Drug & supplement interaction

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) + Clobetasol Propionate

Clobetasol Propionate brand names: Impoyz, Impeklo.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) has a moderate interaction with Clobetasol Propionate. Topical DMSO might increase the effects and adverse effects of topical drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceB
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Clobetasol Propionate

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

TOPICAL DRUGS

Why this applies to Clobetasol Propionate

Clobetasol Propionate falls under TOPICAL DRUGS — the group Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) interacts with.

Topical DMSO might increase the effects and adverse effects of topical drugs.
Evidence from animal studies and limited human studies suggests that DMSO may potentiate the action of numerous topical medications by increasing their absorption through the skin. This increase in absorption seems to depend on the concentration of DMSO and the molecular weight of the medication.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence B

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the thing about DMSO: one of its talents is acting like a delivery truck, helping whatever you put on your skin soak in deeper. Clobetasol is already one of the strongest topical steroids we have, so it doesn't need any help getting absorbed. If you layered DMSO over a clobetasol-treated area, you could be pushing more of that potent steroid into and through your skin than intended.

What might that look like? More of clobetasol's known local effects, like skin thinning, stretch marks, irritation, or color changes, and with enough absorption even body-wide steroid effects. The evidence here is limited and the amount that gets through depends on the DMSO concentration, but I'd play it safe. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining these two.

References
  1. Jacob SW, Herschler R. Pharmacology of DMSO. Cryobiology 1986;23:14-27. PubMed
  2. Capriotti K, Capriotti JA. Dimethyl sulfoxide: history, chemistry, and clinical utility in dermatology. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(9):24-6.
  3. DOMOSO SOLUTION (90% Dimethyl Sulfoxide). Fort Dodge Animal Health, Fort Dodge, Iowa. Avaliable at: https://www.zoetisus.com/_locale-assets/mcm-portal-assets/products/pdf/domoso_solution_pi.pdf. Accessed 8/3/2020.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) Also Interacts With Other Medications

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) has 338 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Clobetasol Propionate one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso). Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Clobetasol Propionate

This page covers Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Clobetasol Propionate page lists 3 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Turpentine Oil (moderate) and Alchemilla (minor).

By severity: 2 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Clobetasol Propionate page

“Clobetasol propionate (Impoyz, Impeklo) is one of the strongest steroid creams available, and only three supplement ingredients are known to interact with it, all of them things you might also put on your skin. None rate major.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Clobetasol Propionate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Clobetasol Propionate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)
Top half

#650 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Clobetasol Propionate
Top 25%

#476 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)

What is Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)?

Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Arthritis
  • Sprains and strains
  • Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain)
  • Skin penetration enhancer for other medicines

DMSO is a colorless liquid solvent that people apply to the skin for pain and inflammation, and it is FDA-approved (as a prescription) only for interstitial cystitis placed directly into the bladder. Most over-the-counter uses for pain and arthritis have limited or low-quality evidence, and DMSO can carry impurities or push other chemicals through your skin. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid industrial-grade products.

Read the full Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
338Moderate
0Minor
2,491No known interaction
Moderate

338 interactions

Showing 60 of 338 moderate interactions — see all 338 on the Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) page.

No interaction 2,491 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Clobetasol Propionate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) with Clobetasol Propionate?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) and Clobetasol Propionate interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.