Dexamethasone

What Are The Uses Of Dexamethasone?

Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, is used in the treatment of following conditions:

• Rheumatic problems (auto immune diseases)
• Severe allergies, many skin diseases, brain swelling
• Tuberculosis (In combination of antibiotics)
• Asthma, Croup (upper airway infection)
• Adrenal insufficiency (adrenal gland does not produce sufficient amount of steroid hormones).
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (low levels of platelets)
• Diabetic macular oedema (accumulation of fluid in macula of retina of eye)
• Uveitis
• Central retinal vein occlusion
• Acute endophthalmitis (inflammation of intraocular cavities of eye) along with antibiotics inflammation
• Ankylosing  spondylitis ( inflammatory arthritis of spine and joints)

What Are The Side Effects Of Dexamethasone?

The most common side effects of Dexamethasone are:

• Nausea / vomiting / dizziness
• Acne
• Increased appetite, weight gain
• Insomnia, Depression
• Increased risk of infection
• Confusion, Irritability
• Headache

Sometimes severe (but rare) side effects are

• Cataract
• Hypertension
• Dyspepsia
• High blood glucose, Low potassium levels
• Unusual tiredness
• Unusual digestion upset
• Blood in stools / black stools
• Congestive heart failure

Please consult a physician if the symptoms are persistent.

What Are The Contraindications Of Dexamethasone?

Please inform your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

• Hyper sensitivity towards the drug Dexamethasone or any other allergies
• Osteoporosis
• Diabetes, Psychoses
• Peptic ulcers, Hypertension
• Infectious diseases (Herpes simplex, keratitis)
• Hypothyroidism
• Untreated tuberculosis
• High cholesterol
• In efficiency of hypothalamus and pituitary gland
• Wide angle glaucoma