Nuvicort

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 of 3-18 mg/day.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: The maintenance dose is usually within the range of 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.

Children: There has been limited exposure of children to Deflazacort in clinical trials. In children, the indications for glucocorticoids arethe 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.

Deflazacort withdrawal: In patients who have received more than physiological doses of systemic corticosteroids (approximately 9 mg per day or equivalent) for greater than 3 weeks, withdrawal should not be abrupt. How dose reduction should be carried out depends largely on whether the disease is likely to relapse as the dose of systemic corticosteroids is reduced.

GI disturbances, musculoskeletal, endocrine, neuropsychiatric, ophthalmic, fluid and electrolyte disturbances; susceptible to infection, impaired healing, hypersensitivity, skin atrophy, striae, telangiectasia, acne, myocardial rupture following recent Ml, thromboembolism.

Deflazacort provides anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting Phospholipase A2 enzyme which is responsible for prostaglandin synthesis. Besides Deflazacort decreases the release of certain chemicals that are important in the immune system. By decreasing the release of these chemicals Deflazacort provides immunosuppressive action.

The following clinical conditions require special caution and frequent patient monitoring is necessary-

• Cardiac disease or congestive heart failure (except in the presence of active rheumatic carditis), hypertension, thromboembolic disorders. Glucocorticoids can cause salt and water retention and increased excretion of potassium. Dietary salt restriction and potassium supplementation may be necessary.
• Gastritis or oesophagitis, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis if there is the probability of impending perforation, abscess or pyogenic infections, fresh intestinal anastomosis, active or latent peptic ulcer.
• Diabetes mellitus or family history, osteoporosis, myasthenia gravis, renal insufficiency.
• Emotional instability or psychotic tendency, epilepsy.
• Previous corticosteroid-induced myopathy.
• Liver failure.
• Hypothyroidism and cirrhosis, which may increase the glucocorticoid effect.
• Ocular herpes simplex because of possible corneal perforation.

Glucocorticoids