What brand names are available for betamethasone dipropionate?
Diprolene, Diprolene AF, Luxiq
Is betamethasone dipropionate available as a generic drug?
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
Do I need a prescription for betamethasone dipropionate?
Yes
What are the uses for betamethasone dipropionate?
Betamethasone is used for the relief of itching and
inflammation associated with a wide variety of skin conditions in patients 13
years of age or older. Examples include
allergic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis,
contact dermatitis, and
plaque psoriasis.
What are the side effects of betamethasone dipropionate?
The most common side effects of betamethasone are:
- burning at the area of application,
- itching,
- irritation, and
- dryness.
What is the dosage for betamethasone dipropionate?
- A thin strip of betamethasone cream or ointment is applied gently to
the affected area once or twice daily. - A few drops of the lotion is applied to
the affected area once or twice daily. - The lotion should be massaged gently
until it disappears.
Large doses and prolonged use of betamethasone may cause
large amounts to be absorbed into the body and suppress production of cortisol
by the adrenal glands. Therefore, the lotion should not be used for longer than
two weeks, and not more than 50 ml should be used per week. The augmented cream
or ointment should be limited to 45 grams per week. Betamethasone should not be
used with occlusive dressings because occlusive dressings increase absorption
into the body.
Which drugs or supplements interact with betamethasone dipropionate?
Combining topical steroids with topical anthralin may
increase psoriasis symptoms. Therefore, topical steroids should be discontinued
1 week before starting anthralins.
Is betamethasone dipropionate safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Use of betamethasone in
pregnant women has not been studied. When
corticosteroids are given systemically (orally, intramuscularly or
intravenously) to pregnant animals fetal abnormalities occur.
It is not known if betamethasone is secreted in
breast milk.
Corticosteroids absorbed into the body may appear in breast milk and may cause
harmful effects in breast fed infants.
What else should I know about betamethasone dipropionate?
What preparations of betamethasone dipropionate are available?
Cream, ointment, lotion: 0.05%
How should I keep betamethasone dipropionate stored?
All preparations should be kept at temperatures from 15 C to 30 C (59
F to 86 F).
Lotion should be shaken before each use.