Category:

• Miscellaneous

Description:

• Anti-inflammatory adrenocortical steroid

Indications:

• Congenital hyperplasia, bursitis, epicondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis

• Systemic lupus erythematosus, pemphigus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, severe psoriasis, mycosis, fungoides

• Bronchial asthma, dermatitis, serum sickness, hypersensitivity reacitions, iritis, keratitis

• Ulcerative colitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, erythroblastopenia

Contraindications:

• Premature infants

• Systemic fungal infections

Precautions:

• Pregnancy category

• Corneal perforation may occur in patients with ocular herpes simplex

• Psychic derangements may occur

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• sodium/fluid retention, hypertension, hypokalemic alkalosis, loss of muscle mass

• aseptic necrosis of femoral/humoral heads, tendon rupture, thin skin, petechiae

• menstrual irregularities, decreased carbohydrate tolerance, glaucoma, exophthalmos

• pigmentation changes, negative nitrogen balance

Dosage:

Administered intravenously, intramuscularly

• Initial dose 100mg or 500mg, depending upon severity of the condition; may repeat dose at intervals of 2, 4, or 6 hours as indicated by patient response.  

• Dose may be reduced in infants and children, but it is governed more by the severity of the condition and response of the patient than by age or body weight but should not be less than 25mg daily.

• Usual dosage does not extend past 48 to 72 hours.  

• Prophylactic antacid therapy may be indicated to reduce likelihood of peptic ulceration.