Betamethasone + Clotrimazole | Prescribing Information

Betamethasone & Clotrimazole topical combination is used to treat fungus infections. Clotrimazole works by killing the fungus or preventing its growth. Betamethasone, a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid), is used to help relieve redness, swelling, itching, and other discomfort of fungus infections.

Indications:

This topical preparation is indicated for the topical treatment of inflammatory dermal infections like-

  • Tinea pedis
  • Tinea cruris
  • Tinea corporis etc.

Pharmacology:

Clotrimazole is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent used for the treatment of superficial infections caused by species of pathogenic dermatophytes, yeasts, and Malassezia furfur. The mechanism of action involves inhibition of the synthesis of ergosterol, a major sterol in the fungal cell membrane. This leads to instability of the cell membrane and eventual death of the fungus. Betamethasone is a corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. However, the exact mechanism of action of corticosteroids is not known.

Dosage & Administration:

Sufficient topical preparation should be applied onto the affected and surrounding skin areas twice a day, in the morning and evening, for 2 weeks in tinea cruris and tinea corporis and 4 weeks in tinea pedis. The use of this cream for longer than four weeks is not recommended.

The safety and effectiveness of the preparation have not been established in children below the age of 12 years.

Interaction:

No information is available on drug interaction.

Contraindications:

This topical preparation is contraindicated to those patients who are sensitive to any of its components or other corticosteroids or to imidazoles. If irritation or sensitization develops with the use of the cream, treatment should be discontinued and appropriate therapy instituted. The cream is contraindicated in facial rosacea, acne vulgaris, perioral dermatitis, perianal and genital pruritus, napkin eruptions, and bacterial or viral infections. Systemic absorption of topical corticosteroids can produce reversible hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression. If HPA axis suppression is noted, an attempt should be made to withdraw the drug or to reduce the frequency of application. Pediatric patients may be more susceptible to systemic toxicity from equivalent doses due to their large skin surface-to-body mass ratios.

Side Effects:

Adverse reactions reported for the preparation in clinical trials were paresthesia in 1.9% of patients, rash, edema, and secondary infection, each in less than 1% of patients. Other adverse reactions reported with the preparation were burning and dry skin in 1.6% of patients and stinging in less than 1% of patients.

Pregnancy & Lactation:

There is inadequate evidence of safety in pregnancy. Clotrimazole has no teratogenic effect in animals but is foetotoxic at high oral doses. Topical administration of corticosteroids to pregnant animals can cause abnormalities in fetal development. Hence the cream should only be used in pregnancy if the benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus and such use should not be extensive,i.e. in large amounts or for long periods. It is not known whether the components of the preparation are excreted in human milk and therefore caution should be exercised when treating nursing mothers.

Overdose Effects:

An acute overdose of the cream is unlikely and would not be expected to lead to a life-threatening situation. The cream should not be used for longer than the prescribed period.

Storage Conditions:

  • Store in a cool & dry place below 30°C.
  • Protect from light & moisture.
  • Keep out of reach of children.

References:

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