Betamethasone

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Diprolene

Pharmacological Mechanism

High-potency fluorinated synthetic glucocorticoid (~25× cortisol). Topical Class I-III strength depending on vehicle + ester form. Systemic IM/IV used for fetal lung maturation in preterm labor. Cushingoid risk with chronic high-potency topical use over large body areas.

Half-Life (t½)

TD: 5h, PO: 8.1h, IV: 8.1h, IM: 8.1h

Dosing Guidelines

• TD: Typical 0.1 mg (Range: 0.05–0.5 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• respiratory
• endocrine

Pathways It Modulates

• Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling (activator) — GR (long-acting)
• Topical anti-inflammatory skin Rx (inhibitor) — GR — high-potency TCS

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 9782
• Formula: C22H29FO5
• Molecular weight: 392.46 g/mol
• InChIKey: UREBDLICKHMUKA-DVTGEIKXSA-N
• SMILES: C[C@H]1C[C@H]2[C@@H]3CCC4=CC(=O)C=C[C@@]4([C@]3([C@H](C[C@@]2([C@]1(C(=O)CO)O)C)O)F)C

References

• PMID 8148226