Deflazacort: Uses, How It Works, Medicines
Deflazacort is a corticosteroid, a prescription medicine that reduces inflammation and calms the immune system. It is used for inflammatory and immune conditions and, in some countries, for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. It must not be stopped suddenly after long use, and it can raise blood sugar and lower resistance to infection.
Also known as: Deflazacort tablet, Deflazacort 6 mg, Defcort, Calcort, Emflaza
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
How does Deflazacort work?
Deflazacort is converted in the body into an active form that acts on steroid receptors, like the body's own cortisol. It dampens inflammatory and immune signals, so swelling eases, while resistance to infection falls.
How to take Deflazacort
Follow the label or your doctor's advice. The dose and the number of days differ from person to person and the doctor may lower the dose slowly at the end, so never change or stop it on your own.
Side effects of Deflazacort
Short courses usually cause mild effects. Longer or higher-dose treatment is more likely to cause the serious effects below.
Uncommon or mild
- Indigestion or stomach upset
- Weight gain and a bigger appetite
- Trouble sleeping or restlessness
- Mood changes
- Sweating
- Easy bruising, acne or thinner skin
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Signs of infection such as fever, a very sore throat, cough or a wound that will not heal. Contact a doctor straight away
- Very high blood sugar: extreme thirst, passing a lot of urine, confusion or fast breathing
- Black or bloody stools, or vomiting blood. Get emergency help
- Severe mood changes, hallucinations or thoughts of self-harm. Contact a doctor at once
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get emergency help
- Severe stomach or back pain, eye pain or changes in eyesight, muscle weakness or severe tiredness with dizziness and vomiting
Who should be careful
Corticosteroids are strong medicines. They are taken only on a doctor's prescription, and the warnings below matter most for longer treatment.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to the medicine or any ingredient of the tablet
- A serious untreated infection, unless a doctor has decided otherwise
- Do not stop it suddenly after more than a few weeks: the body's own steroid production slows down, and stopping at once can cause weakness, vomiting, dizziness and a flare of the condition. The doctor lowers the dose slowly
- Infection: steroids lower resistance to infection and can hide its signs. Tell your doctor about fever, sore throat, cough or a wound that will not heal, and about tuberculosis, shingles, chickenpox or measles contact
- Diabetes: steroids can raise blood sugar, so sugar checks or diabetes medicine doses may need review
- Stomach ulcer or stomach bleeding: steroids can irritate the stomach, especially with anti-inflammatory painkillers
- High blood pressure, heart failure or fluid retention, and low potassium
- Mood and sleep: steroids can cause trouble sleeping, mood swings, depression, confusion or seeing and hearing things that are not there. Tell your doctor
- Thin bones (osteoporosis), eye problems such as glaucoma or cataract, and slowed growth in children on long treatment
- Vaccines: ask your doctor before any vaccine, because live vaccines are usually avoided during treatment
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: tell your doctor; the benefit is weighed against the risk
- Grapefruit juice: it can raise the level of deflazacort; ask your doctor
- Skin reactions: a serious skin reaction has been reported in the first weeks; contact a doctor at once for any new rash
Medicines and things that interact with Deflazacort
Several medicines change how steroids work, and steroids change how others work. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.
- Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen, diclofenac and aspirin: together with a steroid they raise the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding
- Diabetes medicines including insulin: steroids can raise blood sugar, so the dose may need changing
- Medicines that speed up the liver, such as rifampicin, phenytoin and carbamazepine: they can weaken the steroid's effect
- Medicines that slow the liver, such as some antifungals and antibiotics: they can strengthen the steroid's effect
- Water tablets (diuretics): potassium can fall too low
- Blood thinners such as warfarin: clotting tests may need to be checked more often
- Live vaccines: usually avoided while taking steroids
- Grapefruit juice and some antibiotics or antifungals: they can raise deflazacort levels, so the doctor may adjust the dose
If someone takes too much
One extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to cause harm, but ask a pharmacist or doctor. If someone has taken a lot more than prescribed, or has collapsed, had a fit or has trouble breathing, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the pack with you.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. The single-ingredient medicine is not on the CDSCO section 26A banned list, but fixed-dose combinations of corticosteroids with any other drug for internal use (other than inhalers) are banned, so check the ingredient list on the pack.
Type of medicine
Deflazacort belongs to this type of medicine.
Medicines that contain Deflazacort
These medicines sold in India contain Deflazacort. They are listed A to Z, not ranked.
- Defcort 6 · 6 mg tablet
What is Deflazacort used for?
Medicines that contain Deflazacort are used for these conditions.
Other medicines of the same type
These active ingredients are of the same type as Deflazacort.
Common questions
Can I stop deflazacort suddenly?
No, not if you have taken it for more than a few weeks. Stopping at once can cause weakness, tiredness, vomiting and a flare of the condition, because the body's own steroid supply has slowed. Your doctor lowers the dose gradually. Ask the doctor before any change.
Does deflazacort raise blood sugar?
It can. Steroids make the body release more sugar, so people with diabetes may need closer sugar checks or a change in diabetes medicine. Tell your doctor if you have diabetes. Warning signs include great thirst, passing a lot of urine and extreme tiredness.
Does deflazacort make infections more likely?
Yes. Steroids calm the immune system, so infections can be easier to catch and harder to spot. Tell your doctor about fever, sore throat, cough or a wound that will not heal, and about contact with chickenpox, shingles or measles.
Sources
- EMFLAZA (deflazacort) tablets and oral suspension: prescribing information. DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- Prednisolone tablets and liquid: how and when to take it. NHS (UK)
- Prednisolone tablets and liquid: side effects. NHS (UK)
- ATC/DDD Index: H02AB Glucocorticoids. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)