QuestionQUESTION: During pregnancy my wife was injected several times with betnesol. I clearly remember that every nigth after the shots she can not sleep because of the fetus movements.
Since the boy started at school we had learning problems that had became evident. The boy is 8 years old now. There is no history of LDs in either side of the family. Both mother and I agreed that was the medication the culprit. But we had not clues of how to be sure that this is the case.
Is there any way to be sure that was a side effect of betnesol what is causing my boy LDs?
If this is the cause of the LDs, is there a different way to help?
My son was a couple of years ago taking methylphenidate for 4 to 5 months as he was ADHD diagnosed. As I disagreed and besides noted no benefits I suspended it.
Thanks
ANSWER: Dear Nestor,
Betnesol, or betamethasone, is administered during pregnancy when preterm birth is a possibility. It is a Class C drug, which means adverse effects have been reported in the fetus.
If the doctor recommended the injections of this powerful drug for your wife, they must have detected something that alerted them your baby was at risk for being premature.
As I said before, Betnesol is not without risk. Although it can improve the breathing capabilities of a preemie and save its life, the most common side effects found in newborn exposed to betamethasone in utero are hypoglycemia and leukocytosis. I am unable to find any studies which show a direct link between Betnesol injections in the pregnant mother and subsequent learning disorders in the child.
You might ask your family doctor, or the doctor who prescribed the shots, for more information.
Regards,
Ann S
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Ann:
I do not want to deal with issues that are impossible to solve. Nowadays we are sure that the doctors who prescribed betnesol after week 35 were wrong; there are no prematures on the 8th month.
They were more concern on numbers than in children. I discussed that some time ago with them.
I just wondered if you had any info we were unable to find, and I quote your answer to other question in this site:
"Betamethasone is not without risks; it can be lifesaving for premature babies, but it can have consequences on learning and development down the road."
But now your answer was:
"I am unable to find any studies which show a direct link between Betnesol injections in the pregnant mother and subsequent learning disorders in the child."
Regards
NB
AnswerDear Nestor,
First of all, you gave me no details about the injections. I was not aware it was administered after the 35th week.
Secondly, you are NOT quoting my answer. Someone else on Allexperts wrote "It can be lifesaving for premature babies, but it can have consequences on learning and development down the road." Whoever the expert was that wrote that, they don't give any evidence for that statement. Perhaps you could find out more by contacting that expert and seeing if they could provide you with some research to back it up.
I repeat what I wrote. I was unable to find studies directly linking the two. That doesn't mean there is no link. Nor does it mean the studies aren't out there. I just couldn't find anything in the research I did.
Regards,
Ann S
