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Introduction About DEFCORT SUSPENSION
DEFCORT SUSPENSION contains Deflazacort which belongs to the group of medicines called Glucocorticoids. It is used in the management of severe asthma, rheumatoid arthritis (pain and inflammation in the joints), juvenile chronic arthritis (arthritis in children below 16 years of age) and genetic disorders like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (progressive muscular weakness).
DEFCORT SUSPENSION can also be used to manage certain autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, sarcoidosis and manages organ rejection after transplantation.
DEFCORT SUSPENSION is not recommended for use in patients having an infection and not taking antibiotics for it or receiving live virus vaccinations. Your doctor might ask you to undergo certain diagnostic tests before starting the management with DEFCORT SUSPENSION.
Before taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION inform your doctor if you have heart, lung, liver or kidney diseases, high blood pressure, blood clots, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, osteoporosis, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy or underactive thyroid gland.
DEFCORT SUSPENSION is not recommended for use in pregnant and breast-feeding women. DEFCORT SUSPENSION should be used with caution in children and adolescents (below 18 years of age) and it is not recommended for use in elderly patients.
The most common side effects of taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION are weight gain, increased appetite, headache and excess urination. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects worsen or does not improve.
Uses Of DEFCORT SUSPENSION
Manage:
- severe asthma
- rheumatoid arthritis
- juvenile chronic arthritis
- Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, sarcoidosis)
Prevents:
- organ rejection in organ transplantation
How DEFCORT SUSPENSION Works
DEFCORT SUSPENSION helps in managing pain and inflammation by exerting its anti-inflammatory effects where it blocks the inflammation causing agents. It also has an immunosuppressing property (reduces the body’s natural immunity that fight against foreign cells) which helps in management from rejection of organ transplants.
How to use DEFCORT SUSPENSION
Take DEFCORT SUSPENSION as advised by your physician. Shake well before use. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and severity of the disease.
Side Effects Of DEFCORT SUSPENSION
Common
- throat irritation
- hirsutism (excessive hair growth on face, chest and back like males)
- weight gain
- increased hunger
- headache
- excess urination
- runny nose
How To Manage Side Effects
Headache:
Try to take rest and don’t involve yourself in exertive activities. Rest in a quiet and dark room. Apply a pain-relieving balm on your forehead if necessary. Ask for your doctor’s advice if headache doesn’t improve.
Warning & Precautions
Pregnancy
DEFCORT SUSPENSION is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Breastfeeding
DEFCORT SUSPENSION is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Kidney
DEFCORT SUSPENSION should be taken with caution in patients with renal insufficiency. Your doctor might monitor you regularly. Consult your doctor for advice before taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION.
Liver
DEFCORT SUSPENSION should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases such as cirrhosis (scarring of liver) and liver failure. Your doctor might lower your dose or monitor you regularly. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Allergy
Do not take DEFCORT SUSPENSION if you are allergic to deflazacort or any other components of this medicine.
Lungs
DEFCORT SUSPENSION should be used with caution in patients with lung diseases like tuberculosis. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Heart Disease
DEFCORT SUSPENSION should be used with caution in patients having heart diseases such as congestive heart failure (except in the presence of active rheumatic carditis). Consult your doctor for advice before taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION.
Others
DEFCORT SUSPENSION is not recommended for use if you:
- have unmanageed systemic infection and are not taking antibiotics for it
- have/ had recently vaccinations with live viruses
Before taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION inform your doctor if you have:
- any blood related disorders (thromboembolic disorders)
- or had any emotional instability or psychotic tendency
- epilepsy
- gastrointestinal diseases like peptic ulcers, perforation, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis gastritis or oesophagitis, abscess or pyrogenic infections
- ocular herpes simplex
- diabetes
- bone related problems like osteoporosis
- had previous corticosteroid-induced myopathy
- high blood pressure
- hypothyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- or had chicken pox or had a personal contact with someone having it
Use in paediatrics:
DEFCORT SUSPENSION should be used with caution in children and adolescents (below the age of 18 years of age) as it may cause dose-related growth retardation. Your child’s doctor may monitor the growth of child regularly. Consult with your child’s doctor before giving it to your child.
Use in geriatrics:
DEFCORT SUSPENSION is not recommended for use in elderly patients. Consult your doctor for advice.
Interactions
A. Drug-Drug interactions:
Before taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- medicines used to manage tuberculosis (Ex. rifampicin or rifabutin)
- medicines used to manage convulsions (Ex. phenobarbitone, primidone, phenytoin and carbamazepine)
- medicines used to manage cancers (Ex. aminoglutethimide)
- medicines used to manage various fungal infections (Ex. ketoconazole)
- medicines used to manage pregnancy (Ex. estradiol, levonorgestrel)
- medicines used to manage diabetes (Ex. insulin)
- medicines to manage high blood pressure (Ex. propranolol and atenolol)
- medicines used to remove fluid build-up from the body (diuretics) (Ex. spironolactone, furosemide)
- acetazolamide (medicine used to manage glaucoma, altitude sickness)
- medicines used to relax muscles (Ex. mivacurium)
- medicines used to manage acidity (Ex. magnesium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide), to manage gastric ulcers (Ex. carbenoxolone)
- medicine used to relieve pain (Ex. ibuprofen, aspirin)
- medicines used for thinning your blood and manage blood clots (Ex. warfarin)
Overdosage:
If you or anyone else accidentally takes too much of DEFCORT SUSPENSION, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital.
Synopsis
| Drug | : |
Deflazacort |
| Pharmacological Category | : |
Glucocorticoid |
| Therapeutic Indication | : |
Severe asthma, Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, Autoimmune diseases, Manage rejection of organ after transplantation |
| Dosage Forms | : |
Tablet, Oral Suspension, Syrup |
More Information
- Keep DEFCORT SUSPENSION out of reach of children
- Store DEFCORT SUSPENSION at room temperature below 30°C
FAQs About DEFCORT SUSPENSION
Why is DEFCORT SUSPENSION prescribed?
DEFCORT SUSPENSION is used in the management of severe asthma, rheumatoid arthritis (pain and inflammation in the joints), juvenile chronic arthritis (arthritis in children below 16 years of age) and genetic disorders like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (progressive muscular weakness). DEFCORT SUSPENSION can also be used to manage certain autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia and manages rejection of organ after transplantation.
Can I stop taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION if I start to feel better?
It is very important to keep taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION till the time your doctor has prescribed it to you. Do not stop taking it on your own even if your symptoms resolve and you feel better as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Consult with your doctor if you wish to discontinue taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION.
Is DEFCORT SUSPENSION a steroid?
Yes, DEFCORT SUSPENSION is a steroid which helps in managing pain and inflammation by exerting its anti-inflammatory effects where it blocks the inflammation causing agents. It also has an immunosuppressing property (reduces the body’s natural immunity that fight against foreign cells) which helps in management from rejection of organ transplants.
Who should avoid taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION?
DEFCORT SUSPENSION suppresses the immune system which can make you prone to infections. Patients suffering from a systemic infection and are not taking anti-infective management for it should avoid taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION. Consult with your doctor before taking this medicine.
Can DEFCORT SUSPENSION be given to pregnant or breast-feeding women?
No, DEFCORT SUSPENSION is not recommended for use in pregnant and breast-feeding women. Consult your doctor before taking DEFCORT SUSPENSION if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant or breast-feeding your child.
References
1. KD. Tripathi. Hormones and Related Drugs. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Eighth edition. 2019. Page – 314.
2. Craig Campbell, Pierre Jacob. Deflazacort for the treatment of Duchenne Dystrophy: A systematic review. NIH National Library of Medicine National Centre for Biotechnology. Pubmed Central. September 2003. [Accessed on 15th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC222985/
3. Luca Parente. Deflazacort: therapeutic index, relative potency and equivalent doses versus other corticosteroids. NIH National Library of Medicine National Centre for Biotechnology. Pubmed Central. January 2017. [Accessed on 15th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5216559/
4. Deflazacort. NIH National Library of Medicine National Centre for Biotechnology. Pubchem. [Accessed on 15th June 2022] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Deflazacort
5. Leeford Healthcare. Zefcort (Deflazacort). [Accessed on 15th June 2022] https://www.leeford.in/product/337/zefcort
6. Zuventus Healthcare. Cotrimax Suspension (Deflazacort Suspension). [Accessed on 15th June 2022] http://www.zuventus.co.in/doctor_wise_products_selected.aspx?Medi_Id=140
Useful Diagnostic Tests
- X-ray
- Complete Blood Count
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