Calcipotriene can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include itchiness and skin irritation. If calcipotriene side effects become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.

Calcipotriene is used in adults to treat psoriasis. Calcipotriene is available as a topical cream, ointment, and solution.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects calcipotriene can cause.

Calcipotriene can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects don’t go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.

Examples of commonly reported skin-related side effects for calcipotriene cream, ointment, and solution include:

  • irritation
  • itchiness
  • temporary burning or stinging sensation after applying a dose

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Mild skin-related side effects have been reported with calcipotriene cream, ointment, and solution. These include:

  • irritation
  • itchiness
  • dryness
  • discoloration
  • hair follicle inflammation
  • rash
  • temporary burning or stinging sensation after applying a dose
  • skin thinning or peeling

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop calcipotriene treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Calcipotriene may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the prescribing information for calcipotriene cream, ointment, and solution for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Calcipotriene may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the prescribing information for calciptoriene cream, ointment, and solution.

If you develop serious side effects while using calcipotriene, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during treatment with calcipotriene and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, calcipotriene can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue calcipotriene treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to calcipotriene, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

While using calcipotriene, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.

If you have problems with side effects, they don’t go away, or they become worse, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.

Skin irritation

Skin irritation was a common side effect reported in studies of calcipotriene cream, ointment, and solution.

Talk with your doctor if you think using topical calcipotriene irritates your skin. They’ll probably want to have an appointment to examine your skin. If your doctor believes calcipotriene is the cause of your irritation, they’ll likely have you stop using the drug and switch to a different treatment.

Skin itchiness

Itchiness was a common side effect reported in studies of calcipotriene ointment. Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include:

Before using calcipotriene, discuss your health history with your doctor. Calcipotriene may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • high calcium or vitamin D levels
  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.