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Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that is used to treat different heath conditions like skin diseases, allergic disorder, asthma, brain swelling, rheumatic arthritis and problems.
This drug comes in various trade names like Decadron, Dexasone, Diodex, Hexadrol, Maxidex, DexPak, Zema-Pak, etc.. It reduces the defensive response of your system and reduces symptoms. It can be administered with antibiotics to treat tuberculosis.
Dexamethasone is administered into the body system through the following means:
Intravenous Therapy: When the medication in liquid form, it is administered to the body by delivery through the vein with the assistance of injections or as drips. This mode of administration is known to be the fastest as it goes straight to the bloodstream.
Intramuscular treatment: Otherwise known and abbreviated as IM. This drug delivery system is carried out by the assistance of injection into the muscle.
Subcutaneous Injection Therapy: is one of the many system of drug administration. It's called SC and can be used to administration dexamethasone during the subcutaneous layer of the skin.
Oral Administration: This entails administering dexamethasone through the mouth.
INGREDIENTS
Dexamethasone Tablets USP usually contain either 0.5 mg, 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 2 mg, 4 mg, or 6 mg of dexamethasone USP. Each tablet also contain some inactive ingredients such as magnesium stearate, lactose, monohydrate, sugar, starch, FD&C Red, FD&C Yellow, Yellow Iron Oxide, D&C Yellow, and FD&C Blue.
Dexamethasone Oral Solution USP is formulated for oral administration contains 05.5 mg per 5 ml of dexamethasone USP. This oral solution contains some inactive ingredients such as propylene glycol, sorbitol solution, propylparaben, anhydrous citric acid, glycerin, disodium edetate and water.
USES OF DEXAMETHASONE/PROS
Dexamethasone has various uses in anti inflammatory diseases, cancer, endocrine treatment, pregnancy, high altitude illnesses, nausea and vomiting, sore throat, and veterinary uses.
Veterinary Uses:
Dexamethasone is combined with clotrimazole and marbofloxacin using a brand name AURIZON as a treatment for severe earing infections especially in dogs.
Dexamethasone combined with dichlormethiazide can be used to treat general swelling and bruising distal limbs in horses.
Anti-inflammatory diseases:
A single dose of dexamethasone in children reduces the swelling of the airway which in turns improves breathing and reduced discomfort. In other words, can be utilized for the treatment of CROUP in children. Dexamethasone given in a high dose functions as a counteract to allergic anaphylactic shock, Dexamethasone intravitreal steroid implant has been accepted by the Federal dental agency for the treatment of climatic conditions such as diabetic macular edema, central retinal vein occlusion, and uveitis, dexamethasone is present in ear drops, eye drops particularly after eye surgery and present in nasal sprays. Dexamethasone is used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Dexamethasone is given before and or after dental surgeries such as the removal of the wisdom tooth. Dexamethasone may also be treated before antibiotics in the event of bacterial meningitis to reduce inflammatory response to the murdered bacterias.
Cancer:
In brain tumors, dexamethasone can be used to suppress the development of edema which can compress other brain structures if not attended to, dexamethasone can be utilised as an immediate chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Pregnancy:
Pregnancy complications may happen like premature delivery, but with the use of dexamethasone, it can help correct premature delivery by helping in the maturation of the fetus' lungs.
Nausea and vomiting
People who've had surgery experience nausea and vomiting. Administration of dexamethasone intravenously is effective for the prevention of nausea and vomiting from recurring.
SIDE EFFECTS/CONS
Dexamethasone, like every other drugs has side effects they provide. The Normal side effects from the ingestion of dexamethasone includes
Dizziness
Stomach upset
Sore throat
Headaches
Trouble in sleeping
Increase in appetite
Weight gain
Acne
But if the below listed serious side effects take place, contact your doctor when you notice
Increased thirst and urination
Signs of infection like fever
Slow, fast or irregular heartbeat
Black stool,
Heartburns
Bone pain
Abdominal pain
Mental changes
Bleeding
Seizures
Precautions
If you have a fungal infection or allergic to this drug, please don't take it. Before taking dexamethasone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have:
Malaria
Thyroid disorder
Liver disease
Glaucoma or cataracts
Tuberculosis
Osteoporosis
Mental illness
Depression
Liver disease
Heart failure
High blood pressure
Herpes infection of the eyes
Diabetes
This medicine may mask signs of infection or put you at greater risk of developing very serious infections. Report any injuries or signs of infection (e.g., persistent sore throat/fever/cough, pain during urination, muscle aches) that occur during treatment.
This medicine may slow down a child's growth if used for quite a while. Consult the doctor or pharmacist for additional information. See the doctor regularly so your child's height and growth can be assessed.
This drug may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast- feeding.
OVERDOSE
An overdose of this medication doesn't pose any life-threatening issues. Long term use of high does can lead to thinning skin, increased acne or facial hair, loss of interest in sex, menstrual problems and impotence.
DRUGS THAT AFFECT DEXAMETHASONE
It is not a fantastic safe to use some certain drugs at exactly the same time since they pose a great deal of risks. Ensure you tell your doctor about all the medications you are using before taking dexamethasone such as;
Insulin or diabetes medications
Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
Blood thinner -- Coumadin, Jantoven
Antibiotic or antifungal medicine
Medicine to treat dementia or Parkinson disease
CONCLUSION
The activity of the world health organization in tagging dexamethasone as an important drug in the health care field has shown dexamethasone to be of relevance to the health of male and research demonstrating that surplus dexamethasone can induce hypertension through various mechanisms show that where there is good, there is also bad. Moderation is the key to ensuring that more good than bad is what's gotten from this medication. Following the doctor's prescription strictly rather than self-medicating will also help to make dexamethasone us be of more good than bad.
