Deflazacort

Indications

Deflazacort is used for: Allergic and inflammatory disorders, Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Adult Dose

Oral Allergic and inflammatory disorders Adult: Initially, up to 120 mg daily. Maintenance: 3-18 mg/day. Rheumatoid arthritis: 3-18 mg/day Bronchial asthma: 48-72 mg/day. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Indicated for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) 0.9 mg/kg/day PO qDay Hepatic impairment Mild or moderate: No dose adjustment required Severe: Not studied

Child Dose

Oral Allergic and inflammatory disorders Child: 0.25-1.5 mg/kg/day given on alternate days.

Renal Dose

Renal impairment Mild, moderate, or severe: No dose adjustment required

Administration

May take with or without food

Contra Indications

Systemic infection; live virus vaccines in those receiving immunosuppressive doses.

Precautions

Adrenal suppression and infection, child, adolescents, elderly, history of TB and steroid myopathy, hypertension, recent MI, CHF, liver failure, renal impairment, DM and glaucoma (including family history), osteoporosis, corneal perforation, severe affective disorders, epilepsy, peptic ulcer, hypothyroidism, pregnancy and lactation.

Pregnancy-Lactation

Pregnancy Corticosteroids should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus Infants born to mothers who have received substantial doses of corticosteroids during pregnancy should be carefully observed for signs of hypoadrenalism Lactation Systemically administered corticosteroids appear in human milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other untoward effects Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug, and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from the drug or from the underlying maternal condition

Interactions

Antacids, ACE inhibitors, acetazolamide, adrenergic neuron blockers, antidiabetics, aspirin, barbiturate, ?-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, carbamazepine, carbenoxolone, cardiac glycosides, clonidine, coumarins, diazoxide, diuretics, erythromycin, hydralazine, ketoconazole, methotrexate, methyldopa, mifepristone, minoxidil, moxonidine, nitrates, nitroprusside, NSAIDs, oestrogens, phenytoin, primidone, rifamycins, ritonavir, somatropin, ?2 sympathomimetics, theophylline, vaccines.

Adverse Effects

Side effects of Deflazacort : GI disturbances, musculoskeletal, endocrine, neuropsychiatric, ophthalmic, fluid and electrolyte disturbances; susceptible to infection, impaired healing, hypersensitivity, skin atrophy, striae, telangiectasia, acne, myocardial rupture following recent MI, thromboembolism.

Mechanism of Action

Deflazacort, derived from prednisolone, is a corticosteroid with mainly glucocorticoid activity. An anti-inflammatory dose of 6 mg deflazacort is equiv to 5 mg prednisolone.