Betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose

Betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose is used to treat cold-like symptoms caused by allergies. This includes the swelling (inflammation) inside your nose, and redness and irritation in the eyes that can be caused by hay fever and other conditions.

It's also used to treat the inflammation in your outer ear that can be caused by eczema, water or ear plugs.

Betamethasone is a type of medicine called a steroid (or corticosteroid). Corticosteroids are a copy of a substance the body makes naturally. They're not the same as anabolic steroids.

Betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose is available on prescription only, for adults, children and babies aged 1 month old and over.

It comes as an eye ointment or as drops for eyes, ears and nose.

Betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose also comes combined with an antibiotic called neomycin. These drops are used when there's both inflammation and bacterial infection in the eye, nose or ear.

Betamethasone also comes as:

• tablets for many conditions, including asthma and rheumatoid arthritis
• skin treatments for eczema, contact dermatitis and psoriasis

Most adults, children and babies aged 1 month old or over can use betamethasone drops and ointment.

Betamethasone drops and ointment are not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor before starting to use it if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to betamethasone, or any other medicine
• have tuberculosis (TB)

If you're using it for your eyes, also tell your doctor if you:

• have an infection in your eye, or it's producing pus
• have shingles
• have glaucoma
• have a thinning of your cornea (the part of your eye that covers your iris and pupil) or sclera (the white of your eyeball)
• have redness in your eyes that's not caused by an allergy or inflammation
• wear soft contact lenses

If you're using it for your nose, tell your doctor if you:

• have an infection of the lining of your nose that's not being treated
• have recently had surgery on your nose that's not healed yet

Do not use betamethasone in your ears if you have a perforated ear drum.

Your dose of betamethasone will depend on why you're using it.

The usual dose for the drops is:

• 1 or 2 eye drops in your eye every 1 or 2 hours – once the redness, itching and soreness improves, you can use it less often
• 2 or 3 drops into your ear every 2 or 3 hours – once the redness, itching and soreness improves, you can use it less often
• 2 or 3 drops into each nostril, 2 or 3 times each day

If you're using betamethasone eye ointment, you'll usually use it 2 or 3 times a day, or once at night if you also use drops during the day.

1. Wash and dry your hands.
2. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before you use the eye drops.
3. Tilt your head back.
4. Gently pull down your lower eyelid.
5. Place 1 or 2 drops in the gap between your lower lid and eye (squeeze the bottle very gently if necessary).
6. Blink a few times to spread out the drops.
7. Repeat for your other eye, if treating both eyes.
8. Wait 15 minutes before putting your contact lenses back in.

1. Wash and dry your hands.
2. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before you use the eye ointment.
3. Tilt your head back.
4. Gently pull down your lower eyelid.
5. Hold the tube with the nozzle close to your eye and gently squeeze the prescribed amount of the ointment into the space between your lower lid and your eye.
6. Close your eye for a few minutes, so the ointment can spread.
7. Repeat for your other eye, if treating both eyes.
8. Wait 15 minutes before putting your contact lenses back in.

If you use betamethasone for your eyes for several weeks, your doctor may ask you to have regular check-ups. These are to make sure your medicine is working properly and that the dose is right for you.

Your doctor will check your eyes for:

• an increase in pressure
• infection

1. Tilt your head to one side, with the ear you're treating turned upwards.
2. Bring the tube nozzle close to your earhole.
3. Gently squeeze 2 or 3 drops into your ear.
4. If you can, lie down for a couple of minutes. Keep your head tilted to one side and your treated ear facing the ceiling.
5. Repeat for your other ear, if treating both ears.

1. Blow your nose gently.
2. Tilt your head backwards.
3. Put the nozzle of the bottle into 1 nostril and gently squeeze out 2 or 3 drops.
4. Keep your head tilted and sniff gently to let the drops soak in.
5. Repeat for your other nostril if needed.

Always follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Most people only need to use betamethasone drops or ointment for a few days.

However, your doctor may ask you to use it for up to 6 to 8 weeks, depending on your condition.

Once your symptoms are better, your doctor may tell you to reduce your dose slowly before stopping completely.

If you forget to use your ointment or drops, skip the missed dose and use it as normal next time.

Never use 2 doses at the same time, or use an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines.

Using too much betamethasone ointment or drops is unlikely to harm you.

Do not worry if you use more of the drops or ointment by mistake.

These are some of the common side effects of betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

If you get these symptoms after using your eye drops or ointment, they should go after a few minutes as your eye gets used to the medicine. If they continue, stop using the eye drops or ointment and tell your doctor.

You may get some blurred or cloudy vision straight after putting the drops or ointment in your eye. If your sight does not go back to normal after a few minutes, or you think your sight is slowly getting worse, stop using the eye drops or ointment and tell your doctor.

Do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery if you have blurred or cloudy vision.

These symptoms usually settle down as you get used to the medicine. Stop using your nose drops for a few days, then start again. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects do not go away.

If you have nosebleeds, stop using betamethasone nose drops for a few days then start again. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if this continues.

Try to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink alcohol as it can make you feel worse. Talk to your doctor if the headaches do not go away or are severe.

If you feel dizzy, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better. Do not drive, cycle or use tools or machinery if you feel this way. Do not drink alcohol as it can make you feel worse.

If the dizziness does not go away after a couple of hours ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Rinse your mouth with water or have a drink of water.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

If your doctor has prescribed high doses of betamethasone, or you're also taking other steroid medicines or tablets for fungal infections or HIV, you may get underactive adrenal glands as a side effect. Ask your doctor if you need to carry a red steroid emergency card (for adults), or an adrenal insufficiency card if the treatment is for a child.

Call your doctor or call 111 now if you have side effects such as:

• problems with your sight such as blurred or cloudy vision that does not improve or gets worse – these can be signs of increased pressure in your eyes (glaucoma) or a cataract
• pain in your eye – this could be a sign of an ulcer on the surface of your eye
• problems with your breathing
• damage to your nose or sores inside your nose

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Call 999 now if:

• your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
• you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
• your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
• your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
• you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
• someone faints and cannot be woken up
• a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Betamethasone drops or ointment can be used during pregnancy.

Very little is absorbed into your blood and almost none gets to your baby. Even if a small amount does get to your baby, it will not harm them.

Betamethasone drops and ointment can be used while breastfeeding.

This is because only tiny amounts of betamethasone are likely to be in your breast milk and it's very unlikely to cause any side effects in your baby.

Betamethasone drops and ointment may also contain other ingredients such as antibacterials. It's still OK to use them while breastfeeding.

If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor, midwife or doctor as soon as possible.

There's no evidence to suggest betamethasone drops or ointment reduce fertility in either men or women.

Some medicines affect the way betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose works and increase the chances of side effects.

Check with a doctor or pharmacist if you're using or taking:

• medicines used to treat HIV, such as ritonavir or cobicistat
• medicines used to treat fungal infections, such as itraconazole
• other medicines that contain steroids such as eczema creams, asthma inhalers, steroid tablets, injections, eye or nose drops, or nasal sprays

There's not enough information to say that complementary medicines, herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with betamethasone for eyes, ears and nose. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.