Drug Details
Generic Name:
Common Brands:
Beta-Val, Diprolene, Luxiq, Maxivate, Sernivo, Valnac, Diprosone (discontinued), Alphatrex (discontinued), and combination products like Lotrisone (betamethasone and clotrimazole) and Taclonex or Enstilar (betamethasone and calcipotriene)
Availability:
Prescription only
Therapeutic Class:
Anti-inflammatory topical corticosteroids
Forms:
Cream, ointment, gel, lotion, foam, spray
Administration:
Topical therapy (direct application to the skin)
Therapeutic Uses:
- Inflammatory skin conditions
- Mild to moderate plaque psoriasis (Sernivo brand)
Controlled Status:
Not a controlled substance
Betamethasone Dipropionate Drug Class
Betamethasone dipropionate (bay-tah-meth-ah-zone dye-proh-pee-oh-nate) is a topical corticosteroid.
Betamethasone Dipropionate Age Range
Betamethasone dipropionate is approved for use in adults and children over the age of 13 years. The spray form of this drug (Sernivo brand) is for use in adults over the age of 18 years to treat plaque psoriasis.
Betamethasone topical is not recommended for pediatric patients (children younger than 13 years) because of the risk of HPA axis suppression (adrenal suppression) which leads to inadequate cortisol (stress hormone) production. Children receiving topical corticosteroids like betamethasone topical cream may have an inadequate response to stressors such as infections, inflammation, surgery, trauma, and physical stress due to systemic absorption of the drug. Prolonged use of topical corticosteroids can also affect a child’s growth.
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