Deflazacort is a corticosteroid prodrug used as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant. It is also used as an agent to manage Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This medicine may improve muscle strength and slow the progression of disability.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Immunosuppression in transplantation
Ulcerative colitis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Anaphylaxis
Deflazacort exerts anti-inflammatory activity in DMD and improves muscle weakness and cardiorespiratory symptoms. It is prodrug with an active metabolite, 21-deflazacort, which binds to the glucocorticoid receptor to exert anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects on the body.
It is well orally absorbed and the concentration reaches maximum in plasma within 1-2 hours. Th volume of distribution is 204 ± 84 L and approximately 40% of the drug is bound to plasma protein. It is mainly metabolised by CYP enzymes and about 70% of the metabolites are excreted in urine. Half-life of deflazacort was found to be 1.1 to 1.9 h.
Common side effect includes:
Fever
Backache
Blurred vision
Body aches or pain
Chills
Cough
Difficulty with breathing
irritability
Carefully use the medication in the following conditions:
GI perforation
Hyperlipidemia
Hypothyroidism
Cirrhosis
Deflazacort hepatic impairment
Electrolyte imbalance
Thromboembolism
Osteoporosis
Myasthenia gravis
Following drugs may interact with the drug:
Systemic corticosteroids; corticotropin (acth)/live vaccines
Deflazacort/strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors
Immunosuppressives; immunomodulators/baricitinib
Agents affecting plasma cortisol levels/cosyntropin
Corticosteroids/t cell immunotherapies
Agents that affect iodide/radioactive iodide
Glucocorticoids/aldesleukin
Corticosteroids
| Deflazacort | 6 mg |