It is also given in cord compression, where a tumor is compressing the spinal cord. In brain tumors (primary or metastatic), dexamethasone is used to counteract the development of edema, which could eventually compress other brain structures. The exact mechanism of this interaction is not well-defined, but it has been theorized that this effect may be due to, among many other causes, inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, anti-inflammatory effects, immunosuppressive effects, decreased release of endogenous opioids, or a combination of the aforementioned. Dexamethasone can increase the antiemetic effect of 5-HT 3 receptor antagonists, such as ondansetron. People with cancer undergoing chemotherapy are often given dexamethasone to counteract certain side effects of their antitumor treatments. Ī single ampoule of dexamethasone phosphate for injection Cancer It acts to reduce the inflammatory response of the body to the bacteria killed by the antibiotics (bacterial death releases proinflammatory mediators that can cause a response which is harmful), thus reducing hearing loss and neurological damage. ĭexamethasone may be administered before antibiotics in cases of bacterial meningitis. The typical quantity present in a lead tip is less than 1.0 mg. The steroid is released into the myocardium as soon as the screw is extended and can play a significant role in minimizing the acute pacing threshold due to the reduction of inflammatory response. ĭexamethasone is used in transvenous screw-in cardiac pacing leads to minimize the inflammatory response of the myocardium. Dexamethasone has also been used with antibiotics to treat acute endophthalmitis. Dexamethasone intravitreal steroid implants have been approved by the FDA to treat ocular conditions such as diabetic macular edema, central retinal vein occlusion, and uveitis. It is present in certain eye drops – particularly after eye surgery – and as a nasal spray, and certain ear drops (can be combined with an antibiotic and an antifungal). It is useful to counteract allergic anaphylactic shock, if given in high doses. It is injected into the heel when treating plantar fasciitis, sometimes in conjunction with triamcinolone acetonide. ĭexamethasone is commonly given as a treatment for croup in children, as a single dose can reduce the swelling of the airway to improve breathing and reduce discomfort. It is also given in small amounts before and/or after some forms of dental surgery, such as the extraction of the wisdom teeth, an operation which often causes puffy, swollen cheeks. It is unclear whether dexamethasone in this condition is significantly better than other glucocorticoids. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a decrease in numbers of platelets due to an immune problem, responds to 40 mg daily for four days it may be administered in 14-day cycles. ĭexamethasone phosphate injection ampoules Anti-inflammatory ĭexamethasone is used to treat many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and bronchospasm. In 2017, it was the 321st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than one million prescriptions. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. ĭexamethasone was first synthesized in 1957 by Philip Showalter Hench and was approved for medical use in 1961. Dexamethasone has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects. It should not be taken when breastfeeding. In Australia, the oral use is category A, meaning it has been frequently used in pregnancy and not been found to cause problems to the baby. It is in pregnancy category C in the United States, meaning that it should only be used when the benefits are predicted to be greater than the risks. The long-term use of dexamethasone may result in thrush, bone loss, cataracts, easy bruising, or muscle weakness. The effects of dexamethasone are frequently seen within a day and last for about three days.
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It may be given by mouth, as an injection into a muscle, as an injection into a vein, as a topical cream or ointment for the skin or as a topical ophthalmic solution to the eye. In preterm labor, it may be used to improve outcomes in the baby. In adrenocortical insufficiency, it may be used in combination with a mineralocorticoid medication such as fludrocortisone. Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid medication used to treat rheumatic problems, a number of skin diseases, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, croup, brain swelling, eye pain following eye surgery, superior vena cava syndrome (a complication of some forms of cancer), and along with antibiotics in tuberculosis.