Adalimumab
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy.
Source: DDInter
Drug reference
Betamethasone
Corticosteroid
Corticosteroid
CDSCO approvedSchedule H
EXCRETION
—
not curated
INTERACTIONS
12 major
SEVERE in our sources
PREGNANCY
—
not curated
Top interactionssee all 12 →
- AdalimumabSevereDatabaseDDInter
- BaricitinibSevereDatabaseDDInter
- Bempedoic AcidSevereDatabaseDDInter
- Brexucabtagene AutoleucelSevereDatabaseDDInter
Mechanism
Betamethasone possesses little to no mineralocorticoid action. Its prolonged duration of action renders it suitable for suppressing corticotropin secretion in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Like other glucocorticoids, it exerts its most profound and lasting suppressive effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis when administered at night.
Indications
Suppression of corticotropin secretion in congenital adrenal hyperplasiaConditions where water retention would be a disadvantageManagement of raised intracranial pressure or cerebral oedema due to malignancyAcute hypersensitivity reactions (as an adjunct to emergency treatment with adrenaline/epinephrine for conditions such as angioedema of the upper respiratory tract and anaphylaxis)Inflammatory conditions of the skin (topical use)Ulcerative colitis (topical or systemic use)Crohn’s disease (topical or systemic use)Haemorrhoids (in locally applied creams)Exfoliative dermatitisPemphigusAcute leukaemiaAcute transplant rejectionantenatal use (in premature labor to decrease incidence of respiratory distress syndrome)dermatitisatopic dermatitisvitiligopsoriasiscorticosteroid-responsive ophthalmic disorders: allergic conjunctivitis and marginal corneal ulcer, anterior segment inflammation, chorioretinitis, conjunctivitis, endophthalmitis (off-label), Graves’ ophthalmopathy, herpes zoster ocular infection, iritis, keratitis, postoperative ocular inflammation, optic neuritis, diffuse posterior uveitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitisinflammatory conditionsallergic conditionscerebral edemafoetal lung maturation (12 mg i.m. to mother at 24 hour interval)
Dosing
- Adult
- Dose changes Changes in dose statements that appear in the print edition of BNF 80 (September 2020—March 2021): . Benzoin tincture, compound p. 313 [updated child age range]. . Betamethasone with clioquinol p. 1314 [updated child age range]. Co-fluampicil p. 582 [update to dosing information]. Ergotamine tartrate with caffeine hydrate and cyclizine hydrochloride p. 500 [addition of max. courses...
Pharmacokinetics
Duration
Long duration of action; suppressive action on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is most prolonged when given at night
Half-life
biological t½ > 36 hours
Contraindications
- Psoriasis (should be avoided or used only under specialist supervision)
- High-dose corticosteroids should be avoided for septic shock
- Head injury
- Stroke
- peptic ulcer
- diabetes mellitus
- hypertension
- viral infections
- fungal infections
- tuberculosis
- other infections
- osteoporosis
- herpes simplex keratitis
- psychosis
- epilepsy
- congestive heart failure
- renal failure
Side effects
Serious
- HPA axis suppression (with long-term use)
- adrenal insufficiency (upon withdrawal)
- fluid and electrolyte abnormalities
- hypertension
- hyperglycemia
- increased susceptibility to infection
- peptic ulcers
- osteoporosis
- myopathy
- behavioral disturbances
- cataracts
- growth arrest (in children)
- fat redistribution
- striae
- ecchymoses
- osteonecrosis
- pseudotumor cerebri (upon withdrawal)
- posterior subcapsular cataracts
- secondary infections
- secondary open-angle glaucoma
- marked pituitary-adrenal suppression
Drug interactions
Baricitinib
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: others
Source: DDInter
Bempedoic Acid
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Brexucabtagene Autoleucel
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: others
Source: DDInter
Bupropion
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy.
Source: DDInter
Carbamazepine
Severe
Database
Decreased plasma concentrations and efficacy of betamethasone, leading to potential adrenal insufficiency.
Monitor for decreased corticosteroid effect. A significant increase in betamethasone dose may be required. Monitor carbamazepine levels as well.
Source: DDInter
Certolizumab
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Cinoxacin
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Ciprofloxacin
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy.
Source: DDInter
Cladribine
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Deferasirox
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
Delafloxacin
Severe
Database
Drug interaction classified as: synergy
Source: DDInter
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Other Corticosteroid drugs
Ask House about Betamethasone
Continue into a citation-backed clinical answer with the drug context already attached.
Sources: KD Tripathi 7e, Goodman & Gilman 14e, BNF·Verified: 2026-05-13 · House clinical team