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!

A steroid card will be supplied with this medicine. This contains details of the prescriber, type of steroid and dose taken and the duration of treatment. It should be carried at all times.

If this medicine is taken long term, any additional illness, trauma or surgery may require a temporary increase in the dose.

If individuals have not had chickenpox, they should avoid close personal contact with people with chickenpox or shingles (herpes zoster). If exposed, seek urgent medical attention as these diseases can be life-threatening in people whose immune system is suppressed.

This medicine should not be stopped abruptly but tapered down, especially when taken for longer than 3 weeks. The natural production of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands is suppressed by this medicine and the body therefore becomes reliant on it.

This medicine may increase susceptibility to infections and also mask the symptoms of these infections.

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 the 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 the 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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