Betamethasone is a corticosteroid with potent anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and antirheumatic effects used in the treatment of a variety of health conditions affecting the skin, mucosa, glands, bones, muscles, and respiratory system. These conditions include dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, asthma, and lupus.
Betamethasone comes in a variety of forms including topical preparations, a syrup, and an injectable form.
Betamethasone should only be used under the supervision of a doctor or other licensed healthcare professional. It should be taken only at the prescribed dose and for the duration indicated by your doctor.
Indications for use
Betamethasone is indicated for the treatment of:
- Joint disorders: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, ankylosing spondylitis, epicondylitis, radiculitis, coccydynia, sciatica, lumbago, torticollis, ganglion cyst, exostosis, and fasciitis;
- Allergic conditions: chronic asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), angioedema, allergic bronchitis, allergic reactions to medications, serum sickness, and insect bites;
- Skin conditions: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis, polymorphous light eruption (sun allergy), neurodermatitis (lichen simplex chronicus), urticaria (hives), hypertrophic cutaneous lichen planus, alopecia areata, discoid lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, keloids, pemphigus, and cystic acne;
- Connective tissue disorders: systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and polyarteritis nodosa.
Betamethasone may also be indicated for the treatment of tight foreskin, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, nephritis, and nephrotic syndrome.
It may also be used for the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma in adults as well as acute leukemia in children.
Also recommended: 5 Allergic Rhinitis Medications Your Doctor Can Prescribe tuasaude.com/en/allergic-rhinitis-medicationsDosing instructions
Formulation and dosing will vary based on a person's age and the condition being treated. Some common preparations include:
1. Betamethasone topical
Betamethasone topical preparations come in the form of creams, ointments, lotions, gels, sprays, and foams. Some examples include:
- Betamethasone diproprionate 0.05%: available as a cream, lotion, ointment, gel, and spray;
- Betamethasone valerate 0.1%: available as a cream, lotion, and ointment;
- Betamethasone valerate 0.12%: available as a foam to treat skin conditions of the scalp;
- Clotrimazole and betamethasone diproprionate 1%/0.05%: available as a cream used for the treatment of tinea infections including athlete's foot.
Creams, lotions, and ointments should be applied in a thin layer to the affected area, usually once or twice a day for no more than 2 consecutive weeks. Sprays and foams are applied once or twice a day, typically for no longer than 4 weeks.
Dosing will vary based on the potency of the medication as well as the condition being treated. Make sure to read the instructions included with your medication and apply exactly as directed by your doctor.
For children between 1 and 12 years of age, length of treatment should not exceed 5 days. Doses should be determined by a pediatrician.
2. Betamethasone syrup
Betamethasone syrup 0.6 mg/5 mL (Celestone) should be taken by mouth, using a syringe or measuring cup.
The usual starting dose for adults is 0.6 mg to 7.2 mg per day.
Doses for children over 2 years old are based on body weight and should be calculated by a pediatrician.
3. Betamethasone injectable
Betamethasone for injectable use comes in the form of betamethasone sodium phosphate and betamethasone acetate 6 mg/mL (Celestone Soluspan). It should be administered by a nurse, doctor, or other experienced healthcare professional.
The typical dose for adults is 0.25 mL to 2 mL, depending on the route of administration and condition being treated. It can be given as an intramuscular (IM) or intradermal (ID) injection, or injected directly into the joint, bursa, lesion, or soft tissue.
The duration of treatment may vary based on the condition being treated and should be confirmed by your doctor.
Side effects
The most common side effects with use of betamethasone are high blood pressure, skin itchiness, weakness, muscle pain, loss of muscle mass, pancreatitis, abdominal swelling, ulcerative esophagitis, and compromised wound healing.
Betamethasone can also cause Cushing's syndrome as well as a lowered tolerance for carbohydrates. People with diabetes who take betamethasone may have to increase their daily dose of insulin or other diabetes medications.
While there are a variety of side effects associated with the use of betamethasone, these side effects may be reversible by changing the dose or stopping treatment, as directed by your doctor.
Contraindications
Before taking betamethasone, make sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Betamethasone should not be given to children less than 1 year of age.
In addition, betamethasone should not be used by people with an active and/or systemic infection or an allergy to betamethasone, its components, or any other corticosteroid.
Betamethasone can lower the effect of other medications such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, ephedrine, estrogen, digoxin, amphotericin B, anticoagulants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), alcohol, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), antidiabetics, and glucocorticoids.
For this reason, it is important to tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you are taking in order to prevent potentially serious side effects.