Betamethasone – soluble tablets
Brands Names: Betacare, Betapred, Betasone, Betnesol
- Form of administration: Soluble tablets
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Why is the drug here:
A steroidal drug that is widely used in pediatrics, due to its easy administration form and its good taste.
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Purpose of treatment:
In most cases the treatment will be recommended by the pediatrician in cases of stridor or bouts of wheezing / asthma.
- Ingredients: The active ingredient is called Betamethasone.
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How to use:
The drug comes in a tablet form, each tablet at the dose of 0.5 mg. Dissolve the tablets in a small amount of water and give the child to drink. Usually the dose is one tablet for every 5 kg of body weight, in the morning and in the evening. For example, a child who weighs 13 kilograms will usually receive 2.5 tablets (the tablet can be cut in half) in the morning and 2.5 tablets in the evening. Theoretically, there is no maximum dose, but in my opinion, in older children that weigh about 20 kilograms or more, there are more comfortable alternatives to this drug.
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Benefits:
Its easy to give and has good taste
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Side Effects:
The main disadvantage of the drug is that it crosses the blood-brain barrier and as such, leads to an unpleasant side effect of irritability and restlessness in children. This side effect depends on the dose, meaning, it is possible to try to reduce the dose in these children. However, there are some children who continue to suffer from these side effects, regardless of dose reduction. These children will not be given this drug in the future.
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Another word from the doctor:
The treatment with steroids in general, and with Betamethasone – soluble tablets in particular, will not be given for prolonged periods exceeding a few days.