Betametasonlösliga tabletter

About betamethasone

Betamethasone belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids. It is sometimes referred to simply as an oral steroid.

Oral steroids like betamethasone are used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Some examples include autoimmune diseases (for example, systemisk lupus erythematosus, autoimmun hepatit, sarkoidos); joint and muscle diseases (for example, reumatoid artrit); and allergier och astma. They are also used in the treatment of some cancers. Betamethasone works by interfering with the release of certain chemicals in the body which cause inflammation.

Betamethasone is also prescribed as a replacement treatment for people who are not producing enough natural corticosteroid in their bodies due to an adrenal gland disorder called congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

Before taking betamethasone

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking betamethasone it is important that your doctor knows:

• Om du har högt blodtryck (hypertoni).

• Om du har haft en hjärtattack, eller om du har några andra hjärtproblem.

• Om du har några problem med hur din lever fungerar, eller om du har några problem med hur dina njurar fungerar.

• Om du (eller en nära familjemedlem) har antingen diabetes eller ett ögontillstånd som kallas glaukom.

• Om du har något av följande tillstånd: en underaktiv sköldkörtel, 'benskörhet' (osteoporos), epilepsi, ett tillstånd som orsakar muskelsvaghet (kallat myasthenia gravis), magsår eller en tarmsjukdom.

• Om du någonsin har haft ett psykiskt hälsoproblem.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding. (Oral steroids like betamethasone can be taken while you are expecting or breastfeeding; however, it is important that your doctor knows about the baby.)

• Om du har någon form av infektion just nu, eller om du någonsin har haft tuberkulos (TB).

• Om du någonsin har haft en oönskad blodpropp i en artär eller en ven.

• Om du nyligen har fått, eller är på väg att få, några vaccinationer.

• Om du tar eller använder några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot ett läkemedel, eller om du någonsin har utvecklat muskelvärk efter att ha tagit en steroidmedicin.

How to take betamethasone

• Before starting the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack and any additional information you are given by your doctor. These will give you more information about betamethasone and will also provide you with a full list of side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how many tablets to take and when to take them. This information will also be printed on the label of the packet of tablets to remind you about what was said to you. It is usual to take one dose a day. If you are taking it for an inflammatory condition, it is best to take the tablets each morning after breakfast. If you are taking it for CAH, it is likely you will be advised to take your doses at night.

• Betamethasone tablets are best taken dissolved in water, although they can be swallowed whole. Take your doses with food, such as after a meal or with a snack.

• Om du glömmer att ta en dos vid din vanliga tid, ta den så snart du kommer ihåg (med något att äta). Om du inte kommer ihåg förrän nästa dag, hoppa över den missade dosen. Ta inte två doser tillsammans för att kompensera för en glömd dos.

• Depending upon your medical condition, you will either be asked to take betamethasone regularly every day, or to take it daily for a short course of treatment. It is important that you take the tablets exactly as your doctor tells you to. Stopping taking the tablets suddenly after taking them for more than three weeks can cause problems, so your doctor will probably want you to reduce your dose gradually if/when this becomes necessary.

Få ut det mesta av din behandling

• If your course of treatment is due to last more than three weeks, you will be given a 'Steroid Treatment Card' which says that you are on steroids and contains some important advice for you. It is important that you read this card and carry it with you at all times. It also contains details about your dose, how long you have been taking betamethasone for, and who prescribed it for you. Please make sure that this information is kept up to date. If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, or if you are having any treatment for an injury, please tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking betamethasone and show them your treatment card. This is because your dose may need adjusting.

• Försök att hålla dina regelbundna möten med din läkare. Detta är så att din läkare kan kontrollera dina framsteg. Din läkare kommer att vilja att du gör tester då och då för att säkerställa att du förblir fri från några av de oönskade biverkningarna av behandlingen.

• Betamethasone can suppress your immune system, so it is important if you become ill that you make an appointment to see your doctor straightaway. Also, if you come into contact with anyone who has measles, shingles or chickenpox (or anyone who suspects they might have them), you måste see your doctor as soon as possible.

• Some vaccines are not suitable for you while you are being treated with betamethasone. If you need any immunisations, make sure you mention that you are taking betamethasone.

• If you buy any medicines 'over the counter', please check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with an oral steroid.

Can betamethasone cause problems?

Along with its useful effects, betamethasone can cause unwanted side-effects which your doctor will discuss with you. The benefits of taking betamethasone usually outweigh the side-effects; however, they can sometimes be troublesome. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with betamethasone. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer's printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. Alternatively, you can find an example of a manufacturer's information leaflet in the reference section below.

Även om inte alla upplever biverkningar, och vissa kommer att förbättras när din kropp anpassar sig till den nya medicinen, tala med din läkare eller apotekare om du blir orolig över något av följande:

Viktigt: you should let your doctor know if you start to experience blurred vision or other vision problems whilst taking betamethasone tablets.

For more information about side-effects which are possible when betamethasone is taken long-term, see the separate condition leaflet called Oral Steroids.

How to store betamethasone

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