Probably only insignificant absorption. Ligand to PXR. Substrate for CYPs 3A4, 3A7, 11 B2. Inducer and inhibitor (!) of CYP 3A4. Several references stating non-porphyrinogenicity of glucocorticoids.

(To be edited, initial data ST OCT 04) Moderately strong glucocorticoid ointment 0,1 % used in dermatology. Risk for some systemic exposure in application on large areas of the body. Glucocorticoid: South African list: use. Kalman, Bonkovsky: believed to be safe. The Merck Manual: use. Moore MR, Hift RJ: Drugs in acute porphyria. Cell Mol Biol 43:89, 1997: safe. Tschudy DP, Lamon JM: Porphyrin metabolism and the Porphyrias in Bondy BK, Rosenberg LE (eds): Duncan’s Diseases of Metabolism, Philadelphia, WB Saunders 1980, p 939: safe.

Uneventful use reported in 5 patients with acute porphyria.