Betamethasone Uses

What is Betamethasone?

Betamethasone sodium phosphate and Betamethasone acetate combination injection provides relief for inflamed areas of the body. It is used to treat a number of different conditions, such as inflammation (swelling), severe allergies, adrenal problems, arthritis, lung or breathing problems, blood or bone marrow problems, eye or vision problems, lupus, serious skin conditions, kidney problems, ulcerative colitis, and flare-ups of multiple sclerosis. Betamethasone sodium phosphate and Betamethasone acetate combination is a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid). It works on the immune system to help relieve swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.

Betamethasone sodium phosphate and Betamethasone acetate is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

Betamethasone indications

Betamethasone Suspension is indicated for the treatment of acute and chronic corticosteroid-responsive disorders. Corticosteroid hormone therapy is an adjunct to, and not a replacement for conventional therapy.

Musculoskeletal and Soft Tissue Conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, ankylosing spondylitis, epicondylitis, radiculitis, coccydynia, sciatica, lumbago, torticollis, ganglion cyst, exostasis and fasciitis.

Allergic Conditions: Chronic bronchial asthma (including adjunctive therapy for status asthmaticus), hay fever, angioneurotic edema, allergic bronchitis, seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, drug reactions, serum sickness and insect bites.

Dermatologic Conditions: Atopic dermatitis (nummular eczema), neurodermatitis (circumscribed lichen simplex), contact dermatitis, severe solar dermatitis, urticaria, hypertrophic lichen planus, necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, alopecia areata, discoid lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, keloids, pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis and cystic acne.

Collagen Diseases: Disseminated lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, periarteritis nodosa.

Neoplastic Diseases: Palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas in adults; acute leukemia of childhood.

Other Conditions: Adrenogenital syndrome, ulcerative colitis, regional ileitis, sprue, podiatric conditions (bursitis under heloma durum, hallux rigidus, digiti quinti varus), affections requiring subconjunctival injection, corticosteroid-responsive blood dyscrasias, nephritis and nephrotic syndrome.

Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may be treated with Betamethasone Suspension but should be supplemented with mineralocorticosteroids, if applicable.

Betamethasone Suspension is recommended for intramuscular injection in conditions responsive to systemic corticosteroids; injection directly into the affected soft tissues where indicated; intra-articular and periarticular injection in arthritides; intralesional injection in various dermatologic conditions; and local injection in certain inflammatory and cystic disorders of the foot.

How should I use Betamethasone?

Use Betamethasone solution as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Betamethasone solution by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Use the dropper that comes with Betamethasone solution to measure your dose. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.
• If Betamethasone solution needs to be stopped (or if a different medicine is added to therapy) by your doctor, this will be done gradually. The risk of side effects may be increased if Betamethasone solution is suddenly stopped.
• If you miss a dose of Betamethasone solution, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Betamethasone solution.

Uses of Betamethasone in details

This medication is used to treat a variety of skin conditions (e.g., eczema, dermatitis, allergies, rash). Betamethasone reduces the swelling, itching, and redness that can occur in these types of conditions. This medication is a medium-strength corticosteroid.

How to use Betamethasone topical

Use this medication on the skin only. However, do not use it on the face, groin, or underarms unless directed to do so by your doctor.

Wash and dry your hands before using. Clean and dry the affected area. Apply a thin film of medication to the affected area and gently rub in, usually 1-3 times daily or as directed by your doctor. Do not bandage, cover, or wrap the area unless directed to do so by your doctor. If used in the diaper area on an infant, do not use tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants.

After applying the medication, wash your hands unless you are using this medication to treat the hands. When applying this medication near the eyes, avoid getting it in the eyes because this may worsen or cause glaucoma. Also, avoid getting this medication in the nose or mouth. If you get the medication in these areas, rinse with plenty of water.

Use this medication only for the condition for which it was prescribed. Do not use it for longer than prescribed.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens after 2 weeks.

Betamethasone description

Each gram of Betamethasone (Betamethasone*) Cream* contains: 640 mcg Betamethasone (equivalent to 500 mcg Betamethasone).

Each gram of Betamethasone (Betamethasone*) Ointment* contains: 640 mcg Betamethasone (equivalent to 500 mcg Betamethasone).

Betamethasone (Betamethasone*) Cream and Ointment contain Betamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory activity to be administered topically.

Betamethasone is a white to creamy white odorless crystalline powder insoluble in water; freely soluble in acetone and in chloroform; sparingly soluble in alcohol. It has a molecular weight of 504.16 and the empirical formula C28H37FO7; a chemical name of 9-fluoro-11β,17,21-trihydroxy-16β-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione,17,21-dipropionate.

Betamethasone dosage

Dosing requirements are variable and must be individualized on the basis of the specific disease, its severity and the response of the patient.

The initial dose should be maintained or adjusted until a satisfactory response is observed. If a satisfactory clinical response does not occur after a reasonable period of time, treatment with Betamethasone injection should be discontinued and other appropriate therapy initiated.

Systemic Administration: For systemic therapy, treatment is initiated with 1-2 mL in most conditions and repeated as necessary. Administration is by deep intramuscular (IM) injection in the gluteal region. Dosage and frequency of administration will depend on the severity of the patient’s condition and the therapeutic response. Two mL might be required initially in a severe illness eg, lupus erythematosus or status asthmaticus which has been resolved by appropriate life-saving procedures.

A wide variety of dermatologic conditions respond effectively to an IM injection of 1 mL Betamethasone injection, repeated according to the response of the condition.

In respiratory tract disorders, onset of relief from symptoms has occurred within a few hours after IM injection of Betamethasone. Effective control of symptoms with 1-2 mL is obtained in bronchial asthma, hay fever, allergic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis.

Treatment of Acute or Chronic Bursitis: Results are obtained with 1-2 mL IM injection of Betamethasone injection, repeated as necessary.

Local Administration: Concomitant use of a local anesthetic is rarely necessary. If co-administration of a local anesthetic is desired, Betamethasone injection may be mixed (in the syringe, not the vial) with 1 or 2% procaine HCl or lidocaine, using formulations which do not contain parabens. Similar local anesthetics may also be used. Anesthetics containing methylparaben, propylparaben, phenol, and others, should be avoided. The required dose of Betamethasone injection is first withdrawn from the vial into the syringe. The local anesthetic is then drawn in, and the syringe is shaken briefly.

In acute subdeltoid, subacromial, olecranon, and prepatellar bursitis, an intrabursal injection of 1-2 mL of Betamethasone may relieve pain and restore full range of movement within a few hours. Chronic bursitis may be treated with reduced dosage once acute symptoms are controlled. In acute tenosynovitis, tendinitis and peritendinitis, 1 injection of Betamethasone should alleviate the condition. In chronic forms of these conditions, it may be necessary to repeat the injection as the patient’s condition requires.

Following 0.5-2 mL intra-articular administration of Betamethasone injection, relief from pain, soreness and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis may be experienced within 2-4 hrs. Duration of relief, which varies widely in both diseases, is ≥4 weeks in the majority of cases.

An intra-articular injection of Betamethasone is well tolerated in the joint and periarticular tissues.

Recommended doses for intra-articular injection are: Large joints (knee, hip, shoulder): 1-2 mL; medium joints (elbow, wrist, ankle): 0.5-1 mL; small joints (foot, hand chest): 0.25-0.5 mL.

Dermatologic conditions may respond to intralesional administration of Betamethasone injection. Response of some lesions not treated directly may be due to a slight systemic effect of the drug. In intralesional treatment, an intradermal dosage of 0.2 mL/cm² of Betamethasone injection evenly injected with a tuberculin syringe and a 26-gauge needle is recommended. The total amount of Betamethasone injected at all sites each week should not exceed 1 mL.

Betamethasone injection may be used effectively in disorders of the foot that are responsive to corticosteroid therapy. Bursitis under heloma durum may be controlled with 2 successive injections of 0.25 mL each. In some conditions eg, hallux rigidus, digiti quinti varus and acute gouty arthritis, onset of relief may be rapid.

A tuberculin syringe with a 25-gauge needle is suitable for most injections. Recommended doses at intervals of approximately 1 week: Bursitis under heloma durum or molle 0.25-0.5 mL; bursitis under calcaneal spur 0.5 mL; bursitis over hallux rigidus 0.5 mL; Bursitis over digiti quinti; varus 0.5 mL; synovial cyst 0.25-0.5 mL; Morton’s neuralgia (metatarsalgia) 0.25-0.5 mL; tenosynovitis 0.5 mL; periostitis of cuboid 0.5 mL; acute gouty arthritis 0.5-1 mL.

After a favorable response is obtained, the proper maintenance dosage should be determined by decreasing the initial dose in small decrements at appropriate time intervals until the lowest dose which will maintain an adequate clinical response is determined.

Exposure of the patient to stressful situations unrelated to the existing disease may necessitate an increased dose of Betamethasone injection. If the drug is to be discontinued after long-term therapy, the dose should be decreased gradually.

Betamethasone interactions

There are no known drug interactions with topical Betamethasone.

Betamethasone side effects

What are the possible side effects of Betamethasone?

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.

In two randomized, multicenter, prospective vehicle-controlled clinical trials, subjects with moderate plaque psoriasis of the body applied Betamethasone Spray or vehicle spray twice daily for 4 weeks. A total of 352 subjects applied Betamethasone Spray and 180 subjects applied vehicle spray.

Adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1% of subjects treated with Betamethasone Spray for up to 28 days are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥1% of Subjects Treated with Betamethasone Spray for up to Four WeeksBetamethasone Spray b.i.d.1.1% 1.7%

Less common adverse reactions (with occurrence lower than 1% but higher than 0.1%) in subjects treated with Betamethasone spray were application site reactions including telangiectasia, dermatitis, discoloration, folliculitis and skin rash, in addition to dysgeusia and hyperglycemia. These adverse reactions were not observed in subjects treated with vehicle.

Postmarketing Experience

Because adverse reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Postmarketing reports for local adverse reactions to topical corticosteroids have also included striae, irritation, dryness, acneiform eruptions, hypopigmentation, perioral dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, secondary infection, hypertrichosis, and miliaria.

Betamethasone contraindications

What is the most important information I should know about Betamethasone?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Betamethasone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Before taking Betamethasone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.

Your steroid medication needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.

Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.

Do not receive a “live” vaccine while you are taking Betamethasone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.

Do not stop using Betamethasone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency.

Active ingredient matches for Betamethasone:

Betamethasone