Drug Action
Betamethasone has very high glucocorticoid activity and insignificant mineralocorticoid activity.
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Drug reference
Betamethasone has very high glucocorticoid activity and insignificant mineralocorticoid activity.
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Suppression of inflammatory and allergic disorders | Congenital adrenal hyperplasia ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: Usual dose 0.5–5 mg daily ▶BY INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION, OR BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION, OR BY INTRAVENOUS INFUSION ▶Adult: 4–20 mg, repeated up to 4 times in 24 hours
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→Appendix 1: corticosteroids
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Hiccups. myocardial rupture (following recent myocardial infarction). oedema. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
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Readily crosses the placenta. Transient effect on fetal movements and heart rate.
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▶With intravenous use For intravenous infusion (as sodium phosphate) (Betnesol ®), give continuously or intermittently or via drip tubing in Glucose 5% or Sodium chloride 0.9%.
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There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Soluble tablet CAUTIONARY AND ADVISORY LABELS 10, 13, 21 (not for use as mouthwash for oral ulceration) ▶Betamethasone (Non-proprietary) Betamethasone (as Betamethasone sodium phosphate) 500 microgram Betamethasone 500microgram soluble tablets sugar free sugar-free | 100 tablet P £58.15 DT = £58.15 Solution for injection CAUTIONARY AND ADVISORY LABELS 10 ▶Betamethasone (Non-proprietary) Betamethasone (as Betamethasone sodium phosphate) 4 mg per 1 ml Betamethasone 4mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules | 5 ampoule P £30.46 DT = £30.26 eiiii F 709
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▶With oral use Patient counselling is advised for betamethasone soluble tablets (steroid card).
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Usual dose 0.5–5 mg daily
First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.
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4–20 mg, repeated up to 4 times in 24 hours
First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.
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