10% are listed by system organ class. Frequencies are defined as very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), and uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100).

Very common

Common

Uncommon

General disorders and administration site conditions

Local reactions at the application site like erythema, pruritus, irritation/burning, pain, ulcer, oedema, induration and vesicles

Local reactions at the application site like exfoliation, discharge, bleeding and swelling

Local reactions at the application site like discolouration, discomfort, dryness, erosion, fissure, hyperaesthesia, anaesthesia, scar, nodule, dermatitis, hypersensitivity, local necrosis, papules, and eczema

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

-

Inguinal lymphadenitis/lymphadenopathy

Infections and Infestations

-

-

Application site infection, application site pustules, genital herpes infection, staphylococcal infection, urethritis, vaginal candidiasis, vulvovaginitis

Renal and urinary disorders

-

-

Dysuria, micturition urgency, pollakisuria

Reproductive system and breast disorders

-

Phimosis

Balanitis, dyspareunia

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

-

-

Rash and papular rash

Adverse reactions that were observed with the higher strength (Catephen 15% Ointment) only.

Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100):

Pyoderma, vulvitis, urethral meatus stenosis and vaginal discharge.

Adverse effects occur with a higher incidence under occlusive conditions (see section 4.4).

Time course of local reactions

The maximum mean severity of local reactions was observed in the first weeks of treatment.

Class attribution effect

Literature data describe cases of hepatotoxicity following oral intake of high- doses of green tea extracts. Clinical studies, postmarketing surveillance data and nonclinical studies with Catephen did not reveal any adverse effect on liver function. However, to improve the product safety database for Catephen, any signs of liver dysfunction during the treatment with Catephen should be reported to the marketing authorisation holder.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal products 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:

United Kingdom

Via the Yellow Card Scheme

Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

4.9. Overdose

No case of overdose has been reported. In case of accidental oral intake symptomatic treatment is indicated. There is no specific antidote for Catephen. No experience with oral intake of the product is available.

💬 Ask about this leaflet

Ask anything about Catephen 10% Ointment. 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.

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