[Effect of a betamethasone-dimethidine-maleate combination on dermatologic diseases. Determination of plasma cortisol levels before, during and after several days' therapy].

The combination of betamethasone and dimetindene maleate (Fenistil Plus) is a new combination of a corticosteroid and an antihistaminic agent. According to the pharmaceutical formula, patients must take three capsules daily, whereby only the morning dose contains betamethasone as well as the antihistaminic. The aim of the study, which was performed on dermatological cases, was to examine the restitution of plasma cortisol concentrations following circadian betamethasone therapy of several days duration, as well as to confirm the clinical effectiveness of the drug combination. The results obtained in the study, carried out in a total of nine Patients suffering from various types of dermatitis, showed that the desired therapeutic effects were achieved. In three patients, plasma cortisol concentrations were found to have returned to normal values within four days after cessation of a ten days treatment. From the above results it may be concluded that permanent adrenocortical suppression is not to be expected in patients treated with betamethasone (0,75 mg) in the morning, for a period of ten days. Furthermore, it may be stated that dimetindene maleate (3 mg/day) in combination with the morning dose of betamethasone proved to be therapeutically effective.