Betamethasone

Registered South African indications:

• Inflammatory conditions of the eye

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
• Infections of the eye
• Glaucoma
• Herpetic keratitis

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Renal impairment
• Hepatic impairment
• Undiagnosed red eye
• Prolonged use
• Concomitant use of soft contact lenses
• Infants

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: opd

Non-infective inflammatory conditions of the eye

• Ophthalmic (opd): Initial: 1-2 drops into affected eye(s), 2hrly; Reduce frequency once symptoms improve

See adult dosage

Pregnancy

• Caution
• Safety for use in pregnancy has not been established. There is inadequate evidence of safety in human pregnancy. Topical administration of corticosteroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormal foetal development including cleft palate and intrauterine growth retardation. There may, therefore, be a very small risk of such defects in the human foetus

Breastfeeding

• Caution
• Safety for use in breastfeeding has not been established. There is inadequate evidence of safety in humans

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no information available

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Not yet classified (NC)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Hypersensitivity disorders

Sensory Disorders

• Increased intraocular pressure
• Optic nerve damage
• Reduced visual acuity
• Visual field defect
• Posterior subcapsular cataracts
• Globe perforation

No known significant interactions

None routine. Specific cases may require

• Ophthalmic examination

Betamethasone sodium phosphate is a corticosteroid used topically in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. The anti-inflammatory action of this drug is thought to involve lipocortins, which are phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins that control the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes.

Eye drops (per 100ml) 0.1g

• Betnesol (Aspen)

Also available in the following forms: Nose drop, cream, ointment, lotion, tablet, syrup and injection.

COMBINATION PREPARATIONS

Betamethasone/ Neomycin

Ear/Nose drops (per 100ml) 0.1g/0.35g

• Betnesol-N (Pharmacare) originator