Compatibility of tacrolimus ointment with corticosteroid ointments of varying potencies.

Background:Tacrolimus is often coadministered with various topical corticosteroids in the treatment of steroid-responsive dermatoses; however, the stability of these products in combination has not been examined extensively.Objective:To assess the in vitro compatibility of three tacrolimus-corticosteroid ointment combinations compared with unmixed controls.Methods:Tacrolimus-clobetasol propionate, tacrolimus-desoximetasone, and tacrolimus-hydrocortisone-17-valerate ointment combinations were prepared, stored with unmixed ointments at three temperature/humidity conditions, and evaluated for stability at days 0, 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28 via reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.Results:There was no significant difference in the rate of drug degradation in mixed and unmixed ointments over time or across temperatures for tacrolimus (time p = .94; temperature p = .44), clobetasol (time p = .98, temperature p = .30), desoximetasone (time p = .98; temperature p = .94), or hydrocortisone-17-valerate (ti...