Betamethasone injection

What is betamethasone injection?
BETAMETHASONE (Celestone®Soluspan®) is a corticosteroid. It helps to reduce swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. Betamethasone treats allergies, skin problems, asthma, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and many other conditions. Generic betamethasone injections are not yet available.

What should my health care professional know before I receive betamethasone?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

diabetes
blood clotting problems
heart, liver, or kidney disease
high blood pressure
infection; measles, tuberculosis, herpes or chickenpox
mental problems or psychosis
myasthenia gravis
osteoporosis
previous heart attack
seizures (convulsions)
stomach or intestinal disease
under-active thyroid
an unusual or allergic reaction to betamethasone, corticosteroids, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?
Betamethasone injection can be given at a number of different sites, depending on the condition being treated. It is given by a health-care professional in a clinic or hospital setting.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply.

What drug(s) may interact with betamethasone?

antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen)
aspirin
barbiturate medicines for inducing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions)
bosentan
carbamazepine
female hormones, including birth control pills
heart medicines
medicines for diabetes
medicines that improve muscle tone or strength for conditions like myasthenia gravis
phenytoin
rifampin
vaccines and other immunization products
water pills

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What side effects may I notice from receiving betamethasone?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:

bloody or black, tarry stools
confusion, excitement, restlessness, a false sense of well-being
eye pain, decreased or blurred vision, or bulging eyes
fever, sore throat, sneezing, cough, or other signs of infection
frequent passing of urine
hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not really there)
increased thirst
irregular heartbeat
menstrual problems
mental depression, mood swings, mistaken feelings of self-importance, mistaken feelings of being mistreated
muscle cramps or muscle weakness
nausea, vomiting
pain in hips, back, ribs, arms, shoulders, or legs
pain, redness, inflammation or scarring at the injection site
rounding out of face
skin problems, acne
stomach pain
swelling of feet or lower legs
thin or shiny skin at the injection site
unusual bruising or red pinpoint spots on the skin
unusual tiredness or weakness
weight gain or weight loss
wounds that will not heal

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

headache
increased appetite
increased sweating
nervousness, restlessness, or difficulty sleeping
unusual increased growth of hair on the face or body

What should I watch for while taking betamethasone?
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. If you are using corticosteroids for a long time, carry an identification card with your name, the type and dose of corticosteroid, and your prescriber’s name and address. Do not suddenly stop using betamethasone. You may need to gradually reduce the dose, so that your body can adjust. Follow the advice of your prescriber or health care professional.

If you receive corticosteroids for a long time, avoid contact with people who have an infection. You may be at an increased risk from infection while receiving betamethasone. Tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are exposed to anyone with measles or chickenpox, or if you develop sores or blisters that do no heal properly.

People who are taking certain dosages of betamethasone may need to avoid immunization with certain vaccines or may need to have changes in their vaccination schedules to ensure adequate protection from certain diseases. Make sure to tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking betamethasone before receiving any vaccine.

If you are diabetic, betamethasone can affect your blood sugar levels. Check with your prescriber or health care professional if you need help adjusting the dose of your diabetic medicine.

If you are receiving betamethasone injections every day, you may need to watch your diet. Your body can also lose potassium while you receive this medicine. Ask your prescriber or health care professional about your diet, especially about your salt intake.

If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are receiving betamethasone, or have taken it within the last 12 months.

If betamethasone has been injected into one of your joints, do not put too much stress on the joint for a while. Talk to your prescriber or health care professional about how much you can use the joint while it is healing.

Elderly patients have an increased risk of side effects from betamethasone.

Betamethasone can interfere with certain lab tests and can cause false skin test results.

Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 2 and 25 degrees C (36 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Betamethasone injection

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