Side Effects

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Burning or stinging at the application site

Less common

  1. Burning sensation of the skin
  2. dry skin
  3. flushing or redness of the skin
  4. itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
  5. skin irritation
  6. skin rash, encrusted, scaly and oozing
  7. thinning of the skin with easy bruising, especially when used on the face or where the skin folds together (eg, between the fingers)

Rare

  1. Thinning, weakness, or wasting away of the skin

Incidence not known

  1. Backache
  2. blindness
  3. blurred vision
  4. burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas, or pus at the root of the hair
  5. change in vision
  6. dry mouth
  7. eye pain
  8. facial hair growth in females
  9. fractures
  10. fruit-like breath odor
  11. full or round face, neck, or trunk
  12. hair loss
  13. headache
  14. hives
  15. increased hunger
  16. increased thirst
  17. increased urination
  18. irritability
  19. loss of sexual desire or ability
  20. menstrual irregularities
  21. muscle wasting
  22. nausea
  23. redness and scaling around the mouth
  24. stomach pain
  25. sugar in the urine
  26. sweating
  27. tearing
  28. thinning of the hair
  29. troubled breathing
  30. unexplained weight loss
  31. unusual tiredness or weakness
  32. vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Cough
  2. sore throat

Less common

  1. Body aches or pain
  2. changes in skin coloring
  3. congestion
  4. dryness of the throat
  5. raised, dark red, wart-like spots on the skin, especially when used on the face
  6. skin discomfort
  7. stuffy or runny nose
  8. tender, swollen glands in the neck
  9. trouble swallowing
  10. voice changes

Incidence not known

  1. Acne or pimples
  2. burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
  3. increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs
  4. lightening of normal skin color
  5. lightening of treated areas of dark skin
  6. reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
  7. softening of the skin

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Portions of this document last updated: Nov. 01, 2023