Introduction

Name

• Betamethasone.

Class of drug

• Glucocorticoid   Therapeutics: glucocorticoids  .

Uses

Indications

• Anti-inflammatory - potency 8.75 times greater than prednisolone.
• May have role in management of shock.

Administration

Pharmacokinetics

Precautions

Interactions

with other drugs

• Metabolism of corticosteroids may be accelerated.
• Increased risk of gastrointestinal ulceration if NSAIDs used concurrently.
• Concurrent use of corticosteroids increases risk of hypokalemia.

with diagnostic tests

• May increase urine glucose levels.
• May decrease serum T3 and T4 values.

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Based on Small Animal Formulary. Tennant Bryn (1999) 3rd edn. Cheltenham: BSAVA.