Betamethasone
It is a glucocorticosteroid which is about eight to ten times as active as prednisolone on a weight for weight basis. It is similar to dexamethasone, probably a little more potent & has a potential to cause dramatic improvement in many severe diseases as well as produce equally dramatic adverse effects if not properly used. The use in non endocrine diseases is empirical and palliative, but may be life saving.Status asthmatics, acute allergic reactions, anaphylatic reaction to drugs, severe shock arising from surgical or accidental trauma or over whelming infection. Addison’s disease, Simmond's disease, hypopituitarism following adrenalectomy, tennis elbow, tenosynovitis and bursitis.
4-20 mg i.v. infusion or i.m. 3-4 times a day. Children : infants upto 1 yr. 1 mg i.v.; 1-5 yrs. 2 mg; 6-12 yrs. 4 mg i.v. or i.m. 0.5-5 mg/day orally.
Systemic infections, unless specific anti-infective therapy is employed. Live virus immunisation.
May impair the ability to resist and counteract infection. Due to fluid retention care in congestive heart failure. Diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, hypertension, glaucoma & epilepsy, previous steroid myopathy or peptic ulceration. Growth retardation in infancy, childhood & adolescence. Elderly. Pregnancy.
Subcapsular cataract, skin thinning, osteoporosis and glaucoma. Osteonecrosis particularly of femoral head. Peptic ulceration, altered fluid & electrolyte balance, intacranial hypertension & psychic instability.
Reduced efficacy with concurrent use of carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone and barbiturates. Rifampicin reduces corticosteroid activity. Peptic ulcer with concurrent NSAID’S administration. Dose of antidiabetics and antihyper-tensives needs to be increased. Decreases serum concentration of salicylates and antimuscarinic agents.
