Deflazacort
Description
Deflazacort is used in the treatment of various conditions such as joint and muscle problems, allergies, asthma, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a genetic disorder causing muscle degradation and weakness), and autoimmune disorders (conditions that occur due to increased immune activity in your body). This medicine works by inhibiting the release of chemical substances that are responsible for swelling and allergic reactions. It also suppresses the activity of your immune system.
Deflazacort can cause side effects like headache, weight gain, cough, increased hunger, excess urination, etc. Avoid activities like driving vehicles and operating heavy machines as this medicine may cause dizziness. Consult your doctor if you experience any depressed mood or suicidal thoughts.
Deflazacort is available as tablets, dispersible tablets, syrup, and suspension. Take this medicine with or without food as prescribed by your doctor. Take this medicine around the same time every day so that a constant level of medicine can be maintained in your body. Do not skip the dose or double the dose. Avoid the discontinuation of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Deflazacort is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Take this medicine with caution if you have diabetes or gastrointestinal (stomach and intestine) problems. This medicine lowers your body's capacity to fight infections. Inform your doctor if you notice any sign of infection like fever, sore throat, etc.
Deflazacort is not recommended in children below 2 years of age. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Deflazacort
- Weight gain
- Headache
- Depressed mood
- Nausea
- Acne
- Back pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Chills and fever
- Facial hair growth
- Cough
- Increased thirst
- Sore throat
- Stuffy nose
- Muscle aches
Uses of Deflazacort
What is it prescribed for?
- Autoimmune diseases
- Inflammatory conditions
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionIt is not known when Deflazacort will start to act in your body.
- Duration of effectDeflazacort may remain in your body for approximately 9 hours.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported for Deflazacort.
- Usage in pregnancy?Deflazacort is not recommended for use during pregnancy as animal studies indicate that it may harm your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?It is not known if Deflazacort is passed into breastmilk. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine to understand its risks and benefits.
Allergy
Deflazacort is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rashes, swelling and/or itching (especially in the face, lips, throat), breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Deflazacort is not recommended for use during pregnancy as animal studies indicate that it may harm your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
It is not known if Deflazacort is passed into breastmilk. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine to understand its risks and benefits.
General warnings
Altered thyroid function
The effect of Deflazacort may increase if you have hypothyroidism (less thyroid hormone level in your body) due to decreased breakdown of this medicine. Hence, your doctor may recommend dose adjustments based on your condition.
Increased risk of infection
Deflazacort may suppress your immune system and increase the risk of infections. Inform your doctor as soon as you notice early signs of infections like fever, sore throat, pus discharge, etc.
Effect on bone
Deflazacort may decrease the absorption of calcium and impair bone formation. Take this medicine with caution in such conditions, especially in the elderly population with existing bone conditions. Giving Deflazacort to children may hamper their growth. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Driving or operating machines
Deflazacort may cause dizziness, therefore understand how this medicine affects you before driving or operating machines.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take a dose of Deflazacort, take it as soon as you remember. If it is time for the next dose then skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Deflazacort.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Carbamazepine
Ketoconazole
Antidiabetic medicines
Rifampicin
Disease interactions
Diabetes
Deflazacort should be used with caution if you have diabetes as this medicine may further increase your blood sugar levels. Regularly monitor your blood sugar levels while taking this medicine.
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Deflazacort may cause gastrointestinal perforation (holes in the stomach lining), ulcers (sores in the lining of stomach and intestine), and bleeding when taken in high dosages or for a prolonged time. Hence, this medicine should be used with caution if you have stomach and intestinal problems.
Ocular Toxicities
Long-term use of Deflazacort may cause cataract (cloudy area in the lens of your eye) and an increase in pressure within your eyes. Hence, this medicine should be used with caution if you have a history of eye problems such as cataract or glaucoma (a condition that causes increased pressure within your eyeballs)
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravis is a condition that causes skeletal muscle weakness and fatigue. It affects muscles under your voluntary control, including the arms and legs. Deflazacort should be used with caution if you have myasthenia gravis as it may decrease the muscle strength at high doses.
Myocardial infarction
If you have a known history of heart attack, Deflazacort should be taken with caution as it may affect the functioning of your heart. Your doctor will closely monitor your vital signs and the functioning of your heart while taking this medicine.
Psychosis
Side effects such as inability to sleep, mood swings, behavioural change may occur while taking Deflazacort. This medicine should be used with caution if you have psychosis (a mental condition with disruption of your thoughts and losing touch with reality) and emotional instability. Closely monitor for any change in mood or behaviour while taking this medicine. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any depressed mood or suicidal thoughts.
Food interactions
Avoid taking Deflazacort with grapefruit juice as it may increase the level of this medicine in your blood. This may increase the risk of side effects such as weight gain, high blood pressure, high blood sugar level, etc.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Deflazacort with or without food as instructed by your doctor. Do not break, crush or chew the tablets. Shake the bottle well before taking Deflazacort syrup/suspension.
Dispersible tablet (DT): Disperse this medicine in a teaspoonful or a glass of boiled and cooled water before administration. Do not administer if the tablet is not dissolved/dispersed completely in water.
Do not discontinue Deflazacort without talking to your doctor. Abrupt discontinuation of this medicine may cause symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, upset stomach, drowsiness, confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, etc.
Some vaccines may not be appropriate for you while taking Deflazacort. Inform your doctor before taking any vaccines.
Avoid consuming grapefruit juice or alcohol while taking Deflazacort as it may increase the risk of side effects.
Inform any early signs of infection to your doctor as soon as you notice them.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Deflazacort works by reducing the release of certain substances which cause swelling. It also suppresses the activity of your immune system.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Glucocorticoids
Schedule
Schedule H
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. These highlights do not include all the information needed to use EMFLAZA™ safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for EMFLAZA. EMFLAZA™ (deflazacort) tablets, for oral useEMFLAZA™ (deflazacort) oral suspensionInitial U.S. Approval: 2017. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 20 September 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Calcort 6mg Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 20 September 2021].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. Deflazacort. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 17 June 2021].
Deflazacort: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2020 [cited 12 February 2020]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 30 Sep 2021
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