LUXIQ- betamethasone valerate aerosol, foam
Prestium Pharma, Inc.
Rx Only
For Dermatologic Use Only
Not for Ophthalmic Use
DESCRIPTION
Lux�q Foam contains betamethasone valerate, USP, a synthetic corticosteroid, for topical dermatologic use. The corticosteroids constitute a class of primarily synthetic steroids used topically as anti-inflammatory agents.
Betamethasone valerate is 9-fluoro11�,17, 21-trihydroxy-16�-methylpregna-1, 4-diene-3, 20-dione 17-valerate, with the empirical formula C27 H37 FO6 , a molecular weight of 476.58.The following is the chemical structure:
betamethasone valerate chemical structure
(click image for full-size original)
Betamethasone valerate is a white to practically white, odorless crystalline powder, and is practically insoluble in water, freely soluble in acetone and in chloroform, soluble in alcohol, and slightly soluble in benzene and in ether.
Lux�q� (betamethasone valerate) Foam, 0.12%, contains 1.2 mg betamethasone valerate, USP, per gram in a thermolabile hydroethanolic foam vehicle consisting of cetyl alcohol, citric acid, ethanol (60.4%), polysorbate 60, potassium citrate, propylene glycol, purified water, and stearyl alcohol pressurized with a hydrocarbon (propane/butane) propellant.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Like other topical corticosteroids, betamethasone valerate foam has anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of the topical steroids, in general, is unclear. However, corticosteroids are thought to act by the induction of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, collectively called lipocortins. It is postulated that these proteins control the biosynthesis of potent mediators of inflammation such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes by inhibiting the release of their common precursor arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is released from membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A2 .
