Description
INDICATIONS
Duchenne dystrophy
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Asthma
• Renal transplant
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Drug-resistant epilepsy of childhood
• Other disorders:
Published data in children, evaluating deflazacort in other common
disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis,
rheumatic carditis, various dermatological conditions, acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia, and lymphoma continues to be sparse. Deflazacort was
generally, as effective as the comparative drug, and more effective than
placebo, in controlled trials.
Dosage & Administration:
• Adults: For acute disorders, up to 120 mg/day Deflazacort may need to be given initially.
Maintenance doses in most conditions are within the range 3 – 18 mg/day.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: The maintenance dose is usually within the range 3 – 18 mg/day. The
smallest effective dose should be used and increased if necessary.
• Bronchial asthma: In the treatment of an acute attack, high doses of 48-72 mg/day may be
needed depending on severity and gradually reduced once the attack has been controlled. For maintenance in chronic asthma, doses should be titrated to the lowest dose that controls symptoms.
• Other conditions: The dose of Deflazacort depends on clinical need titrated to the lowest effective dose for maintenance. Starting doses may be estimated on the basis of ratio of 5 mg prednisone or prednisolone to 6 mg.
• Hepatic Impairment: In patients with hepatic impairment, plasma levels of blood may be increased. Therefore, the dose of Deflazacort should be carefully monitored and adjusted to the minimum effective dose.
• Renal Impairment: In renally impaired patients, no special precautions other than those usually adopted in patients receiving glucocorticoid therapy are necessary.
• Elderly: In elderly patients, no special precautions other than those usually adopted in patients receiving glucocorticoid therapy are necessary. The common adverse effects of systemic corticosteroids may be associated with more serious consequences in old age.
• Children: There has been limited exposure of children to Deflazacort in clinical trials. In children, the indications for glucocorticoids are the same as for adults, but it is important that the lowest effective dosage is used. Alternate day administration may be appropriate.
Doses of Deflazacort usually lie in the range 0.25 – 1.5 mg/kg/day. The following ranges provide general guidance:
Juvenile chronic arthritis: The usual maintenance dose is between 0.25 – 1.0 mg/kg/day.
Nephrotic syndrome: Initial dose of usually 1.5 mg/kg/day followed by down titration according to clinical need.
Bronchial asthma: On the basis of the potency ratio, the initial dose should be between 0.25 -1.0 mg/kg on alternate days.
OR AS DIRECTED BY THE PHYSICIAN.
This should be administered strictly with the prescription and advise of medical practitioners only.
