Axsain 0.075% w/w Cream
Capsaicin 0.075% w/w
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
In this leaflet:
- 1. What Axsain is and what it is used for.
- 2. Before you use Axsain.
- 3. How to use Axsain.
- 4. Possible side effects.
- 5. How to store Axsain.
- 6. Further information.
What Axsain Is And What It Is Used For
The name of this medicine is Axsain cream. The active ingredient in this medicine is capsaicin which is a naturally occurring substance found in plants.
Axsain cream is used to relieve the pain arising from nerves near to the surface of the skin.
This can happen after having Shingles (Herpes Zoster).
Axsain cream is also used to relieve pain in patients who have nerve damage to their hands or feet caused by diabetes.
Before You Use Axsain Cream
Do not use Axsain cream:
- If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to capsaicin or any of the other ingredients.
- On broken or irritated skin.
This medicine is not suitable for use in children.
Take special care with Axsain cream
- Keep away from the eyes (if it does accidentally get into your eyes or onto broken or irritated skin, wash off with plenty of water).
- Wash your hands immediately after applying the cream, unless the hands are the treated areas, in which case, they should be washed 30 minutes after applying.
- Avoid hot baths or showers immediately before or just after applying Axsain cream.
- Do not apply tight bandages on top of Axsain cream.
- Avoid breathing in any vapours from the cream, as this can cause irritation of the eyes and breathing difficulties (including making asthma worse).
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are breast-feeding, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking Axsain.
How To Use Axsain Cream
It is important to use this product as directed by your doctor/hospital consultant.
Axsain should be applied to the affected area 3 to 4 times a day, with a gap of at least 4 hrs between each application.
A small amount of cream (about the size of a pea) should be rubbed onto the area to be treated with your fingers. Make sure that all the cream is rubbed in so it is no longer visible.
Wash your hands immediately after application of Axsain, unless you are treating nerve damage in your hands, when you should wait 30 minutes before washing your hands.
When using Axsain cream to relieve pain caused by nerve damage due to diabetes the treatment normally lasts for 8 weeks.
Axsain Side Effects
Like all medicines Axsain can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Axsain cream can cause a brief burning feeling when applied. This burning is more common when:
- The cream is used less than 3 or 4 times a day.
- Too much cream is applied.
- The cream is applied just before or after a hot bath or shower.
Rarely when Axsain cream is applied the vapour can cause brief irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, such as runny nose, cough or sneezing, breathlessness or worsening of asthma.
Axsain may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis) due to the product containing cetyl alcohol.
If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How To Store Axsain Cream
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Store below 25ºC.
Do not use after the expiry date printed on the carton and tube.
Further Information
What Axsain contains
Axsain cream contains 0.075% capsaicin as the active ingredient. It also contains purified water, sorbitol solution, isopropyl myristate, cetyl alcohol, white soft paraffin, glycerol stearate, PEG-100 stearate and benzyl alcohol as the inactive ingredients.
What Axsain cream looks like and contents of pack
Axsain cream is a white cream packed in aluminium tubes with epoxyphenolic lining and polypropylene spiked cap containing 45 gm Axsain cream, or 7.5 gm for use as a professional sample.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Manufacturer
This leaflet was last approved in March 2010
For more information in the UK please call free on 0800 783 4869 or e-mail: UKMedInfo@cephalon.com
0182/11
MP00705
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