What is betamethasone? Examining the use and side effects of betamethasone

Betamethasone is a group of corticosteroid drugs (corticosteroids) that has a special place in pharmaceutical science and medicine. This drug is known as one of the most widely used corticosteroids and is used in various cases including skin inflammations, allergies, asthma, joint inflammations and many other inflammatory diseases.

In this article, we will review the pharmaceutical forms, uses, how to use, and precautions for betamethasone. This article was compiled in order to increase public and professional awareness in the field of this drug and its role in improving human health.

Pharmaceutical forms of betamethasone

Pharmaceutical forms of betamethasone include tablets, injectable suspension 6 mg/ml, cream, lotion, ointment 0.05% and 0.1%, gel 0.05%, foam 0.12% (Luxiq), spray 0.05% (Sernivo) and… are available in the market. The formulation of this medicine is 3 mg as betamethasone sodium phosphate and 3 mg as betamethasone acetate.

Uses of betamethasone

Some of the most important uses of betamethasone include tenosynovitis, peritendinitis, bursitis (except foot), skin, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis, ataxia telangiectasia (orphan), plaque psoriasis, steroid-responsive dermatoses, etc. The doctor prescribes the medicine for you according to the type of inflammation and disease. The mechanism of action of this drug has caused its wide range of medicinal forms and it is used for all kinds of external and internal diseases. Some of the uses of this drug for children are inflammatory conditions, steroid-responsive dermatoses, etc.

Uses of betamethasone in adults

1. Tenosynovitis, peritendonitis, bursitis (except foot)
2. Rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis
3. Steroid-responsive dermatoses
4. Ataxia telangiectasia (orphan)
5. Plaque psoriasis
6. Multiple sclerosis
7. skin

Uses of betamethasone in children

1. Inflammatory conditions
2. Steroid-responsive dermatoses

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of betamethasone drug

It is a potent glucocorticoid with minimal or no mineralocorticoid activity. The mechanism of action of betamethasone is to control or prevent inflammation by controlling the rate of protein synthesis, suppressing the migration of PMN and fibroblasts, reversing capillary permeability and stabilizing lysosomes at the cellular level. This drug is extensively metabolized in the liver and excreted mainly in the urine and minimally in the bile.

Dosage of betamethasone

The amount and method of consumption depends on the doctor’s diagnosis and the different pharmaceutical forms of the drug. For example, betamethazol cream or lotion is applied to the affected area to reduce inflammation or other skin problems. The amount of cream used depends on the size of the disease and inflammation, according to the type of inflammation, apply an appropriate amount of cream on the desired area and massage. Then wash your hands and let the cream stay on the desired area for a few hours. If you wash the affected area quickly, the medicine will not have any effect on the disease or inflammation.

Dosage of betamethasone in adults

1. For tenosynovitis, peritendonitis, bursitis (except foot) 6 mg (0.5-1 ml) should be taken once inside the bursal. Acute exacerbations or chronic conditions may require multiple injections. Reduced doses may be used to repeat the injection.
2. For skin disease, 2 mg/cm2 (0.2 ml/cm2) should be used once at the site of inflammation, not more than 6 mg (1 ml) per week.
3. Multiple sclerosis 30 mg/day IM for 1 week; Then 12 mg should be used every other day for 1 week.
4. Rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis for intra-bursal, intra-articular, intra-dermal use 2-25 ml (3 mg to 12 mg). It is also prescribed for very large joints, 1-2 ml (6-12 mg) and for small joints 0.25-0.5 ml (1.5-3 mg).

Dosage of betamethasone in children

1. Betamethasone ampoules, creams, lotions and other medicinal forms can be used in children with the approval and prescription of a doctor.
2. For inflammatory conditions in children and adolescents, use 0.3-02 mg/kg per day.
3. Betamethazol cream for inflammatory conditions in adolescents over 12 years of age should be applied to the affected area every 12 hours (low or moderate strength).
4. Use the lowest amount for the shortest duration to avoid suppressing the HPA axis.

Time to take betamethasone tablets

On the packaging of health and pharmaceutical products, the method of consumption and the time of consumption are clearly stated. For general use, you can use the medicinal information of the product. The uses of betamethasone cream, gel, lotion and foam are very wide, if you use these drugs for a specific problem or disease, you should use them with a doctor’s prescription. This product is also used in the elderly and it can be prescribed in different doses for children, teenagers, adults and even the elderly.

Precautions

Before using betamethasone, carefully read the drug information on the product packaging. If you are allergic to this medicine or other medicinal compounds in it, avoid using it. This medicine may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems.

Consult a doctor if you have medical history such as heart problems, skin sensitivity, specific allergies, rash, swelling, reddening of the skin for no reason, skin fungus, etc. Some betamethasone products are not suitable for internal use in the body such as ears, eyes, mouth, etc., if used in the eyes, wash it well.

1. Use with caution in cirrhosis, ocular herpes simplex, HTN, diverticulitis, hypothyroidism, myasthenia gravis, PUD, osteoporosis, ulcerative colitis, psychotic tendencies, untreated systemic infections, renal failure, and pregnancy.
2. This drug may cause adrenal suppression in patients receiving high doses for long periods of time.
3. Long-term use of corticosteroids may increase the incidence of secondary infection.
4. Kaposi’s sarcoma has been reported with long-term corticosteroid therapy.
5. Seizures have been reported in some patients, caution should be exercised in patients with a history of seizure disorders.
6. Corticosteroids may exacerbate systemic fungal infections. Also, patients who receive corticosteroids should avoid getting chickenpox or measles if they don’t have the vaccine.
7. It is important to limit the use of corticosteroids in active, bubbling or disseminated TB when used in conjunction with an appropriate antituberculosis regimen.
8. Closely monitor patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity if corticosteroid therapy is required. Because reactivation of the disease has occurred in some patients.
9. In some patients, killed or inactivated vaccines may be prescribed. However, the response to such vaccines cannot be predicted.
10. Intraocular pressure increases in some people. Patients should be monitored if treatment is continued for more than 6 weeks.
11. This drug is not recommended for the treatment of optic neuritis because it increases the risk of new episodes. Also, it should not be used in active ocular herpes simplex.
12. Before starting corticosteroid therapy, special consideration should be given to patients at increased risk of osteoporosis (eg, postmenopausal women).

Betamethasone contraindications

1. Allergy to betamethasone
2. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
3. Live and attenuated vaccines, if immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids are required

Betamethasone side effects

Itching, blurred vision, increased appetite, indigestion, nervousness, headache, dizziness, dry skin, etc. are some of the side effects of betamethasone cream or ampoule. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away. Dangerous and fatal side effects are very low in this drug. However, some of the serious side effects of this drug include chest pain, exacerbation of the disease or skin fungus, very severe itching, severe nausea and vomiting, etc. If these side effects persist, stop taking the medicine and consult a doctor.

1. Headache
2. blurred vision
3. itching
4. Increased appetite
5. Indigestion
6. being nervous
7. convulsions
8. Dry skin (local)
9. dizziness
10. Adrenal suppression
11. Psychosis
12. insomnia
13. dizziness

Betamethasone drug interaction

Patients, before visiting the doctor, prepare a list of chemical and herbal medicines you use and show them to him. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk of serious side effects.

Medicines Natalizumab, pimecrolimus, tacrolimus (topical), ipadacitinib, quadrivalent dengue vaccine (live), poliovirus vaccine (live, trivalent, oral), cladribine, desmopressin, fexinidazole, indium 111 capromib pentide, masimorline, mifamortide, talimogene laherparpok, tertomotide, Typhoid vaccine and… will cause drug interaction with betamethasone drug. The drug interactions of this drug are very wide, consult your doctor or pharmacist to know about interactions or side risks.

1. Serious and dangerous interactions of betamethasone: vepadacitinib, quadrivalent dengue vaccine (live), poliovirus vaccine (live, trivalent, oral), live vaccine containing rubella or varicella, ruxolitinib (topical), talimogene laherparpok, tertomotide, typhoid vaccine, yellow fever vaccine, Cladribine, desmopressin, faxinidazole, indium 111 capromib pentetide, masimorelin, mifamortide, mifepristone, natalizumab, pimecrolimus, tacrolimus (topical)
2. Moderate betamethasone drug interactions: doxacurium, echinacea, fluindione, fosphenytoin, gallamine, glycerol phenylbutyrate, glycyrrhiza glabra, glycyrrhizic acid, insulin (types), licorice (root types, extract, etc.), ma huang, metocorin, acetylsalicylic acid, alcuronium, glycyrrhizin, Adsorbed anthrax vaccine, aspirin, atracurium, aranofin, carbamazepine, cisatracurium, dicoumarova, dipotassium glycyrrhizate
3. Reduction of the effects of drugs by systemic betamethasone: hyaluronidase, indium 111 capromib pentetide, isoniazid, influenza vaccine, macimorelin, mifamortide, pidotimod, pneumococcal vaccines, poliovirus vaccines, rabies vaccine, rubella or varicella vaccine, salicylates, brincidofovir, calcitriol (systemic), Coccoid Imit skin test, corticorelin, cosintropin

Taking betamethasone during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Available data regarding the use of betamethasone during pregnancy and lactation show very little risk. However, these data are too small to prove the drug’s risk or safety. Systemically administered corticosteroids enter breast milk and can suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other effects. For this reason, take this medicine by following the precautions, contraindications and doctor’s prescription.

Betamethasone storage conditions

Betamethasone should be stored at room temperature away from light and moisture. Only the gel or cream form of this medicine should be kept in a cool place so that the medicine does not spoil. Keep all chemical and herbal medicines out of the reach of children and animals.

The last word of betamethasone drug

In this article from Positive Green Online Pharmacy magazine, we reviewed the betamethasone drug and highlighted its essential role in the treatment of many diseases and medical problems. This drug is known as one of the most effective and common corticosteroids, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and immune system enhancing effects. However, this drug, like many other drugs, has side effects and requires a doctor’s prescription for use.

Site source: Medscape