Drug Information for DIPROLENE (Schering Corporation): DESCRIPTION

DIPROLENE^® (augmented betamethasone dipropionate) Ointment contains betamethasone dipropionate, USP, a synthetic adrenocorticosteroid, for dermatologic use. Betamethasone, an analog of prednisolone, has a high degree of corticosteroid activity and a slight degree of mineralocorticoid activity. Betamethasone dipropionate is the 17, 21-dipropionate ester of betamethasone.

Chemically, betamethasone dipropionate is 9-fluoro-11β, 17,21-trihydroxy-16β-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione 17,21-dipropionate, with the empirical formula C₂₈H₃₇FO₇, a molecular weight of 504.6 and the following structural formula:

It is a white to creamy-white, odorless powder insoluble in water; freely soluble in acetone and in chloroform; sparingly soluble in alcohol.

Each gram of DIPROLENE Ointment 0.05% contains 0.643 mg betamethasone dipropionate, USP (equivalent to 0.5 mg betamethasone), in a vehicle of propylene glycol, propylene glycol stearate, white wax, and white petrolatum.