Precautions and Warnings With Fluocinonide Cream

• Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Are breastfeeding
• Have any allergies, including to foods, dyes, or preservatives.

• Fluocinonide cream is a steroid and can cause serious side effects, such as Cushing's syndrome or diabetes. Although this is more likely to occur with oral or injectable steroids, it is still possible with topical steroids, including fluocinonide cream. The more you apply and the longer you use the drug, the more likely these problems are to occur. Covering the medicine with a dressing, which is sometimes recommended, may also increase this risk.

• If you use this medication for an extended period, it may lead to Cushing's syndrome (a group of symptoms caused by prolonged exposure to steroids). Contact your healthcare provider if you develop signs of this condition, such as:

• A rounded face
• Unusual body fat distribution (more fat in the trunk, face, and neck, and less fat in the arms and legs)
• High blood sugar levels.

• Fluocinonide cream can suppress the body's ability to make natural steroids. This typically happens when large doses are used over a long period. In such circumstances, the medication should be stopped gradually to give your body a chance to begin making its own natural steroids again. If this is not feasible, you might need to take an oral steroid for a while, after which you will slowly be weaned off the oral steroid.

• The higher strength of fluocinonide cream (Vanos) should not be used for more than two weeks at a time. Although the drug is quite effective, it should not be used on a long-term basis.

• Like all steroids, fluocinonide cream may slow down the growth rate of children and teenagers. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you are concerned about a slow growth rate in your child. In general, children may be more susceptible to the side effects of steroids. Close monitoring is necessary for any child receiving long-term steroids.

• Fluocinonide cream may react with a few other medications (see Drug Interactions With Fluocinonide Cream).

• This product is a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are currently unknown (see Lidex and Pregnancy or Vanos and Pregnancy).

• It is unknown if fluocinonide cream passes through breast milk when applied to the skin. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider before using this product (see Lidex and Breastfeeding or Vanos and Breastfeeding).