Deflazacort is used to treat adults and children 2 years of age and older who have Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD; a degenerative condition in which the muscles do not work properly). The drug Deflazacort belongs to the corticosteroid drug class. It functions by lowering inflammation (swelling) and altering how the immune system functions.

Both a pill and a liquid suspension of Deflazacort are available for oral use. Typically, it is taken once day, with or without food. Deflazacort should be taken every day at about the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Provide deflazacort precisely as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

You can smash the tablet and combine it with applesauce if you find it difficult to take whole. Take the combination as soon as possible.

Before each use, thoroughly shake the suspension to combine the medication. Deflazacort should be measured using the measuring device, added slowly to 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 mL) of milk or fruit juice, and taken right away. Grapefruit juice and deflazacort suspension should not be combined.

If you are subjecting your body to unusual stress, such as surgery, illness, or infection, your doctor may need to adjust the amount of deflazacort. During your therapy, let your doctor know if your symptoms grow better or worse, if you get sick or experience any changes in your health.

Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking deflazacort. A sudden drug stop may result in symptoms like weight loss, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, headaches, fevers, joint and muscular discomfort, and peeling skin. Before entirely quitting the medication, your doctor will likely gradually reduce your dose to give your body time to adjust. Keep an eye out for these adverse effects when you stop taking the pills or oral suspension as well as when you progressively reduce your dose. If any of these issues arise, contact your doctor right once.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your chemist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking deflazacort,

• If you have any allergies, including to deflazacort, other drugs, or any of the substances in deflazacort tablets or liquid, notify your doctor right once. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac), efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla), fluconazole (Diflucan), and diltiazem are examples of nonsteroidal anti- (Cardizem, Cartia, Diltzac, Taztia), insulin, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater), thyroid medicines, and verapamil are all diabetes treatments (Calan, in Tarka, Verelan). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Deflazacort may also interact with a variety of other drugs, so be sure to let your doctor know about all the drugs you’re taking, even if they don’t appear on this list.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had any of the following conditions: hepatitis B (HBV, a virus that affects the liver and may cause severe liver damage); herpes eye infection (a type of eye infection that causes a sore on the eyelid or eye surface); cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye); glaucoma (an eye disease); heart disease, myasthenia gravis (a condition in which the muscles weaken), high blood pressure, a recent heart attack, diabetes, emotional issues, depression, or other mental illnesses; ulcers, pheochromocytoma (tumour on a tiny gland near the kidneys), osteoporosis (disease in which the bones become brittle and weak and can break easily); a blood clot in your legs, lungs, eyes, or digestive tract; liver, kidney, heart, intestinal, adrenal, or thyroid disorders. Moreover, let your doctor know if there are any untreated viral, parasite, fungal, or bacterial infections anywhere in your body.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking deflazacort.
• Inform the surgeon or dentist that you are taking deflazacort if you are getting surgery, including dental surgery.
• Find out from your doctor if you require any vaccines. Before starting your deflazacort treatment, it’s crucial to have received all the vaccinations recommended for your age. Without consulting your doctor, avoid getting any immunisations while you are receiving therapy.
• Deflazacort may reduce your ability to fight infection and may stop you from exhibiting symptoms if you contract an infection, so you should be aware of this. When using this medication, stay away from ill people and wash your hands frequently. Avoid those who have the measles or chicken pox. If you believe you may have come into contact with someone who had the chicken pox or measles, call your doctor right once.

While using this medication, avoid eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Deflazacort might have negative side effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Thin, delicate skin
• Under-the-skin blotches or streaks that are red or purple
• Higher hair growth
• Acne
• Enlarged eyes
• Irregular or nonexistent menstruation
• Slowed-down wound and contusion healing
• Alterations in the body’s fat distribution
• Skinny muscles
• Joints hurt
• Midday urination that is excessive
• Dizziness
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep
• Higher appetite
• Uneasy stomach
• Back ache
• Heartburn

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:

• Infection-related symptoms including a sore throat, a fever, chills, or a cough
• Seizures
• Eye discomfort, erythema, or tears
• Alterations to vision
• Eye, face, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs swelling
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Breathing difficulty
• Unexpected weight gain
• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Blistered or flaking skin
• Abdominal pain
• Confusion
• Significant mood swings and behavioural changes
• Unsuitable happiness
• Depression
• Chronic stomach ache that occasionally radiates to the back

Children’s growth and development may be slowed by deflazacort. The physician for your child will keep a close eye on their development. Consult your child’s doctor about the dangers of giving them deflazacort.

Long-term deflazacort users run the risk of developing cataracts or glaucoma. The dangers of using deflazacort and how frequently you should have your eyes checked while receiving therapy should be discussed with your doctor.

Osteoporosis risk may rise if you take Deflazacort. Discuss the dangers of using this drug with your doctor.

There may be more adverse effects with Deflazacort. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom). After a month, discard any unused suspension (liquid).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you don’t have access to a pharmacy, visit the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more details.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to deflazacort, your doctor will order specific lab tests and perform routine blood pressure checks.

Inform your doctor and the lab staff that you are taking deflazacort prior to any laboratory test.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding prescription refills should be directed to your chemist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.