Generic Name

Dexamethsone

Classification
Corticosteroid
Glucocorticoid
Hormone

Trade Name

Tablets0.25, 0.5,
0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6
mg; elixir0.5
mg/5 mL; oral
solution concentrate0.5 mg/0.5
mL; injection4
mg/mL, 8 mg/mL,
10 mg/mL, 16
mg/mL, 20 mg/mL,
24 mg/mL; aerosol
84
mcg/actuation;
oph- thalmic
solution0.1%;
ophthalmic suspension0.1%;
ophthalmic
ointment 0.05%;
topical ointment
0.05%; topical
cream0.05%,
0.1%; topical
aerosol0.01%,
0.04%

Decadron

Therapeutic Actions
Enters target cells
and binds to specific
recep- tors, initiating
many complex
reactions that are
responsible for its
anti-inflammatory
and
immunosuppressive
effect

Dosages and Route

Contraindications:
Contraindicated with
infections, especially
tuberculosis, fungal
infections, amebiasis,
vaccinia and varicella,
and antibiotic- resistant
infections, allergy to any
compo- nent of the
preparation used.
Use cautiously with

Nursing
Implications:
tracerebral
hemorrhage,
reversible cerebral
atrophyininfants,ca
taracts,IOP,glauco
ma CV:
Hypertension,
heart failure,

Indications
Hypercalcemia
associated with
cancerCancer
chemotherapy
induced nausea and
vomiting

Short-term
management of
various
inflammatory and
allergic disorders,
such as rheumatoid
arthritis, collagen
diseases (SLE),
dermatologic
diseases
(pemphigus), status
asthmaticus, and
autoimmune
disorders

Hematologic
disorders:
Thrombocytopenic
purpura,
erythroblastopenia

renal or hepatic disease;

hypothyroidism,
ulcerative colitis with
impending perforation;
diverticulitis; active or
latent peptic ulcer;
inflammatory bowel
disease; heart failure,
hypertension, thromboembolic disorders;
osteoporosis; seizure
disorders; diabetes
mellitus; lactation.
Adverse effects

Adverse effects depend

on dose, route, and duration of therapy.
Systemic administration
CNS: Seizures, vertigo,
headaches, pseudotumor cerebri,
euphoria, insomnia, mood
swings, depression,
psychosis, in tracerebral
hemorrhage, reversible
cerebral

atrophyininfants,cataract
s,IOP,glaucoma CV:
Trichinosiswithneuro Hypertension, heart
logicormyocardial
failure, necrotizinvolvement
ing angiitisEndocrine:
Ulcerative colitis,
Growth retardation,
acute exacerbations decreased
of MS, and palliation
in some leukemias
carbohydrate tolerance,
and lym- phomas
diabetes mellitus,
cushingoid state,

Cerebraledemaassoc secondary adrenocortiiatedwithbraintumor, cal and pituitary

unresponsiveness
craniotomy, or head
injury
GI: Peptic or esophageal

necrotizing angiitis
Endocrine:
Growth
retardation,
decreased
carbohydrate
tolerance, diabetes
mellitus,
cushingoid state,
secondary
adrenocorti- cal
and pituitary
unresponsiveness
GI: Peptic or
esophageal ulcer,
pancreati- tis,
abdominal
distention

GU: Amenorrhea,
irregular menses
Hematologic:
Fluid and
electrolyte disturbances,
negative nitrogen
balance, increased blood
sugar, glycosuria,
increased serum
cholesterol,
decreased serum
T3 and

T4 levels
Hypersensitivity:
Anaphylactoid or
hypersensitivity
reactions

Testing
adrenocortical
hyperfunction

ulcer, pancreati- tis,

abdominal distention

GU: Amenorrhea,
irregular menses
Unlabeleduses:Antie
Hematologic: Fluid and
metic for cisplatinelectrolyte disturbances, negative
induced vomiting,
nitrogen balance, indiagnosis of
creased blood sugar,
depression Intraglycosuria, increased
articularorsofttissueadministration: serum cholesterol,
decreased serum T3 and
Arthritis, psoriatic
T4 levels
plaques
Hypersensitivity:
Anaphylactoid or hy

persensitivity reactions
Musculoskeletal:
Muscle weakness, steroid
myopathy, loss of muscle
mass, os- teoporosis,
spontaneous fractures

Other: Impaired wound

healing; pe- techiae;
ecchymoses; increased
sweating; thin and fragile
skin; acne; immunosuppression and masking
of signs of in- fection;
activation of latent
infections, in- cluding TB,
fungal, and viral eye
infections; pneumonia;
abscess; septic infection;
GI and GU infections

Musculoskeletal:
Muscle weakness,
steroid myopathy,
loss of muscle
mass, osteoporosis,
spontaneous
fractures
Other: Impaired
wound healing; petechiae;
ecchymoses;
increased
sweating; thin and
fragile skin; acne;
immunosuppression and
masking of signs of
in- fection;
activation of latent
infections, including TB, fungal,
and viral eye
infections;
pneumonia;
abscess; septic
infection; GI and
GU infections