Clocortolone

Absorption

Topical corticosteroids can be absorbed from intact healthy skin. The extent of percutaneous absorption of topical corticosteroids is determined by many factors, including the vehicle and the integrity of the epidermal barrier. Occlusion, inflammation and/or other disease processes in the skin may also increase percutaneous absorption.

Toxicity

Topically applied clocortolone can be absorbed in sufficient amounts to produce systemic effects. Symptoms of overdose include thinning of skin and suppression of adrenal cortex (decreased ability to respond to stress).

Originator

Clocortolone,Schering AG

The Uses of Clocortolone

Clocortolone can be used in the treatment of skin inflammmation and other skin conditions arising for dermatoses.

The Uses of Clocortolone

Corticosteroid used in the treatment of skin inflammmation and other skin conditions arising for dermatoses.

Background

Clocortolone is a medium potency corticosteroid that is often used as a topical cream for the relief of inflammatory oand pruritic (itching) arising from steroid-responsive dermatoses of the scalp.

Indications

For short-term topical treatment of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of moderate to severe corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses of the scalp.

Definition

ChEBI: Clocortolone is 16alpha-Methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione bearing hydroxy substituents at the 11beta and 21 positions, fluorine at position 6 and chlorine at position 9. A medium potency corticosteroid, it is used as its 21-O-pivalate or caproate ester for the relief of inflammatory and pruritic (itching) skin disorders. It has a role as an anti-inflammatory drug and an antipruritic drug. It is a glucocorticoid, an 11beta-hydroxy steroid, a 21-hydroxy steroid, a 20-oxo steroid, a fluorinated steroid, a 3-oxo-Delta(1),Delta(4)-steroid, a chlorinated steroid and a primary alpha-hydroxy ketone.

Manufacturing Process

6α-Fluoro-16α-methyl-21-hydroxy-1,4,9(11)-pregnatriene-3,20-dione is suspended in nitroethane at heating. To this suspension 1 N perchloric acid is added and then t-butyl hypochlorite is added dropwise. The reaction mixture is agitated at heating, then cooled to room temperature, mixed with methanol, stirred and then poured with water containing ice. The mixture is then stirred, thus precipitated product is filtered, washed neutral with water, dried; The crude product is treated with hot methanol, and recrystallized from ethanol, thus 9α-chloro-6α-fluoro-11β,21-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-1,4- pregnadiene-3,20-dione was obtained.

Therapeutic Function

Glucocorticoid

Pharmacokinetics

Like other topical corticosteroids, clocortolone has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. Once absorbed through the skin, topical corticosteroids are handled through pharmacokinetic pathways similar to systemically administered corticosteroids. Clocortolone is a moderate potency topical corticosteroid that should not be used with occlusive dressings. It is recommended that treatment should be limited to 2 consecutive weeks and therapy should be discontinued when adequate results have been achieved.

Metabolism

Metabolized, primarily in the liver, and then excreted by the kidneys.