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Deflazocort: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions, Price & More

CashKaro Medical Expert

July 4, 2018

What is Deflazocort?

• Deflazocort is a synthetic glucocorticoid medicine derived from Prednisolone which has immune-suppressive and anti-inflammatory properties.
• It is used mainly for inflammatory and immunological disorders
• It is used as a therapeutic alternative for several disorders, including
• Rheumatoid arthritis; juvenile chronic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatic
• Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a progressive disease in which the muscles do not function properly)
• Asthma, severe hypersensitivity reactions
• Transplant surgeries (for immune suppression)
• Pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid (immune-mediated skin diseases)
• Blood disorders like Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Acute and lymphatic leukaemia, malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma

Manufactured By – ICON LIFE SCIENCES

How does Deflazocort work?

• Deflazocort is an effective inhibitor of the early phase of inflammation, as well as of the development of chronic inflammation.
• Deflazocort significantly inhibits both the proliferation of mononuclear cells (characteristic of inflammatory cells), and the release of inflammatory products or substances by these cells – thereby exerting immune-suppressive actions.

Deflazocort Price in India

How to Take Deflazocort?

• The dosage and duration of this medication should be taken as advised by the doctor.
• The dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to therapy.
• Deflazacort comes in the form of tablets and syrups to be taken by mouth.
• It is usually taken once a day with or without food.
• Deflazacort should be taken at around the same time every day.
• If the patient faces difficulty in swallowing the tablet as a whole, it can be crushed & mixed with applesauce and taken immediately.
• Shake the syrup bottle well before using and always use measuring device to consume exact dose.
• Slowly add the measured dose of Deflazocort syrup into 3 – 4 ounces of juice or milk and consume immediately.

Common Dosage for Deflazocort?

• Dosage is usually based on your condition
• Doses of Deflazacort usually lie in the range 0.25 – 1.5 mg/kg/day.
• The common availability of Deflazocort is –

Tablets: 6 mg, 18 mg, 30 mg, and 36 mg

Oral Suspension: 22.75 mg/mL

When to Avoid Deflazocort?

Deflazocort should not be used if you are:

• Allergic to any of its components
• Increased blood pressure
• Thromboembolic disorders.
• Diabetes mellitus or a family history,
• Osteoporosis,
• Myasthenia gravis,
• Liver, kidney, heart, intestinal, adrenal, or thyroid disease.
• Hepatitis B
• Herpes eye infection
• Cataracts; glaucoma
• Emotional problems, depression, or other types of mental illness;
• Pheochromocytoma (tumour on a small gland near the kidneys);
• Ulcers;
• A blood clot in your legs, lungs, or eyes;
• Always inform your doctor if you are undergoing a surgery, including dental surgery
• Always inform your doctor if you need to receive any vaccinations.

Side-effects of Deflazocort?

• A steroid “withdrawal syndrome,” may occur following abrupt discontinuance of corticosteroids. This syndrome includes symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, headache, fever, joint pain, shedding of skin, muscle pain, and/or weight loss.
• Prolonged use of Deflazocort can lead to Cushing’s syndrome. Symptoms include increased blood pressure, increased obesity around the trunk of body and thinning of the limbs, purple striations on skin, facial rounding, facial plethora (inked to increased blood volume or flow), muscle weakness, easy and frequent bruising with thin fragile skin, posterior neck fat deposition, loss of bone density, acne, disturbed menstrual cycle, increased body hair and psychiatric abnormalities.
• Deflazocort can elevate levels of blood glucose, deteriorate pre-existing diabetes, and can also decrease the effect of anti-diabetic medicines. It is advisable to monitor blood glucose at regular intervals.
• Deflazocort can elevate the risk of infections in the body – including viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or helminthic. It also decreases resistance to infections and can worsen existing infections.
• Deflazocort can cause increased blood pressure, increase salt and water retention in the body, and can cause increased excretion of potassium and calcium from the body.
• Potentially severe psychiatric adverse reactions may occur – aggression, depression, emotional disorder, middle insomnia, mood altered, mood swings, sleep disorder
• Deflazocort can decrease bone formation and increase bone resorption both through their effect on calcium regulation
• Deflazocort may also cause eye diseases like – cataracts, glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves, and may increase the risk of secondary eye infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.
• Serious Skin Rashes can occur as side effects to Deflazocort.
• Long-term use of Deflazocort can have negative effects on growth and development in children.

In such cases, seek medical attention immediately.

What effects does Deflazocort have on organs?

• Liver – dose adjustment is needed in patients suffering from severe liver diseases.
• Kidney – no dose adjustment is needed.
• Consult your doctors if any unwanted symptoms are observed.

Reported Allergic Reactions:

• Report to your doctor if you are allergic to any of its ingredients
• Rare reports of allergic reactions have been seen, symptoms include: severe skin rashes, shortness of breath and itching.

Drug Interactions to Be Careful About

• All the possible drug interactions might not be listed here
• Deflazocort may interact with the following drugs and products:
• Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen,
• Oral contraceptives
• Antacids – leave at least 2 hours between administration of Deflazacort and antacids.
• Carbamazepine,
• Clarithromycin
• Fluconazole (
• Medications for diabetes including insulin,
• Phenytoin
• Thyroid medications,
• Verapamil
• Always inform the physician of all the drugs/products you use
• Inform about the herbal products that you are consuming
• Do not modify the drug regimen without your doctor’s approval

Shows Effects / Results In:

Recovery begins within first three days of treatment

Complete the dose prescribed by your doctor for complete cessation of symptoms

Do not stop taking the drug without consulting your doctor.

FAQ

Is Deflazocort Addictive?

No. However self-medication and dependence to these medicines should be avoided.

Can I have Deflazocort with alcohol?

Consumption of alcohol should be avoided while taking Deflazocort.

Any particular food item to be avoided?

Do not eat of grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Deflazocort.

Can I have Deflazocort When Pregnant?

Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant for case specific recommendations.

Prolonged administration of Deflazocort during pregnancy can lead to growth retardation of foetus.

Deflazocort should only be prescribed when the benefits to the mother and child outweigh the risks.

Can I have Deflazocort when feeding a baby?

Doses upto 50 mg/day is very unlikely to cause adverse effects in the infant.

Inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding your child and use the medicine as advised

Can I drive after taking Deflazocort?

Do not drive a vehicle and operate heavy machinery while on this medication if you experience:

• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Increase in blood pressure

What happens if I overdose on Deflazocort?

• Immediately inform your doctor if you happen to over-dose on Deflazocort.

What happens if I take expired Deflazocort?

• Taking a single dose may not cause any major adverse effect
• The potency of the medicine may get reduced
• You must always check and never use an expired drug

What happens if I miss a dose of Deflazocort?

• To be effective a certain amount of drug must be in your body at all times
• Always consume the missed dose as soon as you remember it
• If it’s already time to take the second dose – do not take a double dose

Storage of Deflazocort

• Store at room temperature away from direct light and heat, below 25 degree celcius.
• Do not freeze the medicine
• Discard any unused Deflazocort Oral Suspension remaining after 1 month of first opening the bottle.

Pro Tips When Taking Deflazocort –

• Deflazacort can increase your susceptibility to develop infectious diseases. You must stay away from people who are suffering from infectious diseases.
• The usage of Deflazocort should never be stopped abruptly or without medical advice.
• While using Deflazocort, additional supplementation doses is necessary during times of stress, such as surgery or infection.
• Routine laboratory studies (including 2-hour postprandial blood glucose and serum potassium), blood pressure, weight, and chest x-rays should be performed at regular intervals for patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy.
• Prolonged usage of Deflazocort can lead to decreased bone mineral density and eye effects. Regular bone mineral density examination and regular eye exams should be encouraged.
• Monitor growth velocity and development in paediatric patients
• Always monitor for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression, Cushing’s syndrome with prolonged usage of Deflazocort.

History

Deflazocort was first marketed in the 1980s.