Betkal Injection belongs to a class of drugs called corticosteroids used to treat symptoms associated with allergic reactions or inflammatory processes such as redness, swelling, and itching. It is used to treat severe allergic reactions, including reaction to drugs, local inflammation of joints or tendons of the eye, status asthmaticus (an extreme form of asthma), acute adrenal crisis, severe shock (collapse) due to injury, surgical or accidental trauma or overwhelming infection and soft tissue lesions such as tenosynovitis (inflammation of tendon sheath), tennis elbow, and bursitis (inflammation of fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the joints).

Betkal Injection contains Betamethasone, a steroid that works by acting inside skin cells and inhibits the release of certain chemical messengers in the body that cause redness, itching, and swelling. When the skin reacts to any type of allergens, such chemicals are released normally.

Betkal Injection will be administered by a healthcare professional; do not self-administer. Some people may experience skin redness, itching, skin discolouration, tingling, numbness, burning pain, or stomach pain. Most of these side effects of Betkal Injection do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor. 

If you are allergic to Betamethasone, other steroids or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, please inform your doctor before taking Betkal Injection. Consult a doctor before taking Betkal Injection if you are a breastfeeding mother as Betkal Injection is excreted in human milk. Betkal Injection may affect the growth of children. Therefore, inform your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while taking Betkal Injection. Avoid alcohol consumption with Betkal Injection as it may increase the risk of ulcers. If you notice mood changes or have depression and strange thoughts while taking Betkal Injection, inform your doctor immediately.

Betkal Injection is a steroid used to treat severe allergic reactions, including reaction to drugs, local inflammation of joints or tendons of the eye, status asthmaticus (an extreme form of asthma), acute adrenal crisis, severe shock (collapse) due to injury, surgical or accidental trauma or overwhelming infection and soft tissue lesions such as tenosynovitis (inflammation of tendon sheath), tennis elbow, and bursitis (inflammation of fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the joints). Also, Betkal Injection supplements the action of adrenaline (a hormone that regulates involuntary functions). Betkal Injection may also be used to prevent respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.

• Skin redness
• Itching
• Skin discoloration
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Burning pain
• Stomach pain

If you are allergic to Betamethsone or other steroids or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy, please inform your doctor before taking Betkal Injection. Consult a doctor before taking Betkal Injection if you are a breastfeeding mother as Betkal Injection is excreted in human milk. Betkal Injection may affect the growth of children. Therefore, inform your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while taking Betkal Injection. Avoid alcohol consumption with Betkal Injection as it may increase the risk of ulcers. Before taking Betkal Injection, inform your doctor if you have recently taken vaccination against smallpox as Betkal Injection should not be injected into infected areas, intervertebral spaces, unstable joints, or by epidural route (injection in the back). If you notice mood changes or have depression and strange thoughts while taking Betkal Injection, inform your doctor immediately.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Betkal Injection may interact with anticonvulsants (phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, primidone, aminoglutethimide), antibiotics (clarithromycin), insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen, aspirin), oral contraceptives, growth hormone (somatropin), muscle relaxants (vecuronium), antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole, amphotericin B), anti-HIV drugs (ritonavir, cobicistat), blood thinners (warfarin), cardiac glycosides, drugs used to lower high blood pressure, antianxiety drugs (alprazolam), anti-acne drug (tretinoin), antiglaucoma drug (acetazolamide) and anti-tuberculosis drugs (rifabutin, rifampicin).

Drug-Food Interaction: Betkal Injection may interact with alcohol. Therefore, avoid consumption of alcohol with Betkal Injection.

Drug-Disease Interaction: If you ever had tuberculosis (TB), stroke, glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye), severe depression or bipolar disorder, fits, high blood pressure, stomach or duodenal ulcers, inflammation of the bowel, osteoporosis (thinning of bones), herpes eye infection, a fungal infection, diabetes, thyroid problems, myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness), infection, kidney, liver or heart disease, inform your doctor before taking Betkal Injection.

• PHENYTOIN
• CARBAMAZEPINE
• PHENOBARBITONE
• PRIMIDONE
• AMINOGLUTETHIMIDE
• AMPHOTERICIN B
• RIFAMPICIN
• CLARITHROMYCIN
• INSULIN
• IBUPROFEN
• ASPIRIN
• SOMATROPIN
• VECURONIUM
• ITRACONAZOLE
• KETOCONAZOLE
• RITONAVIR
• COBICISTAT
• WARFARIN
• ALPRAZOLAM
• TRETINOIN
• ACETAZOLAMIDE
• RIFABUTIN

• Eat foods rich in quercetin (a flavonoid) such as apples, cherries, broccoli, spinach, and blueberries.
• Consuming food rich in probiotics helps in developing the immune system against allergies.
• Limit intake of food that might trigger allergies, such as dairy products, soy, eggs, and nuts.
• Avoid consumption of foods with excess sugar as it may flare up inflammation.
• Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and fish in your diet.
• Reducing stress and maintaining a regular sleep pattern would be helpful.
• Avoid processed meats, refined carbohydrates, sugar, trans fats, and alcohol as these might worsen inflammation.

Betkal Injection may affect skin tests by giving false results. Also, it may affect the results of gallbladder X-ray procedures. Therefore, inform your doctor that you are on treatment with Betkal Injection if you are undergoing any tests.

Allergy: It is a condition that occurs when the immune system reacts to a foreign substance that is typically not harmful to your body. These foreign substances are known as ‘allergens.’ Allergic condition varies from person to person. Some might be allergic to certain foods, certain medications, and seasonal allergies like hay fever, pollen, or pet dander. The symptoms of an allergic reaction include itching, rash, scratchy throat, itchy or watery eyes, hives or itchy red spots on the skin, or allergic rhinitis (which causes sneezing or nasal congestion). 

Inflammation: It is a response generated by damage to living tissues. This response is a defence mechanism to protect the body from injury, infection, or disease. The symptoms of inflammation include redness, pain, swelling, heat, or loss of function. Inflammation can be caused due to certain medications, acute and chronic conditions, exposure to foreign materials or irritants your body can’t eliminate easily.