DIPROLENE AF

BETAMETHASONE is a corticosteroid. It helps to reduce swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. It is used to treat asthma, allergies, arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. It is also used for other conditions, like blood disorders and diseases of the adrenal glands.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

Your health care provider needs to know if you have any of these conditions:

• blood clotting problems
• Cushing's syndrome
• diabetes
• heart problems or disease
• high blood pressure
• infection like chickenpox, fungus, herpes, measles, or tuberculosis
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• mental problems
• myasthenia gravis
• osteoporosis
• seizures
• stomach, intestinal disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to betamethasone, corticosteroids, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

Warning!

• Diprosone cream and ointment are for external use on the skin only.
• The medicine should be applied thinly and evenly to the affected area(s) as directed by your doctor. Click here to see how much cream or ointment to use.
• Avoid getting the medicine in the eyes, or in contact with the inside of the mouth or nose. Rinse with cold water if accidental contact occurs.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after applying this medicine, unless the hands are the area being treated.
• If your doctor has advised you to use dressings with this medicine, the skin should be cleansed before applying the cream/ointment/lotion under a fresh dressing.
• If corticosteroids are used long-term, on large areas of skin, raw or broken skin, skin folds, or under airtight dressings they are absorbed into the body more. This increases the risk of local side effects such as skin thinning, and those on other parts of the body, such as a decrease in the production of natural hormones by the adrenal glands. For this reason, continuous, long-term use of this medicine should be avoided wherever possible, particularly in children and on large areas of skin. You should only use airtight dressings over the affected area if instructed by your doctor. If there is no improvement in your skin after two to four weeks of treatment you should consult your doctor.
• If this medicine is used on the face, wherever possible it should not be used for longer than five days. You should not use airtight dressings to cover the area treated.
• If used in children, wherever possible this medicine should not be used for longer than five days, or on the face. You should not use airtight dressings to cover the area treated. Be aware that children's nappies can also act as an airtight dressing and can increase the absorption of the medicine. Children being treated with this medicine should be reviewed by the doctor at least once a week.
• If you have been prescribed this medicine to treat psoriasis you should have regular check-ups with your doctor. This is because although corticosteroids may be useful for psoriasis in the short-term, they can sometimes make psoriasis worse, and may cause the condition to relapse into generalised pustular psoriasis after the treatment is stopped.
• If you think the area of skin you are treating has become infected you should stop using this medicine and consult your doctor.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these signs that you may be absorbing betamethasone topical through your skin or gums:

• blurred vision, or seeing halos around lights;
• uneven heartbeats;
• mood changes;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• weight gain, puffiness in your face; or
• feeling tired.

Less serious side effects may include:

• skin redness, burning, itching, or peeling;
• thinning of your skin; or
• blistering skin; or
• stretch marks.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.