Azelaic Acid (Topical)

Brand Names : Azelex, Finevin

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For azelaic acid, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to azelaic acid. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Azelaic acid has not been studied in pregnant women.

Breast-feeding - Small amounts of azelaic acid are absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. It is possible that tiny amounts of the medicine may pass into the breast milk. However, this medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - Studies of this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of azelaic acid in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of azelaic acid in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are using any other topical prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be applied to the same area of the skin.