Side Effects:

Common Electrolyte imbalance, Redistribution/accumulation of body fat, Bone degradation, Increased risk of infection, Muscle disorders, Increased blood pressure, Altered bone growth, Skin scar, Behavioural changes, Cataract, Increased glucose level in blood.

Common Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level), Injection site allergic reaction.

Expert advice for Betamethasone

Take betamethasone tablet by mouth with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. 
Do not take betamethasone tablets If you are allergic to betamethasone or any of the other ingredients of the tablet.
Do not take betamethasone tablets If you have an infection and have not yet started taking medicine (e.g. antibiotics) to treat it.
Do not use betamethasone cream if you are allergic to betamethasone or any of the other ingredients in this medicine.
Do not use the cream on your face repetitively for more than 5 days.
Do not use a large amount of cream continuously on large areas of the body since it can affect your hormones.
Excessive usage of cream in children might affect their growth and development.
Don’t apply the cream near your eyes.
Don’t swallow the cream, it is not meant for internal use.
Don’t use the cream under plaster or bandage.

Expert advice for Wosulin-R Solution for Injection
Wosulin-r helps to control blood glucose level and avoids long-term complications. You should continue to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and take your other diabetes medicines along with Wosulin-r. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) is a common side-effect; learn how to identify and manage its symptoms (sweating, rapid heartbeat, weakness, blurry vision, headache) and teach your family as well. Take Wosulin-r 45 to 60 minutes before a meal. Injection below the skin of the abdomen results in faster absorption than other injection sites. Injection sites must be rotated to prevent hard lumps from developing at one site. Opened vials/cartridge are good at room temperature for up to 4 weeks, while unopened vials must be placed in the refrigerator  (2°C–8°C).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Betamethasone a steroid?
Betamethasone is a glucocorticoid and belongs to a group of medicines called steroids also known as corticosteroids. These are synthesized naturally in the body and help to maintain health and well-being. Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids are involved in a wide range of physiologic processes, including stress response, immune response, and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior.

Q. Is Betamethasone safe to use?
Betamethasone is safe to use when used for an indication in a dose as advised by your doctor.

Q. Does Betamethasone cause hair loss?
Betamethasone is not known to cause hair loss. Rather, it may cause an increase in body hair growth (especially in females) on long-term use. Talk to your doctor if you get excessive hair growth on your body while taking Betamethasone.

Q. Is Betamethasone an antibiotic?
Betamethasone is not an antibiotic. It's a glucocorticoid.

Q. Does Betamethasone work in retention edema?
Betamethasone is not used in retention edema. Glucocorticoids can cause fluid and salt retention as a side effect thereby causing edema or aggravating edema. However, Betamethasone does not normally cause retention of salt and water and the risk of inducing edema and hypertension is almost negligible.

Q. Is Betamethasone stronger than hydrocortisone?
Betamethasone and hydrocortisone belong to the same class of medications (i.e. corticosteroids) and produce almost similar pharmacological responses. The effect may vary based on the conditions and individual response. Always follow doctor’s advice regarding its use.

Q. Can I take Betamethasone with ibuprofen?
An increase in the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding may occur if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen are taken with corticosteroids. Talk to your doctor before taking Betamethasone with any NSAID.

Q. Does Betamethasone expire?
Yes, Betamethasone does expire. All the medicines come with an expiry date mentioned on the pack. You must check the expiry date before using any medicine.

Q. Does Betamethasone cause insomnia?
Betamethasone can cause insomnia (inability to sleep). Most people find that using this medicine for a short time causes no problems. Talk to your doctor if you experience insomnia while taking Betamethasone.

Q. Does Betamethasone cause weight gain?
Betamethasone can cause weight gain especially when high doses taken for a long time or repeated short courses are taken. Please consult your doctor if you experience weight gain after taking Betamethasone.

Q. Is Betamethasone a hydrocortisone?
Betamethasone is not a hydrocortisone. These are two different drugs which belong to the same group of medicines called steroids (also known as corticosteroids).

Q. Is Betamethasone over the counter?
Betamethasone is not an over the counter (OTC) medicine. It is available only when prescribed by a doctor.

Q. Is insulin safe for type 2 diabetes mellitus?
Yes,insulin is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by your doctor. Insulin is safe for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus if used as advised by your doctor

Q. Is insulin water soluble?
Yes,insulin is a water soluble hormone naturally produced by the body

Q. Is insulin a protein and a macromolecule?
Yes,insulin is a protein chain or peptide hormone. Proteins are very large complex macromolecules, and insulin being a protein chain is a macromolecule (53 amino acids with high molecular weight)

Q. Is insulin injection painful?
No, insulin injection is not painful. If you experience pain while injecting consult your doctor and check if your injection techniques are correct

Q. Is insulin better than pills?
Insulin and antidiabetic pills are used in the treatment of diabetes. Both produce same effects of lowering blood sugar levels. Your doctor may advise the right kind of treatment for your type of diabetes

Q. Is insulin resistance reversible?
Insulin resistance (body produces insulin but does not use it effectively) may or may not be reversible condition depending on the stage at which it is detected

Q. What can I take for insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance can be managed by antidiabetic medications or insulin therapy. Your doctor may advise the right kind of treatment for your insulin resistance states

Q. Can I take insulin with Victoza (liraglutide)?
Victoza (liraglutide) is an antidiabetic therapy. Liraglutide together with insulin can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding insulin use with Victoza

Q. Can I take insulin with metformin?
Metformin is an antidiabetic medicine. Metformin together with insulin can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding insulin use with metformin

Q. Can I take insulin with Januvia (sitagliptin)/ glipizide/ glyburide?
Januvia (sitagliptin)/ glipizide/ glyburide is an oral antidiabetic medicine. Januvia (sitagliptin)/ glipizide/ glyburide together with insulin can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding insulin use with Januvia (sitagliptin)/ glipizide/ glyburide

Q. Can I take ibuprofen with insulin?
There is no known interaction of insulin with ibuprofen. Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding insulin use with ibuprofen

Q. Can I take Benadryl (diphenhydramine) with insulin?
There are no known interactions of insulin with Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding insulin use with Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

Q. Can I take aspirin with insulin?
Aspirin together with insulin can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding insulin use with aspirin

Q. Does insulin pen need to be refrigerated?
Insulin pens only require refrigeration until their first use. After the initial use, it must be kept at a room temperature

Q. Does insulin/ Lantus insulin cause weight gain?
Insulin may or may not cause weight gain. Patients should follow the advice of the doctor regarding its use

Q. Does insulin cause constipation?
There are no known effects of insulin on constipation

Q. Does insulin affect kidneys?
There are no known effects of insulin on kidney function. Excessively high blood sugar levels, uncontrolled diabetes and inappropriate action of natural insulin may affect your kidneys

Q. Does insulin make you hungry?
Insulin helps your body use food more efficiently. Therefore you might feel hungry.