Uses of Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is used to treat the following disease conditions:

• adrenal insufficiency and its associated conditions
• bone and joint problems (Ex. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis)
• skin and collagen disorders (Ex. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, psoriasis)
• eye problems (Ex. optic neuritis, uveitis or iritis)
• respiratory tract diseases (Ex. asthma, tuberculosis, pneumonitis)
• blood cancer (leukemia), lymph cancer (lymphoma)
• anemia (low RBC count in blood), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count in blood)
• problems of bowel and gut (Ex. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
• brain problems (Ex. tuberculous meningitis)
• heart inflammation (Ex. endocarditis)
• drug induced hypersensitivity reactions 
• allergic reactions (such as atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis)
• high blood calcium levels caused due to cancer treatment
• protein loss via urine due to kidney problems
• 
  

Therapeutic Category

Dexamethasone: Corticosteroids

How Dexamethasone works

Dexamethasone is a steroid medicine with anti-inflammatory and immune suppressant properties. It boosts your body with sufficient corticosteroid levels (cortisol, aldosterone) during deficient conditions and helps your body to function properly. 

It also reduces the release of certain chemicals (prostaglandins) in the body that causes inflammation, pain, irritation and swelling. As a result, it reduces allergic and inflammatory conditions in the body.

Common side effects of Dexamethasone

• headache, dizziness, spinning sensation, increased sweating
• acne, skin rash, bruising
• nausea, stomach pain or discomfort, increased appetite
• changes in vision, feeling weak or tired, slow wound healing
• skin thinning
• fits
• difficulty in swallowing, sore throat 
• high blood pressure, fluid retention
• swelling and weight gain of the body and face
• high blood sugar levels, with excessive thirst
• muscle weakness and wasting
• bone thinning with an increased risk of fractures
• raised pressure in the eye, cataracts
• irregular or lack of menstrual periods 
• increased infections
• 
  

When to consult your doctor

• If you experience signs of allergic reaction (such as skin rash, itching, blistering and peeling of the skin, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, throat which may lead to breathing difficulties)
• If you experiencesevere skin rashes with blistering and peeling of skin
• If you experiencefeeling depressed, suicidal thoughts, mania, mood swings
• If you experienceanxiety, sleeping problems, problems in thinking, confusion, memory loss
• If you experiencehallucinations, strange thoughts, behavioural changes
• If you experiencesigns of pheochromocytoma crisis (headaches, sweating, palpitations, and hypertension)
• If you experiencesigns of adrenal suppression (such as swelling and weight gain around the trunk, excessive hair growth in women, muscle weakness and wasting, irregular or missing periods, stunted growth in children, purple stretch marks on body skin, changes in the levels of protein and calcium in your body)
• If you experiencesigns of bleeding in the gut (such as stomach pain which radiates until your back, bleeding from the anus, black or blood-stained stools, blood in vomit)
• If you experienceincreased infections causing fever or a general feeling of being unwell
• If you experiencesigns of flare up of a previous tuberculosis infection (such as coughing blood or pain in the chest) 
• If you experiencesigns of pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas causing severe stomach pain and vomiting)
• If you experiencesigns of blood clot in lungs (such as sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood)
• If you experiencesigns of increased pressure within the skull (such as severe headaches with vomiting, lack of energy and drowsiness) usually occurs once therapy is stopped

Health Tips for Dexamethasone

• Dexamethasone should be used under careful medical supervision. When taken in the form of tablet or capsule, it is preferably taken with meals to avoid stomach upset
• When applied topically in the eyes/ears, wash your hands thoroughly before and after use. Do not touch the tip of the container with your eyes, eyelids, areas around your eyes, outer surface of the ears or fingers, to avoid contamination. 
• If there is no improvement in your condition even after using this medicine for 7 days, consult your doctor for advice
• Before taking Dexamethasone, inform your doctor if you have diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma, epilepsy, underactive thyroid, muscle problems, osteoporosis, stomach problems, tuberculosis, depression, mania or any other mental problems as a precaution
• Avoid concomitant use of dexamethasone with antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal agents without consulting your doctor, as it could lead to unpleasant reactions
• Do not take dexamethasone without consulting your doctor if you have serious untreated fungal or viral infections in the body or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding