Betamethasone Ointment

Generic name: betamethasone dipropionate
Dosage form: ointment
Drug class:Topical steroids

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 1, 2022.

(Potency expressed as betamethasone)
Rx only

FOR DERMATOLOGIC USE ONLY.
NOT FOR OPHTHALMIC USE.

Betamethasone Ointment Description

Betamethasone dipropionate ointment contains betamethasone dipropionate USP, a synthetic adrenocorticosteroid, for dermatologic use. Betamethasone, an analog of prednisolone, has a high degree of glucocorticoid activity and a slight degree of mineralocorticoid activity. Betamethasone dipropionate is a white to cream white odorless crystalline powder insoluble in water. Chemically, it is 9-fluoro-11β,17,21-trihydroxy-16β-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione 17,21- dipropionate. The structural formula is:

Each gram of the 0.05% ointment contains 0.64 mg betamethasone dipropionate (equivalent to 0.5 mg betamethasone) in an ointment base of mineral oil and white petrolatum.

Betamethasone Ointment - Clinical Pharmacology

Topical corticosteroids share anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic and vasoconstrictive actions.

The mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of the topical corticost