Celestamine is a combination anti-allergy drug of betamethasone and dexchlorpheniramine maleate. It is a prescription type, manufactured by Essex. Celestamine is categorized under the Antihistamines and Antiallergics; however it is also classified under the corticosteroids. While, dexchlorpheniramine maleate provides the antihistaminic or anti-allergy action, betamethasone acts as the corticosteroid support.
Celestamine is used for the treatment of difficult cases of respiratory, skin and eye allergies and other disorders that needs corticosteroid therapy. Its dosing depends on the age and the severity of the condition.
Availability:
Celestamine (Betamethasone 250 mcg, dexchlorpheniramine maleate 2 mg) tablet
Celestamine (Betamethasone 250 mcg, dexchlorpheniramine maleate 2 mg) per 5ml 60 and 120 bottle
Contraindications and special precautions:
With bethamethasone
Because Celestamine has betamethasone as an active constituent, it is contraindicated with infants and with people who have fungal infections. It is not to be used by an individual has a known hypersensitivity to it. Celestamine Syrup contains FD and C yellow #5 which may cause allergic reactions including bronchial asthma in susceptible people.
Corticosteroids like betamethasone may suppress the immune system resulting to lack of antibody response. If the patient is under any immunization procedure, dangers of neurological complications can be possible.
Celestamine is used in precaution with patients having disorders like hypothyroidism, cirrhosis, renal insufficiency, hypertension, osteoporosis, myasthenia gravis, active tuberculosis and in GIT conditions as ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, peptic ulcer etc.
Prolonged corticosteroid therapy may retard growth in children.
Corticosteroids may mask signs of infection.
It can impair fertility in men by altering the motility and number of sperms.
Celestamine use in lactating and pregnant women is contraindicated. Children born to mothers who have received corticosteroids during pregnancy is observed for signs of hypoadrenalism.
With dexchlorpheniramine
Dexchlorpheniramine maleate is an FGA or first generation antihistamine that can cause drowsiness. With this, Celestamine use should be warned in patients who need to engage in activities requiring mental alertness as driving or operating machines. Dexchlorpheniramine is also to be used in caution with individuals having narrow angle glaucoma, stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloroduodenal obstruction, prostatic hypertrophy or bladder neck obstruction, cardiovascular disease including hypertension, in those with increased intraocular pressure and hyperthyroidism.
Common side effects:
With betamethasone
Adverse reactions usually involve the musculoskeletal as muscle weakness and osteoporosis; gastrointestinal as peptic ulcer, ulcerative esophagitis, pancreatitis etc; dermatologic as allergic dermatitis and utricaria; neurologic as convulsion, vertigo and headache; endocrine as menstrual irregularities and cushingoid state; ophthalmic as cataracts and glaucoma; psychiatric as euphoria, mood swings and insomnia.
With dexchlorpheniramine
Sedation
Drug interactions:
With bethamethasone
Phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin, ephedrine can increase the metabolism of betamethasone thus reducing the effect of Celestamine.
Betamethasone with alcohol can increase occurrence of gastrointestinal ulceration.
Betamethasone with digitalis (Digoxin) can enhance the possibility of arrhythmias or digitalis toxicity.
More to this, as a corticosteroid, betamethasone can lessen the effect of diuretics, aspirin, anti-diabetic agents and the anti-cholinesterases (e.g. physostigmine).
With dexchlorphenamine
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors can prolong and exaggerate the effects of dexchlorphenamine. Alcohol, tricyclic antidepressants, barbiturates or other central nervous system depressants can also increase the sedative effect of this antihistamine. Finally, oral anticoagulants effect may be decreased by dexchlorphenamine.
