Betamethasone dipropionate is a drug with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-rheumatic action, sold commercially under the names of Diprospan, Dipronil or Dibetam, for example.
Betamethasone can be used in ointment, tablets, drops or injectable and should only be used by medical advice, relieving symptoms such as itching, redness, allergies, dermatological conditions, collagen, inflammation of the bones, joints and soft tissues or cancer.
Some creams and ointments have betamethasone in their composition, such as Betaderm, Betnovate, Candicort, Dermatisan, Diprogenta, Naderm, Novacort, Permut, Quadriderm and Verutex.
See the precautions you should take when buying medication over the internet here.
Indications
The use of betamethasone in cream or tablets is indicated in the treatment:
- Osteoarticular diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, ankylosing spondylitis, epicondylitis, radiculitis, coccidinia, sciatica, lumbago, torticollis, ganglion cyst, exostosis, fascitis; Allergic conditions: chronic bronchial asthma, hay fever, angioneurotic edema, allergic bronchitis, seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, drug reactions, sleeping sickness and insect bites; Dermatological conditions: atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, severe contact or solar dermatitis, urticaria, hypertrophic lichen planus, diabetic lipoid necrobiosis, alopecia areata, discoid lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, keloids, pemphigus, herpetiform dermatitis and cystic acne; Collagenoses: Systemic lupus erythematosus; scleroderma; dermatomyositis; nodular periarteritis. Neoplasms: For the palliative treatment of leukemias and lymphomas in adults; acute childhood leukemia.
In addition, it can be used to treat adrenogenital syndrome, ulcerative colitis, regional ileitis, pediatric conditions such as bursitis under hard heloma, hallux rigidus, digiti quinti varus, conditions requiring subconjunctive injections, blood dyscrasias that respond to corticosteroids, nephritis and nephrotic syndrome, primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may be treated with betamethasone, but it should be supplemented with mineralocorticoids.
Injectable betamethasone is recommended when the drug does not respond to systemic corticosteroids.
Price
The price of Betamethasone can vary between 2 and 75 reais, depending on the presentation, which can be in compressed drops, injection or cream, and the amount of medication per gram per package.
For example, 20 tablets with 0.5 mg of betamethasone can cost R $ 3, while the 30 g ointment with a concentration of 1 mg can cost R $ 4, in the generic version, or R $ 20 in the branded version.
How to use
The method of use of betamethasone depends on the form used, and in the case of cream it is indicated for adults and children over 12, it is recommended to apply a small amount of the drug on the skin, 1 to 4 times a day, for maximum period of 14 days.
Side effects
Some side effects of this medication include high blood pressure, itching, muscle weakness and pain, loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis, vertebral fractures, inflammation of the pancreas, abdominal distension, ulcerative esopharyngitis; impaired tissue healing, ecchymosis, facial erythema, increased sweating, dizziness, headache, menstrual irregularities, development of Cushing's Syndrome, decreased tolerance to carbohydrates, clinical manifestations of diabetes with increased daily insulin requirements or hypoglycemic agents oral; cataracts, glaucoma and insomnia.
Contraindications
The use of betamethasone is contraindicated in pregnancy with risk C, during breastfeeding, in children under 12 years old and when there are systemic infections by fungi or hypersensitivity to the components of the formula or other corticosteroids.
In addition, the use of betamethasone should not be administered in muscle to patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and should not be applied to the vein or skin in cases of patients with nonspecific ulcerative colitis, if there is a possibility of imminent perforation, abscess or other infection pyogenic, diverticulitis, recent intestinal anastomosis, active or latent peptic ulcer, renal failure or hypertension, osteoporosis and myasthenia.
Drug interactions
The use of betamethasone may interact with the drugs listed below and should not be used concurrently with betamethasone therapy, as they produce undesirable effects, such as: Phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin and ephedrine, estrogens, digitalis, amphotericin B; coumarins, non-hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs and alcohol, salicylates, acetylsalicylic acid, hypoglycemic agents and glucocorticoids.
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