II. Indications

  1. Antiiflammatory
  2. Fetal Lung Maturity in Preterm Labor

III. Mechanism

V. Dosing: Adult

  1. See Intra-articular Corticosteroid
  2. Systemic Betamethasone (Celestone)
    1. Antiinflammatory: 0.5 to 0.9 mg IM or orally daily
    2. Preterm Labor (for Fetal Lung Maturity): 12 mg IM every 24 hours for 2 doses between 24 and 34 weeks gestation

VI. Pharmacokinetics

  1. High potency
  2. High anti-inflammatory potency
  3. No Mineralocorticoid Activity
  4. Long Half-Life (36-54 hours)

VII. Adverse Effects

VIII. Safety

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies

Cost: Medications

betamethasone (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
BETAMETHASONE DP 0.05% CRM Generic $0.66 per gram
BETAMETHASONE DP 0.05% LOT Generic $0.33 per ml
BETAMETHASONE DP 0.05% OINT Generic $0.95 per gram
BETAMETHASONE DP AUG 0.05% CRM Generic $0.23 per gram
BETAMETHASONE DP AUG 0.05% LOT Generic $0.56 per ml
BETAMETHASONE DP AUG 0.05% OIN Generic $0.82 per gram
BETAMETHASONE SP-AC 30 MG/5 ML Generic $8.02 per ml
BETAMETHASONE VA 0.1% CREAM Generic $0.61 per gram
BETAMETHASONE VA 0.1% LOTION Generic $0.52 per ml
BETAMETHASONE VALER 0.1% OINTM Generic $0.63 per gram
BETAMETHASONE VALER 0.12% FOAM Generic $0.88 per gram
celestone soluspan (on 10/19/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
CELESTONE SOLUSPAN 30 MG/5 ML Generic $8.02 per ml

Ontology: Betamethasone (C0005308)

Definition (NCI) A synthetic glucocorticoid with metabolic, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities. Betamethasone binds to specific intracellular glucocorticoid receptors and subsequently binds to DNA to modify gene expression. The synthesis of certain anti-inflammatory proteins is induced while the synthesis of certain inflammatory mediators is inhibited. As a result, there is an overall reduction in chronic inflammation and autoimmune reactions.
Definition (MSH) A glucocorticoid given orally, parenterally, by local injection, by inhalation, or applied topically in the management of various disorders in which corticosteroids are indicated. Its lack of mineralocorticoid properties makes betamethasone particularly suitable for treating cerebral edema and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p724)
Definition (PDQ) A synthetic glucocorticoid with metabolic, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities. Betamethasone binds to specific intracellular glucocorticoid receptors and subsequently binds to DNA to modify gene expression. The synthesis of certain anti-inflammatory proteins is induced while the synthesis of certain inflammatory mediators is inhibited. As a result, there is an overall reduction in chronic inflammation and autoimmune reactions. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39273&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39273&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C303" NCI Thesaurus)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Steroid (T110) , Hormone (T125)
MSH D001623
SnomedCT 116571008, 29896003
LNC LP35866-0, MTHU017343
English Betadexamethasone, Betamethasone, Flubenisolone, Pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, 9-fluoro-11,17,21-trihydroxy-16-methyl-, (11beta,16beta)-, betamethasone (medication), Betamethasone [Chemical/Ingredient], BETAMETHASONE, betamethasone, Betamethasone preparation, Flubenisolone preparation, Betamethasone (substance), Betamethasone preparation (product), Betamethasone preparation (substance)
Swedish Betametason
Czech betamethason
Finnish Beetametasoni
Italian Betadesametasone, Flubenisolone, Betametasone
Russian BETADEKSAMETAZON, BETAMETAZON, FLUBENIZOLON, БЕТАДЕКСАМЕТАЗОН, БЕТАМЕТАЗОН, ФЛУБЕНИЗОЛОН
Spanish preparado de betametasona (producto), betametasona (producto), preparado de flubenisolona, preparado de betametasona, betametasona (sustancia), betametasona, preparado de betametasona (sustancia), Betadexametasona, Betametasona, Flubenisolona
Polish Flubenisolonum, Betametazon
Japanese フルベニソロン, ベタメタゾン, ベタデキサメタゾン
French Bétaméthasone
German Betadexamethason, Betamethason, Flubenisolon
Portuguese Betadexametasona, Betametasona, Flubenisolona