Betamethasone dipropionate is a medicament with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antirheumatic action sold commercially under the names Diprospan, Dipronil or Dibetam, for example.
Betamethasone can be used in ointments, tablets, drops or injectables and should only be used for medical reasons, relieving symptoms such as itching, redness, allergies, dermatological conditions, collagenous, inflammation of bones, joints and soft tissues or cancer.
Some creams and ointments have in their composition betamethasone, such as Betaderme, Betnovate, Candicort, Dermatisan, Diprogenta, Naderm, Novacort, Permut, Quadriderm and Verutex.
See the precautions you should take when buying drugs online.
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, fasciitis;
- Allergic conditions: chronic bronchial asthma, hay fever, angioneurotic edema, allergic bronchitis, seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, drug reactions, sleeping diseases and insect bites;
- Dermatological conditions: atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, contact dermatitis or severe sun, urticaria, hypertrophic lichen planus, diabetic lipoid necrobiosis, alopecia areata, discoid lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, keloids, pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis and cystic acne;
- Collagenase: systemic lupus erythematosus; scleroderma; dermatomyositis; periarteritis nodosa. Neoplasias: For the palliative treatment of leukemias and lymphomas in adults; childhood leukemia.
In addition, it may be used in the treatment of adrenogenital syndrome, ulcerative colitis, regional ileitis, pediatric conditions such as bursitis under hard helm, hallux rigidus, digiti quinti varus, conditions requiring subconjunctive injections, corticoid-responsive blood dyscrasias, nephritis and nephrotic syndrome, primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may be treated with betamethasone, but should be supplemented with mineralocorticoids.
Injectable betamethasone is recommended when the drug does not respond to systemic corticosteroids.
Price
The price of betamethasone can range from 2 to 75 reais, depending on the presentation, which can be in tablet drops, injection or cream, and the amount of medicine per gram per pack.
For example, 20 tablets with 0.5 mg of betamethasone can cost $ 3, while the 30 g ointment with a concentration of 1mg can cost $ 4 in the generic version, or $ 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 medicine to the skin, from 1 to 4 times a day, for a maximum period of 14 days.
Side effects
Some side effects of this medicine include high blood pressure, itching, muscle weakness and pain, loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis, vertebral fractures, inflammation of the pancreas, abdominal distension, ulcerative esopharyngitis; impairment of tissue healing, ecchymosis, facial erythema, increased sweating, vertigo, headache, menstrual irregularities, development of Cushing's Syndrome, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, 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 breast-feeding, in children under 12 years and when there are systemic fungal infections or hypersensitivity to components of the formula or other corticosteroids.
In addition, the use of betamethasone should not be administered in the muscle to patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and should not be applied to the vein or skin in patients with non-specific ulcerative colitis if there is a possibility of impending perforation, abscess or other infection diverticula, 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 medications listed below and should not be used concomitantly with betamethasone therapy because they produce undesirable effects such as: Phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin and ephedrine, estrogens, digitalis, amphotericin B; coumarins, non-hormonal anti-inflammatories and alcohol, salicylates, acetylsalicylic acid, hypoglycemic agents and glucocorticoids.
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