What is betamethasone topical?
Betamethasone is a topical steroid. It reduces the actions of chemicals in the body that cause inflammation, redness, and swelling.
Betamethasone topical is used to treat the inflammation caused by a number of conditions such as allergic reactions, eczema, and psoriasis. The dental paste form of betamethasone is used to treat mouth ulcers.
Betamethasone topical may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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Interactions
Precautions
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to betamethasone.
Before using betamethasone topical, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have any type of skin infection.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether betamethasone topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not use this medication on a child without a doctor’s advice. Children are more sensitive to the effects of betamethasone topical.
Avoid getting this medication in your eyes, mouth, and nose, or on your lips. If it does get into any of these areas, wash with water. Do not use betamethasone topical on sunburned, windburned, irritated, or broken skin. Also avoid using this medication in open wounds.
Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps or shampoos or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime. Do not use other medicated skin products unless your doctor has told you to.
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Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine, or if anyone has accidentally swallowed it. An overdose of betamethasone topical applied to the skin is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.
Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these signs that you may be absorbing betamethasone topical through your skin or gums:
- blurred vision, or seeing halos around lights;
- uneven heartbeats;
- mood changes;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- weight gain, puffiness in your face; or
- feeling tired.
Less serious side effects may include:
- skin redness, burning, itching, or peeling;
- thinning of your skin; or
- blistering skin; or
- stretch marks.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Interactions
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied betamethasone topical. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Other Names
Alphatrex, Beta-Val, Betaderm, Betanate, Betatrex, Del-Beta, Diprolene, Diprolene AF, Diprosone, Luxiq, Maxivate, Teladar, Uticort, Valisone, and betamethasone topical
Available Strengths & Dosages
| Route |
Form |
Strength |
| topical |
foam |
0.12% |
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, 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. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. 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, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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