Unit 1 Description of a Pharmacy Grammar

By intra-articular or soft-tissue injection: An adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to support patients during an acute episode or exacerbation) in:

- Synovitis or osteoarthritis

- Rheumatoid arthritis

- Acute and sub-acute bursitis

- Acute gouty arthritis

- Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis

- Post-traumatic osteoarthritis

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Systemic fungal infections.

ADMINISTARTION AND DOSAGE: By slow intravenous (4 to 5 minutes) or intramuscular injection or by prolonged intravenous infusion, the dosage and the rate of the injection depending essentially on the nature of the case being treated. The duration of the treatment is generally short (1 to 3 days) and is followed by oral therapy. Any infectious syndrome calls for the simultaneous administration of an antibiotic. Generally 1 to 5 ml. (4 mg. to 20 mg.) can be given 3 to 4 times in 24 hours. After initial improvement single dose of 05.ml. to 1 ml. (2 mg. to 4 mg.) is to be repeated if required. The dose of intra-articular and soft tissue or local injection varies from 1/10 ml to 2 ml at intervals varying from 2 to 3 days to 1 to 2 weeks.

PRECAUTIONS:

Drug induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may result from too rapid withdrawal of corticosteroids and may be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. Corticosteroids may mask some signs of infections and new infections may appear during their use. Corticosteroids may activate latent amebiasis.

Therefore, it is recommended that latent or activate amebiasis be ruled out before initiating corticosteroid therapy in any patient who has spent time in the tropics or any patient with unexplained diarrhoea. Prolonged use of corticosteroids may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts and glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves and may enhance the establishment of secondary ocular infections due to fungi or viruses.