Product Details

What you need to know before you use Betnesol-N Drops

Important: Never use this medicine in your eye without first checking with your doctor. If it is used for the wrong condition, it could lead to blindness. Do not use Betnesol-N Drops if: • You are allergic to betamethasone • You are allergic to any of the other ingredients of Betnesol-N Drops (listed in section 6) • You have not checked your eye condition with your doctor first. If this medicine is used in your eye, for the wrong condition, it could lead to blindness. • You have an infection in the eye, or it is producing pus and is sticky • You have an infection in the ear or nose • You have ulcers in your eye (shingles) • You have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) • You wear soft contact lenses • You have a perforated ear drum. If any of the above applies to you talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if: • You know you have (or think you have) a mitochondrial disease (mutations in the parts of your cells which help make energy); certain mitochondrial diseases may increase your risk of hearing loss with this product. • You have been treated with Betnesol-N drops or similar corticosteroid medicine recently. You should not use corticosteroids for a long time without regular medical checkups from your doctor • You have redness in your eyes for which you do not know the cause. Steroid treatment must not be given unless the cause of the redness is known • You have an infection of the lining of your nose, which is not being treated • You have recently had surgery on your nose which has not yet healed • You have tuberculosis (TB) • You have thinning of the cornea or sclera (the tissues which cover the outer surface of the eye) Using these drops could lead to a hole in the eyeball • You are giving this medicine to an infant. Prolonged use in babies may cause the adrenal gland to stop working properly • You are applying these drops to open wounds or damaged skin. The antibiotic component can cause permanent, partial or total deafness if used on open wounds or damaged skin. This possibility should be borne in mind if high doses are given to small children or infants. If any of the above applies to you talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Other medicines and Betnesol-N Drops Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Some medicines may increase the effects of Betnesol-N Drops and your doctor may wish to monitor you carefully if you are taking these medicines (including some medicines for HIV: ritonavir, cobicistat) Pregnancy and breastfeeding If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using Betnesol-N Drops. If you use these drops while pregnant there may be small risk of damage to the ear, cleft palate or retarded growth in the foetus. Driving and using machines Betnesol-N Drops may cause temporary blurred vision and lightheadedness. If this happens to you, do not drive or use machinery until you return to normal. Warnings about the ingredients in Betnesol-N Drops This medicine contains: • 0.005% w/v benzalkonium chloride in each dose. Benzalkonium chloride may be absorbed by soft contact lenses and may change the colour of the contact lenses. You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine and put them back 15 minutes afterwards. Benzalkonium chloride may also cause eye irritation, especially if you have dry eyes or disorders of the cornea (the clear layer at the front of the eye). If you feel abnormal eye sensation, stinging or pain in the eye after using this medicine, talk to your doctor. Benzalkonium chloride may cause irritation or swelling inside the nose, especially if used for a long time • 0.23% w/v phosphates in each dose. If you suffer from severe damage to the clear layer at the front of the eye (the cornea), phosphates may cause in very rare cases cloudy patches on the cornea due to calcium build-up during treatment. Warnings about visual problems when using Betnesol-N Drops Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances