Zefcort Suspension belongs to a group of medicines known as corticosteroids. Its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties give it the ability to treat a wide range of conditions in children. It is also one of the primary medicines used for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in infants and children.
Give Zefcort Suspension to your child orally, either before or after food. Giving it with food helps prevent the risk of developing a stomach upset. Always give the dose as prescribed by the doctor since that depends on the severity and type of infection, body weight, and age of your child. If your child gains or loses weight during treatment, make sure to let the doctor know. Never alter the dose by yourself as that may increase the risk of serious implications in your child. If your child vomits within 30 minutes of taking this medicine, help the child calm down and repeat the same dose, but skip it if it is already time for the next dose.
It is important to complete the full course of this medicine as stopping it abruptly may cause serious side effects. To stop this medicine, the doctor will gradually taper down the dose of this medicine to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Zefcort Suspension can suppress your child’s immune system, making your child more prone to infections. Your child may need frequent medical checkups and tests. Therefore, it is important to follow up with your child’s doctor frequently during the treatment. The doctor may also advise vision and bone mineral density check for your child as Zefcort Suspension can impact both of these.
This medicine may cause side effects like weight gain, increased appetite, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, abnormal hair growth, central obesity, and fluid and electrolyte disturbance. Reach out to your child’s doctor if these side effects appear.
Let your child’s doctor know if your child is already taking medicines for any type of infection. Also, narrate your child’s complete medical history, including heart, blood, skin, bone, and hormonal disorders or any prior episodes of allergy, eye disease, birth defects, lung anomaly, liver impairment, and kidney malfunction. This information is critical for dose alterations and in planning your child’s overall treatment.
Zefcort Suspension helps in the treatment of a variety of cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. It works by suppressing the immune system thereby reducing inflammation around the site of cancer. It is used specifically to decrease swelling (edema), associated with tumors of the spine and brain. Moreover, it helps to treat or prevent allergic reactions in cancer patients.
In Treatment of Inflammatory conditions
Zefcort Suspension gives relief in inflammatory conditions that affect muscles and joints such as arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. It also helps manage other inflammatory conditions such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, uveitis, ulcerative colitis, and allergies. It works by blocking certain chemicals that cause pain and swelling.
In Treatment of Autoimmune conditions
Zefcort Suspension gives relief in autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, atopic dermatitis, etc. It works by lowering your immune system’s response to these conditions thereby reducing symptoms such as swelling, pain, itching, and other allergic-type reactions.
In Treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy(DMD)
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a type of muscular dystrophy, characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy due to the effect of the body’s immune system mechanisms. Zefcort Suspension slows the progression of DMD. The exact mechanism by which it acts is unclear, but it is thought to help mediate the condition by suppressing the immune system. For DMD, Zefcort Suspension is approved to be used in children above 5 years of age.
Side effects of Zefcort Suspension in children
Zefcort Suspension does not pose serious side effects and is well-tolerated by children. In case the side effects do occur, they’re likely to subside once the body adapts to the medicine. Consult your child’s doctor if these side effects persist or bother your child. The most common side effects include-
Common side effects of Zefcort
Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages)
Increased appetite
Weight gain
Frequent urge to urinate
Cushing syndrome
Cough
Abnormal hair growth
Upper respiratory tract infection
Obesity
How can I give Zefcort Suspension to my child?
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Check the label for directions before use. Measure it with a measuring cup and take it by mouth. Shake well before use. Zefcort Suspension may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time. Avoid Zefcort Suspension with salad and vegetable diet.
How Zefcort Suspension works
Zefcort Suspension is a corticosteroid medicine. It acts like the body’s natural anti-inflammatory hormones called glucocorticoids. Zefcort Suspension decreases the formation of chemical substances like prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and interleukins that are involved in inflammation, allergy, and cell multiplication. It also suppresses the immune system and stops the immune mechanisms from causing any self-damage to the body.
Safety advice
Kidney
SAFE IF PRESCRIBED
Zefcort Suspension is safe to use in patients with kidney disease. No dose adjustment of Zefcort Suspension is recommended. Dose alterations may be required in severe kidney disease. Discuss with your child’s doctor thoroughly before giving Zefcort Suspension to your child.
Liver
CAUTION
Zefcort Suspension should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Zefcort Suspension may be needed. Please consult your doctor.
What if I forget to give Zefcort Suspension to my child?
Do not panic. Unless your child’s doctor has advised a specific regime for your child, give the missed dose as soon as you remember it. Skip the missed dose if it is almost the time for the next dose. Do not give a double dose to catch up and follow the prescribed dosing schedule.
All substitutes
For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
Prefer giving Zefcort Suspension with food as an empty stomach can trigger acidity and gastric reflux.
Avoid giving antacids along with Zefcort Suspension. If both need to be given, leave a gap of at least 2 hours between administration of Zefcort Suspension and antacids.
Do not give it more often or for longer than advised by your doctor.
Zefcort Suspension can make it harder for your child to fight off infections. Notify your doctor if you notice any signs of infection such as a fever or sore throat.
Do not stop the medicine abruptly. Seek the doctor’s guidance to taper the dose gradually as sudden withdrawal may result in a steroid withdrawal syndrome.
Fact Box
Chemical Class
Gluco/mineralocorticoids, progestogins and derivatives
Habit Forming
No
Therapeutic Class
HORMONES
Interaction with drugs
Taking Zefcort with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects
There are no medcines for It as far as my knowledge is concernedAnd these case are seen by PediatricianPlease let me know if there is any itber way i can help u
Dear sir as your case is a chronic case it requires long case taking, examination and regular follow up, therefore, please visit a homeopath so that he can examine you and guide you accordingly.
Yes, Zefcort Suspension is a steroid medicine also known as glucocorticoids which occur naturally in the body. These glucocorticoids help to maintain health and wellbeing. Zefcort Suspension increases the corticosteroids levels in the body which helps in treating various illnesses involving inflammation (redness, tenderness, heat and swelling).
Q. In what conditions should I avoid giving Zefcort Suspension to my child?
Avoid giving Zefcort Suspension to your child if they have conditions like cardiac disease or congestive heart failure (except in the presence of active rheumatic carditis), hypertension, thromboembolic disorders, or diabetes mellitus. Zefcort Suspension should also be avoided if your child has a family history of active TB, active herpes infection, osteoporosis, myasthenia gravis, or renal insufficiency.
Q. What do I need to know about Zefcort Suspension and my child’s immunizations?
For certain vaccines (live or live-attenuated vaccines), your child will need to wait 4 to 6 weeks before starting Zefcort Suspension. Hence, your child needs to receive all immunizations according to immunization guidelines before they start taking Zefcort Suspension.
Q. How can I store Zefcort Suspension at home?
Keep the medicine in a cool dry place out of the reach of children and pets. This will help avoid any accidental intake.
Q. My child is suffering from a seizure disorder. Is it safe to give Zefcort Suspension to my child?
Ans: Prolonged intake of Zefcort Suspension can lead to mental illness as well as a seizure disorder. Therefore, any child who is already suffering from seizure disorder should not take Zefcort Suspension.
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References
University of Michigan: C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Deflazacort. [Updated 19 Ju. 2019]. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2021] (online) Available from:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Deflazacort. [Accessed 18 Feb. 2021] (online) Available from:
Mayo Clinic: Drugs and Supplements. Deflazacort (Oral Route). [Accessed 18 Feb. 2021] (online) Available from:
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