About Betamethasone Dipropionate as Treatment for Skin Conditions: Learn More Here
Indications
Betamethasone dipropionate is prescribed to those persons that have itching or inflammation due to many varieties of skin conditions including insect bites, poison ivy, psoriasis as well as many other conditions. This drug is found in cream and ointment forms, and is easily massaged into the skin to help relieve the itching on the surface of the skin as well as to help curb the immune system’s response to cause the itching and irritation.
Dosing Information
Normally a thin strip of the medication in cream or ointment form is placed on the affected skin once or twice a day. This should be massaged into the skin gently until it disappears. Although it can be prescribed for other uses, this should only be used for less than 2 weeks continuously and no more than 50 ml should be used weekly to avoid overdosing issues. Always follow physician’s directions for dosing and use.
Contraindications
There are no known drug interactions with this medication, but other lotions should not be used at the same time or on the same areas affected. This could lead to contaminating the other areas of the body with the prescription lotion, and could lessen the effects of the medication overall due to dilution.
Drug Interactions
There are no known drug interactions to be found for this medication. This solution sometimes suppresses the production of cortisol in the body, especially in the lotion diprolene. If the suppression goes on for long enough, stopping the medication can have side effects much like symptoms of glucocorticoid deficiency where the adrenal glands are taking extra time to begin producing again.
Side Effects
Side effects of betamethasone dipropionate include burning of the skin on the applied area as well as itching, dryness and irritation of the skin. Each of these are unusual for side effects, and therefore should be reported to a physician when they are felt. Although no other side effects are found from this drug, skin reacts differently with topical solutions so any side effects suffered should be reported to a doctor immediately.
Risks
It is not known if this drug can be secreted in breast milk, so it is best that nursing or pregnant mothers not partake of this medication during pregnancy or while breast feeding. Absorption of this medication can increase the blood sugar, and can cause excess weight gain and psychiatric problems associated with excess glucocorticoid. In testing, pregnant animals showed fetal abnormalities after being given this medication. There is no data at this time on pregnant women in any studies for this medication, so the use of this drug during pregnancy should be carefully considered.
Resources
Drugs.com from the publication Betamethasone Dipropionate publication date unknown.
MedicineNet.com from the article Betamethasone Dipropionate Index last reviewed 4/4/1999
