Beta-Phos/AC

betamethasone (oral)
Pronunciation: bay ta METH a sone Brand: Celestone What is the most important information I should know about betamethasone? • You should not use this medication if you are allergic to betamethasone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body. • Before taking betamethasone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids. • Your steroid medication needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment. • Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks. • Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication. • Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are taking betamethasone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid. • Do not stop using betamethasone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. • Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency. What is betamethasone? • Betamethasone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Betamethasone prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. • Betamethasone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders. • Betamethasone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking betamethasone? • You should not use this medication if you are allergic to betamethasone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body. • Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks. • Other medical conditions you should tell your doctor about before taking betamethasone include: · liver disease (such as cirrhosis); · kidney disease; · a thyroid disorder; · diabetes; · a history of malaria; · tuberculosis; · osteoporosis; · a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis; · glaucoma or cataracts; · herpes infection of the eyes; · stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis; · depression or mental illness; · congestive heart failure; or · high blood pressure. • If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take betamethasone. • FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. • Betamethasone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. • Steroids can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medication. How should I take betamethasone? • Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. • Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. • Your steroid medication needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you. • Measure the liquid form of betamethasone with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. • This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using betamethasone. • Do not stop using betamethasone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. • Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking steroid medication. • Store betamethasone at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose? • If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist for instructions. What happens if I overdose? • Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine. • A single large dose of betamethasone is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex. What should I avoid while taking betamethasone? • Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication. • Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with betamethasone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid. • Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking betamethasone. What are the possible side effects of betamethasone? • Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. • Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects: · problems with your vision; · swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath; · severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions); · bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood; · pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate); · low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or · dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure). • Less serious side effects may include: · sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes; · acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration; · slow wound healing; · increased sweating; · headache, dizziness, spinning sensation; · nausea, stomach pain, bloating; or · changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist). • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. What other drugs will affect betamethasone? • There are many other medicines that can interact with steroids. Below is only a partial list of these medicines: · aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses); · a diuretic (water pill); · a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); · cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); · insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth; · antibiotics such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane), or troleandomycin (Tao); or · seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton). • This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with betamethasone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Where can I get more information? • Your pharmacist can provide more information about betamethasone.

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V-C Forte

multivitamins and minerals
Pronunciation: mull tee VYE tah mins and MIH ner als What is the most important information I should know about multivitamins and minerals? • Never take more than the recommended dose of multivitamins and minerals. Avoid taking more than one vitamin/mineral product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects. • Minerals taken in large doses can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any vitamin and mineral product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains. • Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken in large doses. Certain minerals may also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much. • Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding. • Do not take this medication with milk, other dairy products, calcium supplements, or antacids that contain calcium. Calcium may make it harder for your body to absorb certain ingredients of the multivitamin. What is multivitamin? • Multivitamins and minerals are a combination of many different vitamins and minerals that are normally found in foods and other natural sources. • Multivitamins and minerals are used to provide vitamins and minerals that are not taken in through the diet. Multivitamins and minerals are also used to treat vitamin or mineral deficiencies caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, digestive disorders, certain medications, and many other conditions. • Multivitamins and minerals may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking multivitamins and minerals? • Many vitamin and mineral supplements can cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken in large doses. Do not take more of this medication than directed on the label or prescribed by your doctor. • If you have any medical conditions, ask your doctor before taking multivitamins and minerals. If you have certain conditions, you may need a certain vitamin formulation or special tests while taking multivitamins and minerals. • Do not take multivitamins and minerals without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Some vitamins can harm an unborn baby if taken in large doses. You may need to use a prenatal vitamin specially formulated for pregnant women. • Multivitamins and minerals can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. How should I take multivitamins and minerals? • Use this medication as directed on the label, or as your doctor has prescribed. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. • Never take more than the recommended dose of a vitamin and mineral supplement. Avoid taking more than one vitamin/mineral product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar products together can result in a vitamin or mineral overdose or serious side effects. • Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any vitamin and mineral product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains. • Take your multivitamin and minerals with a full glass of water. • The chewable tablet must be chewed or allowed to dissolve in your mouth before swallowing. You may also allow the tablet to dissolve in drinking water, fruit juice, or infant formula (but not milk or other dairy products). • Measure the liquid form of multivitamins and minerals using a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. • Do not crush, chew, or break an extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release the vitamins and minerals slowly into the body. • It is important to take multivitamins and minerals regularly to get the most benefit. • Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the liquid medicine from freezing. • Store multivitamins and minerals in their original container. Storing multivitamins and minerals in a glass container can ruin the medication. What happens if I miss a dose? • Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. What happens if I overdose? • Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Certain minerals may also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much. • Vitamin overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding. • Mineral overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, increased thirst or urination, severe nausea or stomach pain, constipation, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, black and tarry stools, coughing up blood, severe drowsiness, slow heart rate, shallow breathing, weak and rapid pulse, confusion, muscle weakness, warmth or tingly feeling, fainting, cold or clammy skin, blue lips, and seizure (convulsions). What should I avoid while taking multivitamins and minerals? • Avoid taking more than one vitamin/mineral product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects. • Avoid the regular use of salt substitutes in your diet if your multivitamin and mineral contains potassium. If you are on a low-salt diet, ask your doctor before taking a vitamin or mineral supplement. • Do not take this medication with milk, other dairy products, calcium supplements, or antacids that contain calcium. Calcium may make it harder for your body to absorb certain minerals. What are the possible side effects of multivitamins and minerals? • Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. • When taken as directed, multivitamins and minerals are not expected to cause serious side effects. Less serious side effects may include: · upset stomach; · headache; or · unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth. • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. What other drugs will affect multivitamins and minerals? • Vitamin and mineral supplements can interact with certain medications, or affect how medications work in your body. Before taking a vitamin/mineral product, tell your doctor if you also use: · diuretics (water pills); · heart or blood pressure medications; · tretinoin (Vesanoid); · isotretinoin (Accutane, Amnesteen, Clavaris, Sotret); · trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Cotrim, Bactrim, Septra, TMP/SMX); or · an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others. • This list is not complete and there may be other medications that can interact with or be affected by multivitamins and minerals. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Where can I get more information? • Your pharmacist can provide more information about multivitamins and minerals.

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