Calamine

What is calamine?

Calamine is an anti-itch medication that produces a cooling sensation as it evaporates on the skin. Calamine also dries up oozing or oozing from minor skin irritations.

Topical (skin) calamine is used to treat skin itching and irritation caused by chickenpox, insect bites or stings, measles, eczema, sunburn, poison ivy and other minor skin conditions.

How should this medicine be used?

Follow the directions on the label or your doctor's prescription exactly. Do not use larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Before applying topical calamine, wash the skin with soap and water. Allow the skin to dry completely. Shake calamine lotion well just before each use. Apply calamine topically directly to the skin and rub it in gently, allowing it to dry on the skin. You can also use a cotton ball to spread the medicine on the skin. Wash your hands with soap and water after applying the medicine. Don't take by mouth. Calamine topical is for use only on the skin. If calamine gets in your eyes, nose, mouth, rectum, or vagina, rinse with water. Avoid using other medications on the areas you treat with calamine unless your doctor tells you to.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before using calamine,

• you should not use topical calamine if you are allergic to it.
• ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use calamine if you have other medical problems, especially allergies.It is not known whether topical calamine will harm an unborn baby.
• Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.It is not known whether calamine topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
• Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Some side effects may be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using calamine and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention:

• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the Face, Lips, Tongue or Throat
• redness, rash, pus or other signs of infection

Calamine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medicine.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

In case of emergency/overdose

An overdose of calamine is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical attention or call the poison control helpline 1-800-222-1222 if someone has accidentally swallowed the medicine.