[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 05 Apr 2002 13:08:47: Ointment.
As an answer to: Re: cream written by mike at 04 Apr 2002 22:09:28:
> If you are in the UK you can get clobethasone butyrate 0.05% (brand name Eumovate) over the counter
Would probably work perfectly well for this purpose.
> just say its for eczema on your hands!
I suppose from the pharmacist's point of view that is as good a reason as any. Problem is, he will probably want to see the eczema on your hands. Pharmacists are supposed to verify as far as possible that what they supply is appropriate and safe and to be frank, they do like to feel as if they are sort of doctors too! You might have to say it is for for eczema on your hands which is not there at present, but you want it in case it happens again!
> you want the cream though not the ointment.
Mike, I am totally puzzled by this statement! Why on earth would he want the cream in preference to the ointment, given that the ointment is likely to be much more effective as I continue to point out in another recent post as well as all previous?
> Betamethasone valerate 0.1% (twice as strong) is only available on prescription though.
That is the "full strength" actually, but (certainly in Australia) not an NHS benefit, so it is actually difficult to obtain. The "half-strength" 0.05% and the 0.02% forms are also prescription only in most developed countries, and easy to obtain largely because they are NHS benefit items.
Incidentally, whichever is available, you do not want a large tube! If you follow my advice, you will need very little.