Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Dexamethasone (otherwise: Dexamethasonum, Pabi-Dexamethason) is a synthetic drug from the group of glucocorticosteroids that has immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces the swelling of capillaries, affects the protein and carbohydrate metabolism, i.e. changes the concentration of glucose, uric acid and urea in the blood. It intensifies the excretion of calcium ions, which reduces the absorption of calcium from the blood to the bones. It is also used in endocrine diagnostics because it inhibits the adrenal cortex. It is used in emergency medical services in the event of concussion, but has many applications in various fields of medicine, such as dermatology, cardiology, neurosurgery and rheumatology.
Dexamethasone – dosage and form of the drug
Dexamethasone is administered intramuscularly, intravenously or in the form of an oral tablet. There are also circulating sprays for skin sprays, eye drops and (when combined with other preparations) ointments.
The dosage varies significantly depending on the purpose for which the preparation is used. As it is a multiform drug with a variety of uses, it is worth distinguishing several categories.
Dexamethasone in the diagnosis of chronic adrenal diseases – night or two-day adrenal suppression tests are performed with a preparation in the form of 1 mg administered at midnight and with the result in the morning.
The most common form is Pabi-Dexomethasone, which comes in 500 micrograms and 1 milligram dexamethasone tablets. It is used in the control of cerebral edema at a dose of 0,5 mg to 10 mg per 24 hours. In the case of suppression tests, the level of cortisol in the blood is checked after administration.
Dexamethasone – contraindications and side effects
Dexamethasone should not be administered to patients who are hypersensitive to the ingredients of the preparation, people suffering from systemic infections not treated with other methods, and when live vaccines are administered with the use of immunosuppression.
The preparation contains lactose, so it should not be taken by people allergic to this carbohydrate.
Side effects of drugs containing dexamethasone are likely to occur in proportion to the length of therapy and the size of the dose taken. Seek medical advice immediately if you notice any side effects, as these will only disappear when you stop taking the drug or take specific treatment.
There are effects in the form of suicidal thoughts and low mood, so the patient must be monitored constantly. For this reason, special care should be taken when treating people suffering from mental disorders and steroid psychoses, as well as depressive and manic-depressive states. Side effects in such patients can be reduced by condensing the required daily dose to one daily dose, usually given in the morning, and keeping treatment time to a minimum.
In the case of chronic use of a drug containing dexamethasone, patients develop adrenal insufficiency, which persists for up to a year after discontinuation of the preparation. Therefore, one should very carefully reduce the dose until its complete suppression, even in the case of negligible additional symptoms. The physician assesses the degree and proportion of subsequent stages during a clinical examination. Usually, the withdrawal period measures from a few weeks to several months, and even years with long-term use of the drug.
Since glucocorticosteroids mask the effects of infection, reducing inflammation, patients may have difficulty locating comorbidities, and may become highly advanced before properly diagnosed. Due to the immunosuppressive effect, people undergoing treatment with Dexamethasone are more sensitive to infections that compromise their immunity.
Particular caution should be exercised in the case of the risk of chickenpox infection, mycosis, with the coexistence of osteoporosis, hypertension, mental diseases, diabetes, gastric ulceration, tuberculosis, family history of glaucoma, myopathy, liver, kidney and thyroid failure, epilepsy and migraines. Patients with heart problems should unconditionally report their ailment to a doctor.
Therefore, if you have noticed heart problems, you should perform diagnostic tests that will allow you to assess how the most important organ works.
The use of the drug in children is risky due to problems with growth inhibition and weight development caused by the preparation. The active ingredient often causes the accumulation of fat, inducing weight gain as an undesirable effect. The product has many cross-reactions with other drugs and should not be used during lactation or during pregnancy.
Need an urgent medical consultation or prescription drug? Schedule an online consultation and talk to a specialist via chat or video chat. After your visit, you will receive an e-Prescription, e-Referral and e-Release.