Betamethasone
Encyclopedia
Betamethasone is a potent glucocorticoid
steroid
with anti-inflammatory
and immunosuppressive
properties. Unlike other drugs with these effects, betamethasone does not cause water retention. It is applied as a topical
cream, ointment, foam, lotion or gel to treat itching. Betamethasone sodium phosphate is sometimes prescribed as an intramuscular injection
(I.M) for itching from various ailments including allergic reactions to poison ivy
and similar plants.
(branded as Diprosone, Diprolene, Celestamine, and others), sodium phosphate (branded as Bentelan in Italy) and valerate
(branded as Betnovate, Celestone and others). In the United States and Canada, betamethasone is mixed with clotrimazole
and sold as Lotrisone and Lotriderm.
used as a topical cream to relieve skin irritation, such as itching and flaking from eczema
. It is used as a treatment for local psoriasis
, as Betamethasone dipropionate
and salicylic acid
, or as the combination betamethasone/calcipotriol
. Betamethasone sodium phosphate is used orally and via injection
with the same indications as other steroids.
A cream with 0.05% betamethasone appears effective in treating phimosis
in boys, and often averts the need for circumcision
. It has replaced circumcision as the preferred treatment method for some physicians in the British
National Health Service
.
Betamethasone is also used to stimulate fetal lung maturation (prevention of IRDS), and to decrease the incidence and mortality from intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants.
As it crosses the placenta, which is required for its beneficial effects, it may also be associated with complications, such as hypoglycemia
and leukocytosis in newborns exposed in utero
.
Glucocorticoid
Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid hormones that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor , which is present in almost every vertebrate animal cell...
steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
with anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation as opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system....
and immunosuppressive
Immunosuppressant
An immunosuppressant is any substance that performs immunosuppression of the immune system. They may be either exogenous, as immunosuppressive drugs, or endogenous, as ,e. g., testosterone...
properties. Unlike other drugs with these effects, betamethasone does not cause water retention. It is applied as a topical
Topical
In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, anus, throat, eyes and ears.Many topical medications are epicutaneous, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin...
cream, ointment, foam, lotion or gel to treat itching. Betamethasone sodium phosphate is sometimes prescribed as an intramuscular injection
Intramuscular injection
Intramuscular injection is the injection of a substance directly into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several alternative methods for the administration of medications . It is used for particular forms of medication that are administered in small amounts...
(I.M) for itching from various ailments including allergic reactions to poison ivy
Poison ivy
Toxicodendron radicans, better known as poison ivy , is a poisonous North American plant that is well known for its production of urushiol, a clear liquid compound found within the sap of the plant that causes an itching rash in most people who touch it...
and similar plants.
Forms
Betamethasone is available in a number of compound forms: betamethasone dipropionateBetamethasone dipropionate
Betamethasone dipropionate is a glucocorticoid steroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive abilities. It is applied as a topical cream, ointment, lotion or gel to treat itching and other minor skin conditions such as eczema....
(branded as Diprosone, Diprolene, Celestamine, and others), sodium phosphate (branded as Bentelan in Italy) and valerate
Valerate
A valerate is a salt or ester of valeric acid. The valerate ion is C4H9COO− .Many steroid-based pharmaceuticals, for example ones based on betamethasone or hydrocortisone, include the steroid as the valerate ester.-Examples:* Sodium valerate, Na* Methyl valerate, CH3...
(branded as Betnovate, Celestone and others). In the United States and Canada, betamethasone is mixed with clotrimazole
Clotrimazole
Clotrimazole is an antifungal medication commonly used in the treatment of fungal infections such as vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, and ringworm...
and sold as Lotrisone and Lotriderm.
Indications
Betamethasone is a corticosteroidCorticosteroid
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte...
used as a topical cream to relieve skin irritation, such as itching and flaking from eczema
Eczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
. It is used as a treatment for local psoriasis
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
, as Betamethasone dipropionate
Betamethasone dipropionate
Betamethasone dipropionate is a glucocorticoid steroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive abilities. It is applied as a topical cream, ointment, lotion or gel to treat itching and other minor skin conditions such as eczema....
and salicylic acid
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a monohydroxybenzoic acid, a type of phenolic acid and a beta hydroxy acid. This colorless crystalline organic acid is widely used in organic synthesis and functions as a plant hormone. It is derived from the metabolism of salicin...
, or as the combination betamethasone/calcipotriol
Betamethasone/calcipotriol
Betamethasone/calcipotriol , trade names Taclonex, Dovobet and Daivobet, is a combination drug used as an ointment in the treatment of psoriasis....
. Betamethasone sodium phosphate is used orally and via injection
Injection (medicine)
An injection is an infusion method of putting fluid into the body, usually with a hollow needle and a syringe which is pierced through the skin to a sufficient depth for the material to be forced into the body...
with the same indications as other steroids.
A cream with 0.05% betamethasone appears effective in treating phimosis
Phimosis
Phimosis , from the Greek phimos ), is a condition where, in men, the foreskin cannot be fully retracted over the glans penis...
in boys, and often averts the need for circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
. It has replaced circumcision as the preferred treatment method for some physicians in the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
.
Betamethasone is also used to stimulate fetal lung maturation (prevention of IRDS), and to decrease the incidence and mortality from intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants.
As it crosses the placenta, which is required for its beneficial effects, it may also be associated with complications, such as hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia or hypoglycæmia is the medical term for a state produced by a lower than normal level of blood glucose. The term literally means "under-sweet blood"...
and leukocytosis in newborns exposed in utero
In utero
In utero is a Latin term literally meaning "in the womb". In biology, the phrase describes the state of an embryo or fetus. In legal contexts, the phrase is used to refer to unborn children. Under common law, unborn children are still considered to exist for property transfer purposes.-See also:*...
.