Canadian pharmacy buying guide: drug characteristics, uses and benefits, side effects and interactions, and links for further information about buying discount drugs online from Canada.

Celestone Consumer Information

CELESTONE

Generic Name: betamethasone (bay ta MEH tha sone)

Brand Names: Celestone

What is the most important information I should know about betamethasone?

• Do not stop taking betamethasone suddenly if you have been taking it for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage before you stop taking this medication.
• Take betamethasone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.
• Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know you are taking betamethasone in the case of an emergency.

What is betamethasone?

• Betamethasone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Betamethasone reduces swelling and decreases the body's immune response.
• Betamethasone is used to treat many different conditions. It is used to treat endocrine (hormonal) disorders when the body does not produce enough of its own steroids. It is also used to treat many immune and allergic disorders, such as arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, asthma, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.
• Betamethasone may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take betamethasone?

• Do not take betamethasone if you have a serious bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Betamethasone weakens the body's immune response and thus its ability to fight infection.
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
• kidney disease,
• liver disease,
• high blood pressure or heart disease,
• ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, or stomach ulcers,
• hypothyroidism,
• a psychiatric condition,
• osteoporosis,
• myasthenia gravis,
• diabetes mellitus, or
• any other medical conditions.
• You may not be able to take betamethasone, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Betamethasone is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether betamethasone will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• Betamethasone passes into breast milk. Do not take betamethasone without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take betamethasone?

• Take betamethasone exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less than is prescribed for you. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• Take betamethasone with food or milk to lessen stomach upset.
• Measure the liquid with the dropper provided or with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup. Ask your pharmacist for a dose-measuring spoon or cup if you do not have one.
• If you are taking one dose daily, take that dose before 9 a.m. if possible, to follow the body's natural cycle. If you take more than one dose daily, space the doses evenly throughout the day as directed by your doctor.
• Do not stop taking betamethasone suddenly if you have been taking it for a few weeks. You may need a gradual reduction in dosage before you stop taking this medication.
• Carry some type of medical identification that will let others know you are taking betamethasone in the case of an emergency.
• Store betamethasone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• If you take one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if you don't remember until the next day, skip the dose you missed and take only the regular daily dose.
• If you take more than one dose daily, you can either take the missed dose as soon as you remember, or you can take two doses (the one you missed plus the regularly scheduled dose) when it is time for the next dose.
• If you take one dose every other day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then go back to your regular every-other-day schedule.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention. A single large dose of this medication is unlikely to cause symptoms or death. An overdose is more likely to be caused by a chronic overdose--large doses taken over a period of time.
• Symptoms of an overdose include obesity (especially around the stomach); a round face; increased hair growth (especially around the face); acne; bruising; increased blood pressure; swollen hands, feet, or ankles (fluid retention); and sore or weak muscles.

What should I avoid while taking betamethasone?

• Use alcohol cautiously. Together, alcohol and betamethasone can be damaging to the stomach.
• Avoid sources of infection. Wash your hands frequently and keep them away from the mouth and eyes. Your immune system may be weakened while taking betamethasone.
• Do not receive any immunizations during treatment with betamethasone without first talking to your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of betamethasone?

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking betamethasone and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• increased blood pressure (severe headache or blurred vision); or
• sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or two).
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take betamethasone and talk to your doctor if you experience
• insomnia;
• nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset;
• fatigue or dizziness;
• muscle weakness or joint pain;
• problems with diabetes control; or
• increased hunger or thirst.
• Other side effects that occur only rarely, usually with high doses of betamethasone, include
• acne,
• increased hair growth,
• thinning of the skin,
• cataracts,
• glaucoma,
• osteoporosis,
• roundness of the face, and
• changes in behavior.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect betamethasone?

• Do not take any other over-the-counter or prescription medications, including herbal products, during treatment with betamethasone without first talking to your doctor. Many other medicines can interact with betamethasone resulting in side effects or altered effectiveness of the medications.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has addition information written for health professionals about betamethasone that you may read.
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Limitations of This Canadian Pharmacy Information

Efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. This is an educational resource only intended to supplement but not to replace the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, please check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist. This site does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided here.

Full public license and copyright information is available separately from Cerner Multum, Inc.

Version: 3.03. Revision date: 7/2/03.