calcipotriene Side Effects
Also known as: Dovonex
Analysis of 3,344 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2004 to 2025.
Total Reports
3,344
Death-Related
58
1.7% of reports
Hospitalizations
440
13.2% of reports
Top Indication
Psoriasis
Most Reported Adverse Reactions
Who Reports Side Effects
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reporting Trend by Year
Reactions in Death Reports
Top reactions reported in 58 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DEATH | 27 |
| MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION | 7 |
| CARDIAC ARREST | 5 |
| ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 4 |
| ASTHENIA | 4 |
| CIRCULATORY COLLAPSE | 4 |
| PALPITATIONS | 4 |
| TACHYARRHYTHMIA | 4 |
| CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 3 |
| LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS | 3 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 3 |
| PAIN | 3 |
| ABDOMINAL PAIN | 2 |
| ACINETOBACTER INFECTION | 2 |
| ANAEMIA | 2 |
| ASCITES | 2 |
| BRADYCARDIA | 2 |
| DEHYDRATION | 2 |
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 2 |
| DYSPNOEA | 2 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Top reactions in 440 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 68 |
| CONTUSION | 55 |
| PSORIASIS | 54 |
| HYPERTENSION | 52 |
| ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT | 50 |
| DIABETES MELLITUS INADEQUATE CONTROL | 47 |
| MOBILITY DECREASED | 44 |
| OFF LABEL USE | 43 |
| AMNESIA | 42 |
| BLOOD PRESSURE INADEQUATELY CONTROLLED | 42 |
| OEDEMA PERIPHERAL | 42 |
| COGNITIVE DISORDER | 41 |
| DEPRESSED MOOD | 41 |
| EXERCISE TOLERANCE DECREASED | 41 |
| MEDICATION ERROR | 41 |
| TREATMENT NONCOMPLIANCE | 39 |
| PERIPHERAL SWELLING | 38 |
| PRODUCT USE ISSUE | 37 |
| DYSPNOEA | 35 |
| MULTIPLE DRUG THERAPY | 33 |
Nearby — Related Medications
What the FAERS Data Reveals About calcipotriene Side Effects
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 3,344 voluntary reports linked to calcipotriene and its brand equivalents (Dovonex), spanning 2004 through 2025. Of those, 58 (1.7%) listed death as an outcome and 440 (13.2%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Psoriasis.
Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 53% were female and 47% male; age distribution skews toward 45-64, with 800 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 802 submissions, followed by psoriasis and diarrhoea.
FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.