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.
Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g
⚠ 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 Fluocinonide may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
FOR
Metosyn ointment contains fluocinonide which is a corticosteroid (also referred to as a steroid) and reduces inflammation. It is used to treat certain inflammatory, itchy or allergic skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, prurigo, psoriasis, lichen planus and discoid lupus erythematosus. It is not normally used to treat large areas of psoriasis because the likelihood of side effects is greater. Corticosteroid creams, ointments and other topical preparations come in four different potencies or strengths. These are known as mild, moderately potent, potent or very potent. Healthcare professionals will usually refer to topical corticosteroid potency rather than strength. A potent or strong corticosteroid has a much stronger effect than a mild corticosteroid when using the same amount. The percentage of active ingredient that is sometimes included on product packaging does not indicate potency. Metosyn ointment is classed as a strong corticosteroid. Your healthcare professional will prescribe or advise a steroid of the appropriate potency for your condition.
What you need to know before you take it
E METOSYN OINTMENT
Do not use Metosyn ointment:
- If you are allergic to fluocinonide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- Where infection is the main cause of the skin problem, particularly if it is caused by TB, syphilis, a fungus or a virus.
- For acne.
- For nappy rash or itchiness around the genital area.
- If you have a skin condition called rosacea which is red rash, sometimes with spots and pustules, on the cheeks of the face.
- If you have a skin condition called perioral dermatitis which is a dry sore red rash around the mouth.
- If it is for a child under the age of one.
- If breast-feeding, do not apply to the breasts prior to nursing. Make sure your doctor knows if any of the above affects you. Warnings and precautions
- Metosyn ointment should not normally be used on the face. If it is, keep away from the eyes and do not use for more than 5 days.
- Waterproof dressings should not be used for children, or the face, and only in adults if your doctor tells you. The affected area should be thoroughly cleaned before putting on a waterproof dressing. Ask your doctor for instructions.
- Do not use more ointment than the doctor tells you, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- If there is a worsening of your condition during use consult your prescriber – you may be experiencing an allergic reaction, have an infection or your condition requires a different treatment. If you experience a recurrence of your condition shortly after stopping treatment, within 2 weeks, do not restart using the ointment without consulting your prescriber unless your prescriber has previously advised you to do so. If your condition has resolved and on recurrence the redness extends beyond the initial treatment area and you experience a burning sensation, please seek medical advice before restarting treatment.
- If too much ointment is used for too long, you may develop stretch marks, thinning of the skin, or visible small veins. Other medicines and Metosyn ointment Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If you go into hospital, let the medical staff know that you are using Metosyn ointment. Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine. Driving and using machines Metosyn ointment should not affect your ability to drive or use machinery. Important information about some of the ingredients of Metosyn ointment: Some of the ingredients in your ointment may cause a reaction, such as: Propylene glycol [E1520], – may cause skin irritation. 3.
How to take it
METOSYN OINTMENT Always use Metosyn ointment exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Unless your doctor tells you differently, put a small amount of ointment onto the affected area, three or four times a day. Rub it gently and thoroughly into the skin. Once the condition starts to improve it may be possible to reduce the dose to once or twice a day. Try to apply your ointment at the same times each day. Use the ointment for as long as directed by your doctor. If you forget to use Metosyn ointment If you forget to apply the ointment at the correct time, do so as soon as you remember. If accidentally swallowed
If you accidentally swallow the ointment, contact your nearest doctor or hospital. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine ask your doctor or pharmacist. 4.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines Metosyn ointment can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The following side effects have been reported but how often they occur is unknown:
- an allergic (itchy) reaction to the ointment
- irritation where the ointment has been applied
- a worsening of acne, rosacea and dermatitis around the mouth (see section 2)
- patches of pale skin (depigmentation)
- localised increased hair growth
- if too much ointment is used for too long, you may develop stretch marks, thinning of the skin or visible small veins. In addition some of the steroid rubbed into the skin, may enter the blood stream. Effects such as roundness of the face, muscle wasting and fluid retention, as sometimes seen when steroids are given as tablets, may occur. The risk of these possible effects is higher in children. If this happens, your doctor may decide to stop treatment.
- Steroid withdrawal reaction: if used over prolonged periods a withdrawal reaction, which might appear to be different from the previous condition, may occur in some patients during treatment or within days to weeks after stopping treatment with some or all of the following features: redness of the skin which can extend beyond the initial area treated, a burning or stinging sensation, intense itching, peeling of the skin, oozing open sores. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not have any of them. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any 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 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.
5.
How to store it
METOSYN OINTMENT Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. It could harm them. Store Metosyn ointment below 25°C. Keep the ointment in the tube it came in. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube and carton. 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.
6.
Contents of the pack and other information
What Metosyn ointment contains The active substance is fluocinonide. Metosyn ointment contains 0.05% w/w fluocinonide. The other ingredients are amerchol CAB, propylene carbonate, propylene glycol [E1520], white soft paraffin. What Metosyn ointment looks like and contents of the pack Metosyn ointment comes in tubes of 25 and 100 grams. Marketing authorisation holder:
Reig Jofre UK Ltd, Unit 9A, Caddsdown Business Support Centre, Caddsdown Industrial Park, Bideford, Devon EX39 3DX, UK Manufacturer: Bioglan AB, PO Box 50310, S-202 13 Malmö, Sweden. 'Metosyn' is a registered trademark. This leaflet was last revised in January 2024
Frequently asked questions about Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g
How do I take Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g?
Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g comes as ointment containing 100g. 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 Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g?
The active substance in Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g is fluocinonide.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g, 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 Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g 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: fluocinonide
- 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
Metosyn is suitable for treating a wide variety of local inflammatory, pruritic and allergic disorders of the skin. It is indicated in the following conditions:
Eczema and dermatitis: atopic eczema, seborrhoeic dermatitis, discoid eczema, contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis. Prurigo, psoriasis (excluding widespread plaque psoriasis). Lichen planus. Discoid lupus erythematosus.
Metosyn Ointment with its emollient effects, is particularly suitable for dry scaly lesions.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
It is recommended that Metosyn is used undiluted.
Adults
A small quantity of Metosyn Ointment should be applied three to four times daily to the affected area and massaged well in.
Once improvement is apparent, usage may be reduced to twice or even once daily.
Children
Under 1 year: Metosyn preparations are not advised in the treatment of children under 1 year of age.
Over 1 year: As adult dose, however it is recommended that treatment should not normally be extended beyond 5 days and occlusion in such cases should not be used.
Elderly
As adult dose.
4.3. Contraindications
Metosyn is contraindicated in rosacea, acne and peri-oral dermatitis. As with all topical steroids, Metosyn is contraindicated in tuberculous, syphilitic, fungal and viral infections of the skin. The product should not be used for napkin eruption or anogenital pruritus.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Long-term continuous topical steroid therapy can produce atrophic skin changes and dilation of the superficial blood vessels particularly when occlusive dressings are used or where skin folds are involved. Prolonged use of topical steroids or treatment of extensive areas, even without occlusion, can result in sufficient absorption of the steroid to produce the features of hypercorticalism and underlying adrenal suppression, especially in infants and children.
Long term use of topical steroids can result in the development of rebound flares after stopping treatment (topical steroid withdrawal syndrome). A severe form of rebound flare can develop which takes the form of a dermatitis with intense redness, stinging and burning that can spread beyond the initial treatment area. It is more likely to occur when delicate skin sites such as the face and flexures are treated. Should there be a reoccurrence of the condition within days to weeks after successful treatment a withdrawal reaction should be suspected. Reapplication should be with caution and specialist advise is recommended in these cases or other treatment options should be considered.
It is recommended that treatment on the face should not normally be extended beyond 5 days, and occlusion in such cases should not be used.
Where there is bacterial infection associated with an inflammatory skin condition, Metosyn should only be administered if adequate antibacterial cover is also given.
When using topical steroids to treat psoriasis there are risks of rebound relapse following the development of tolerance, and of generalised pustular psoriasis. Impairment of the barrier function of the skin may lead to local and systemic toxicity. Careful patient supervision is important.
Treatment should be discontinued if unfavourable reactions are seen. Absorption is greatest where the skin is thin or raw.
The label will state strong steroid.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
None known.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
There is inadequate evidence of safety in human pregnancy. Topical administration of steroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities of foetal development, including cleft palate and intrauterine growth retardation. There may therefore be a very small risk of such effects on the human foetus.
Lactation
Topical steroids should not be applied to the breasts prior to nursing. When topical steroid treatment is considered necessary for other parts of the body, both the amount applied and the length of treatment should be minimised.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
No precautions are required.
4.8. Undesirable effects
With Metosyn side effects are extremely rare but, as with all topical steroids, the occasional patient may show an adverse reaction such as hypersensitivity. Irritation at the site of application may occur infrequently. Extensive treatment, particularly involving occlusive dressings or where skin folds are involved, can result in both local atrophic changes, such as striae, skin thinning and telangiectasia, and systemic effects such as adrenal suppression.
The use of topical steroids on infected lesions, without the addition of appropriate anti-infective therapy, can result in the spread of opportunist infection.
The eyes should be avoided.
Local side effects include contact dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, acne, or worsening of acne or acne rosacea, mild depigmentation which may be reversible and hypertrichosis.
Withdrawal reactions - redness of the skin which may extend to areas beyond the initial affected area, burning or stinging sensation, itch, skin peeling, oozing pustules. (see section 4.4). The frequency of this adverse reaction is not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
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
A 25 g tube of Metosyn contains 12.5 mg of fluocinonide. Toxic effects are not likely to occur following accidental ingestion. Similarly, the components of the vehicles, singly or collectively, have not been shown to produce toxic effects in these quantities.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Metosyn (Fluocinonide 0.05% w/w) Ointment 100g. 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.