Fortecortin®

Active ingredient

Dexamethasone

definition

Fortecortin® is a synthetically produced hormone of the adrenal cortex called a glucocorticoid. It has anti-inflammatory and weakening effects on the immune system.

application areas

Here is between a local and systemic (affecting the whole body), Use differentiated.
Fortecortin® is used for local application local inflammationwhich respond insufficiently to general treatment. So will Dexamethasone directly into joint or injected around the joint. The systemic areas of application include:

• Brain edema
• traumatic brain injury
• Brain abscess
• anaphylactic shock (A maximal hypersensitivity reaction of the body to a certain substance that can be life-threatening.),
• Inflammation of the Brain with or without the participation of Meninges (Encephalitis, Mengoencephalitis)
• Adrenal failure
• acute blood disease
• more acute Asthma attack or status asthmaticus (this is the most severe form of asthma)
• Ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract)

dosage

Fortecortin® should only be administered for as long as necessary and as low as possible. The general duration of treatment depends on the indication.
In addition, parenteral administration should be used for Fortecortin® is injected directly into the blood only in emergency situations where oral or administration is impossible.

As with others Glucocorticoids For Fortecortin®, the dosage has to be designed individually. It depends on the severity and course of the disease, the patient's reaction and the possible duration of treatment.
The full effect of Fortecortin® takes about one to two hours to develop. In emergency situations an additional drug administered, which has faster anti-inflammatory and immune system weakening effects.
After the acute phase of the disease has subsided, the high parenteral dosage should be exchanged for reduced oral treatment.

If there is no improvement within a week, Fortecortin® should be replaced by another drug. But you shouldn't just stop taking the drug. It has to be tapered off slowly, i.e. the dosage is carefully reduced until Fortecortin® can be omitted entirely.

Contraindications

As with all drugs, there is also with Fortecortin® Situations in which it cannot be given.
If there is an emergency in which the gift of Fortecortin® can be life-saving, but there is no contraindication. Fortecortin® must not be prescribed in case of hypersensitivity to the ingredients of the drug.

Other contraindications are:

• Joint instability
• Torn tendon
• Bleeding tendencies
• Infection of the joint or its surroundings.

Generally allowed Fortecortin® not be injected in the event of infections in the area of ​​operation

Careful use at

As already mentioned, Fortecortin® is anti-inflammatory and also cushions it immune system.
Therefore, when taking it, the risk of one increases bacterial, viral, fungal (mushroom), parasitic infection to get sick.
In addition, it lowers the physical reaction to pathogens that have already entered, so that diagnosis can be very difficult. With existing tuberculosis or Hepatitis B. in the body, this can be activated again.

Additional caution is required with live vaccinations. It can be taken 8 weeks before to 2 weeks after the vaccination. However, the success of the vaccination may be reduced. You have one that is difficult to adjust Diabetes mellitus, blood sugar must be strictly monitored when taking Fortecortin®.
If there is a tendency to thrombosis, an acute one Heart attack, Heart failure, extreme high blood pressure, and osteoporosis caution is advised. Care must also be taken that with existing Cirrhosis of the liver (End-stage chronic liver disease with remodeling processes) or decreased thyroid activity the effect of Fortecortin® is increased. Since taking Fortecortin® is bad for the intestinal mucosa, a Gastric ulcer can intensify and the risk of intestinal perforation increases, it may only be used in exceptional cases in the following diseases:

• severe ulcerative colitis
• Diverticulitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases.

The increased risk of joint infection must also be considered with local application.

pregnancy: Fortecortin® happens like everyone else Dexamethasone the placental barrier and can thus affect the unborn child. An animal study showed undesirable effects on the fetus. Therefore, Fortecortin® should not be taken during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding: Fortecortin® can pass into breast milk to a small extent and thus cause adrenal dysfunction in the newborn. If glucocorticoids have to be taken, breastfeeding should not be performed during this time.

Side effects

The Side effectsthat may occur while taking Fortecortin® depend on the dose and duration of treatment and on the patient (Age, gender, health status) from.

The shorter the duration of therapy, the lower the likelihood that adverse effects will occur. The following symptoms are typical side effects of Fortecortin® and other dexamethasone products:

• Infections - the dampened immune system increases the risk of infection, hypersensitivity reactions to anaphylactic shock,
• Disorders of the blood or the lymph, endocrine disorders such as adrenal failure or Cushing's Syndrome; Metabolic disorders (decreased glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus, increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels), Disorders of the Nervous system (the risk of a seizure may increase) glaucoma (increased intraocular pressure), cataract (Lens opacity), Eye infections, arteriosclerosis (Calcification of the vessels), Inflammation of the vessels, gastric bleeding, gastrointestinal ulcers, tendon complaints, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, skin functional disorders such as bruising, punctiform skin bleeding, delayed wound healing, altered skin pigmentation; Loss of menstrual bleeding, abnormal hair growth, impotence

Overdose

an acute overdose of Fortecortin® is very rare.
Long-term therapies with glucocorticoids can lead to an overdose, which manifests itself primarily in the changed metabolism, electrolyte balance and hormone balance.

A special antidote has not yet been developed. In the event of an overdose with Fortecortin®, the undesirable effects that occur are treated symptomatically. Example: If the sodium balance in the body is disturbed, this is brought back into balance by infusions.