Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid found in decadron, reduces inflammation. Decadron tablets are used to treat a wide range of illnesses, including psoriasis, lupus, arthritis, ulcerative colitis, allergic disorders, skin conditions, and breathing problems.
If you are allergic to dexamethasone or any other component of the formulation, avoid taking this medication. If you have a history of peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding, you should not use this medication. Before taking this medication, please talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.
Health Benefits
Numerous medical conditions are treated with decadron. It is an effective anti-inflammatory drug that can be used to lessen swelling, redness, and itching brought on by a variety of medical conditions, including:
allergy symptoms
skin problems
Inflammatory colitis
arthritis
lupus
psoriasis
breathing difficulties
Other uses for decadron that aren't covered in this medication guide are also possible.
Side Effects
Decadron's most typical side effects include:
stomach pain
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
headache
dizziness
If these side effects are minor, they might disappear in a few days or weeks. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if they are more severe or persistent.
Immediately contact your doctor if you experience any severe side effects. If your symptoms seem life-threatening or you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call the emergency services. These are some examples of serious side effects and their signs:
problems with the adrenal glands include fatigue, weakness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, and unusual weight loss.
eye issues, including blurred vision, eye pain or redness, and halo-like effects around lights
Increased hunger, thirst, urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, and weight loss are all signs of high blood sugar.
Low potassium levels can cause confusion, an erratic heartbeat, intense thirst, frequent urination, leg pain, muscle weakness, or a limp appearance.
symptoms of the flu, body aches, fever, chills, and signs of a new infection
severe mental changes, including psychosis, include anxiety, agitation, confusion (which may be accompanied by hallucinations), depression, irritability, and seeing or hearing things that aren't there.
Cushing's syndrome symptoms include weight gain (especially around the face and trunk), slow wound or bruise healing, thinning skin, acne, purple stretch marks on the skin, increased hair growth, fatigue, muscle weakness, and behavioral or mental changes.
Tiredness, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, body aches, joint pain, and muscle pain are symptoms of low adrenal gland hormone levels.
Black, tarry stools, vomit that resembles coffee grounds, blood in the stool, weight loss, and excruciating stomach pain or cramps are all signs of stomach ulcers. If any of these side effects develop, seek medical help right away.
Dosage
Your age, weight, medical history, and the seriousness of your condition are some of the variables that will affect the dosage of Decadron that your doctor prescribes. Without first consulting your doctor, never alter the dosage or stop taking this medication.
Take your Decadron dose as soon as you remember if you miss one. Skip the missed dose and resume your regular dosing schedule if your next dose is almost due. Never combine two doses at once.
Decadron should be kept in a dark, dry place at room temperature. Keep out of the bathroom. Keep Decadron away from children and animals.
Interactions
Other steroids, insulin, oral diabetes medications, blood thinners, cyclosporine, rifampin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and HIV/AIDS medications, as well as other steroids, may all interact with decadron. Any medication you take should be disclosed to your doctor. Because of the risk to the fetus, decadron is not advised for use during pregnancy. It is unclear whether this medication enters breast milk. If you plan to breastfeed, talk to your healthcare provider first.
There are several Decadron drug interactions that can happen when it is taken with other medications, such as rifampin and HIV protease inhibitors, as this eMedTV Web article explains. This page goes into great detail about these interactions and explains how to prevent them.
Mechanism of Action
A synthetic adrenocortical steroid with roughly eight times the potency of prednisone is called decadron. Decadron has notable anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Unknown is the exact mechanism of action.
Pharmacokinetics
Decadron is quickly absorbed from the gut and goes through first pass liver metabolism. Decadron penetrates the blood-brain barrier and is widely distributed throughout body tissues. The liver converts decadron to inactive metabolites, which the kidneys then excrete.