Betamethasone Injection

Betamethasone injection is used to reduce inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and to treat allergic reactions, low amounts of corticosteroids produced by the body, and immune system conditions. Betamethasone injection is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by changing the response of the immune system or to replace steroids that are normally produced by the body.

Betamethasone injection comes as a suspension (liquid) to be injected into a muscle, joint, or lesion (area of damaged skin) by a healthcare provider. How often and how long it will be given is dependent on the condition being treated. Your doctor will tell you how often and for how long you should receive betamethasone injection.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before receiving betamethasone injection,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while receiving betamethasone injection. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have an infection anywhere in the body, including infections that come and go, such as cold sores, and chronic infections that do not go away, or if you often get any type of infection such as bladder infections. Also tell your doctor if have or have ever had hypertension (high blood pressure), heart failure or any other heart disease, have pheochromocytoma (tumor that develops in adrenal gland causing it to overproduce hormones), infection with hepatitis B (a virus that affects the liver), eye disease such as glaucoma, or any disease that affects your immune system, such as cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID) or are on medications that affect your immune system. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had tuberculosis (TB; a lung infection that may not cause symptoms for many years and that may spread to other parts of the body) or if you have been around someone who has or has had tuberculosis. Your doctor may give you a skin test to see whether you are infected with tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a positive skin test for tuberculosis in the past.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while receiving betamethasone injection, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving betamethasone injection.
• you should know that your blood pressure may increase during your treatment with betamethasone injection. Your doctor will probably monitor your blood pressure during your treatment.
• do not have any vaccinations without talking to your doctor.
• you should know to avoid contact with people who have chicken pox or measles. If you are in contact with people with these conditions, call your doctor right away.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Betamethasone injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• swelling, sudden weight gain
• depression or changes in mood, insomnia
• headache
• acne

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• itching, rash, hives
• swelling of the lips, eyes, face, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing or swallowing
• sore throat, fever, cough, chills, difficulty or painful urinating, or other signs of infection
• vision problems
• seizures
• abnormal patches on the skin or mouth
• muscle aches and pains, muscle weakness, dark urine

Betamethasone injection may cause osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.

Betamethasone injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to betamethasone injection.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are receiving betamethasone injection.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

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