Betnesol Injection

How does it work?

Betamethasone sodium phosphate is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the adrenal glands which have many important functions on every organ system. Corticosteroids affect the strength of heart muscle and its response to natural chemicals affecting heart rate. They affect the water and salt balance in the body and also enable the body to cope with stress. Stress includes changes in temperature, pain, fear, anxiety and illness and can be hazardous if the body is not equiped to cope, due to low levels of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids allow us to respond to stress by increasing the rate and force of the heartbeat, increasing blood supply to essential tissues (muscle, heart, brain), increasing the body's supply of energy by raising blood sugar and by several other effects on body systems. Betamethasone sodium phosphate is a synthetic corticosteroid and is to control symptoms caused by sudden low levels of corticosteroids in the body. This can be due to many reasons, including abnormal stress in Addison's disease or surgical removal of the adrenal gland(s). Low blood levels of corticosteroids must be treated with replacement therapy to allow the body to function normally. Betamethasone is also used to decrease inflammation. It works by acting within cells to prevent the release of certain chemicals that are important in the immune system. These chemicals are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, resulting in inflammation. By decreasing the release of these chemicals in a particular area, inflammation is reduced. This can help control a wide number of disease states, characterised by excessive inflammation. They include severe allergic reactions, inflammation of the lungs in asthma and inflammation of soft tissue for example in tennis elbow. Betamethasone is used in much higher doses than the levels of corticosteroids produced naturally by the body, and as such, the usual actions of corticosteroids become exaggerated and can be observed as side effects of this medicine.

What is it used for?

Inadequate blood circulation (shock) due to surgical or accidental trauma or severe infection

Injection into inflamed soft tissue e.g. inflammation of the membrane surrounding a tendon (tenosynovitis)

Life threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to medicines

Severe allergic reactions

Severe and prolonged asthma attack

Sudden onset of symptoms caused by insufficient production of hormones from the adrenal glands, due to abnormal stress in Addison's disease, Simmond's disease, surgical removal of the adrenal glands or decreased functioning of the adrenal glands from corticosteroid therapy

Warning!

If you are taking a corticosteroid for longer than three weeks you will usually be given a steroid card with your medicine. The card contains details of your prescriber, type of steroid, dose taken and the duration of treatment. It's purpose is to act as reminder that your medicine should not be stopped suddenly, and to provide information of your treatment in case of an accident. You should carry it with you at all times and show it to anyone who treats you (eg doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist).

If you are taking this medicine long-term, your doctor may need to temporarily increase your dose if you experience any any additional illness, trauma or surgery during treatment. Discuss this with your doctor.

If you have never had chickenpox you should avoid close personal contact with people who have chickenpox or shingles (herpes zoster). If you are exposed you should your doctor urgently, as these diseases can be life-threatening in people who are taking long-term steroids and whose immune system is suppressed.

You should not stop taking this medicine suddenly, particularly if you have been taking it for longer than 3 weeks. This is because long-term use of the medicine suppresses the natural production of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands. This means that the body becomes temporarily reliant on the medicine. When it is time to stop treatment the dose should be tapered down gradually, to allow the adrenal glands to start producing adequate amounts of natural steroids again. Follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine may increase your susceptibility to infections and also mask the symptoms of these infections. Consult your doctor if you get an infection during treatment.

Use with caution in

Children

Decreased kidney function

Diabetes

Elderly people

Epilepsy

Family history of diabetes

Family history of glaucoma

Glaucoma

Heart failure

Herpes simplex virus infection of the eye

High blood pressure

History of or current mental disorder

History of steroid induced mental disturbances

Inflammation of small sac-like structures which sometimes form in the walls of the intestine (diverticulitis)

Liver failure

Osteoporosis

Peptic ulcer

Post-menopausal women

Previous muscle disease (myopathy) caused by steroids

Schizophrenia

Those with tendencies to form dangerous blood clots

Tuberculosis

Not to be used in

Infection throughout the body (systemic infection) unless treated with specific anti-infectives

Injection into tendons

Injection into the spinal cord (intrathecal injection)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the foetus. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine passes into breast milk. It should be used with caution by breastfeeding mothers and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Label warnings

Follow the printed instructions you have been given with this medication.

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