Exabet

Betamethasone

Progressive RA w/ severe joint pain & edema. Acute rheumatic carditis in patients failing to respond to salicylates. SLE, edematous state, patients w/ some form of nephrotic syndrome atributable to SLE or primary renal disease (except renal amyloidosis). Bronchial asthma/contact dermatitis, atopia dermatitis, serum sickness, drug hypersensitivity reaction. Pemphigus, SJS, exfoliative dermatitis, bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, severe seborrheic dermatitis, severe psoriasis, mycosis fungoides. Non-viral severe, acute & chronic allergic & inflammatory ophth diseases, iritis, iridocylitis, chorioretinitis, diffuse posterior uveitis & choroiditis, optic neuritis, sympathetic ophthalmia, anterior segment inflammation, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic corneal marginal ulcer, keratitis. Sub-acute hepatic necrosis & chronic active hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis & non-alcoholic cirrhosis in women. As short-term adjunctive therapy in post-traumatic OA, synovitis of OA, RA (including juvenile RA), acute & sub-acute bursitis, epicondylitis, acute non-specific tenosynovitis, acute gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. Substitution therapy for congenital adrenal hyperplasia; secondary adrenal insufficiency due to adenohypophysis insufficiency.

Adult Short-term therapy: 2-3 mg daily for a few days, then decrease up to 0.25-0.5 mg/day for 2-5 days. RA 0.5-2 mg daily. Other conditions 1.5-5 mg daily for 1-3 wk, then reduce dose until effective min dose is reached.

Should be taken with food.

Hypersensitivity. Peptic ulcer, osteoporosis, psychoses or severe psychoneuroses, systemic fungal infections, live vaccines.

Increase dose in patients subjected to any unusual stress. Gradually reduce dose to minimise drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency. Dose may have to be increased or salt &/or mineralocorticoid should be co-administered in patients already on steroids. May mask some signs of infection; give false -ve results in nitroblue-tetrazolinum test. Associated w/ prolongation of coma & higher incidence of pneumonia & GI bleeding in patients w/ cerebral malaria. May activate latent amebiasis. Rule out latent or active amebiasis in patients w/ diarrhea who have been in the tropic. Prolonged use may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts, glaucoma w/ possible optic nerve damage & may enhance the establishment of secondary ocular infections due to fungi or viruses. Increased Ca excretion. Restrict to active TB patients in cases w/ fulminating or disseminated TB. Close observation is necessary as reactivation of the disease may occur in patients w/ latent TB or tuberculin reactivity. Patients in prolonged therapy should receive chemoprophylaxis. Patients w/ left ventricular free wall rupture after recent MI. Women of childbearing potential. Pregnancy. Advice lactating mothers not to nurse when taking pharmacological dose of corticosteroids.

Fluid, Na retention, CHF, K loss, hypokalemic alkalosis, HTN. Muscle weakness, steroid's myopathy, muscle mass loss, osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral & humeral heads, pathologic fracture of long bones. PUD w/ possible subsequent perforation & haemorrhage, pancreatitis, abdominal distension, ulcerative esophagitis. Impaired wound healing, thin fragile skin, petechiae & ecchymoses, erythema, increased sweating, possible suppressed reaction to skin tests. Convulsions, increased ICP w/ papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually after treatment, vertigo, headache, psychic disturbances. Menstrual irregularities, cushingoid state, growth suppression in childn, secondary adrenocortical & pituitary unresponsiveness, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, manifestations of latent DM, increased insulin requirement or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics. Posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased IOP, glaucoma, exopthalmos. Negative nitrogen balance. Myocardial rupture following recent MI. Hypersensitivity, thromboembolism, wt gain, increased appetite, nausea, malaise, hiccups.

Reduced efficacy w/ phenytoin, phenobarb, rifampicin. May reduce effect of diuretics, hypoglycemics, anticholinesterases & salicylates.

Corticosteroid Hormones

H02AB01 - betamethasone ; Belongs to the class of glucocorticoids. Used in systemic corticosteroid preparations.

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