Betamethasone

Betamethasone

Clinical data
Trade names	Celestone
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
Pregnancy category	US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration	Oral,Topical,IM
ATC code	A07EA04 (WHO) C05AA05 (WHO) D07AC01 (WHO) H02AB01 (WHO) R01AD06 (WHO) R03BA04 (WHO) S01BA06 (WHO) S02BA07 (WHO) S03BA03 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	hepatic CYP3A4
Biological half-life	36-54 hours
Excretion	Renal (in urine)
Identifiers
IUPAC name (8S,9R,10S,11S,13S,14S,16S,17R)-9-fluoro- 11,17-dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-10,13,16-trimethyl- 6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro- 3H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
CAS Number	378-44-9 Y
PubChem (CID)	9782
IUPHAR/BPS	7061
DrugBank	DB00443 Y
ChemSpider	9399 Y
UNII	9842X06Q6M Y
KEGG	D00244 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:3077 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL632 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.006.206
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C22H29FO5
Molar mass	392.461
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES O=C(CO)[C@]3(O)[C@]2(C[C@H](O)[C@]4(F)[C@@]/1(\C(=C/C(=O)\C=C\1)CC[C@H]4[C@@H]2C[C@@H]3C)C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C22H29FO5/c1-12-8-16-15-5-4-13-9-14(25)6-7-19(13,2)21(15,23)17(26)10-20(16,3)22(12,28)18(27)11-24/h6-7,9,12,15-17,24,26,28H,4-5,8,10-11H2,1-3H3/t12-,15-,16-,17-,19-,20-,21-,22-/m0/s1 Y Key:UREBDLICKHMUKA-DVTGEIKXSA-N Y

Betamethasone is a steroid medication. It is used for a number of diseases including rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, skin diseases such as dermatitis and psoriasis, allergic conditions such as asthma and angioedema, preterm labor to speed the development of the baby's lungs, Crohn's disease, cancers such as leukemia, and along with fludrocortisone for adrenocortical insufficiency, among others. It can be taken by mouth, injected into a muscle, or applied as a cream. When given by injection, anti-inflammatory effects begin in around two hours and last for seven days.

Serious side effects include an increased risk of infection, muscle weakness, severe allergic reactions, and psychosis. Long-term use may cause adrenal insufficiency. Stopping the medication suddenly following long-term use may be dangerous. The cream commonly results in increased hair growth and skin irritation. Betamethasone belongs to the glucocorticoid class of medication.

Betamethasone was approved for medical use in the United States in 1961. The cream is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is available as a generic medication. In the United States the pills and injectable solution are expensive while the cream is not.