Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Dexamethasone is used to treat many different inflammatory conditions such as allergic disorders and skin conditions.

Dexamethasone is also used to treat ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, and breathing disorders.

There are many brands and forms of dexamethasone available. Not all brands are listed on this leaflet.

You should not use dexamethasone if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, and all the medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.

Your dosage may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.

Dexamethasone can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.

All vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid. Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are taking this medicine.

Do not stop using dexamethasone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Dexamethasone comes as a tablet and a solution to take by mouth. Your doctor will prescribe a dosing schedule that is best for you. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take dexamethasone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Do not stop taking dexamethasone without talking to your doctor. Stopping the drug abruptly can cause loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, headache, fever, joint and muscle pain, peeling skin, and weight loss. If you take large doses for a long time, your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually to allow your body to adjust before stopping the drug completely. Watch for these side effects if you are gradually decreasing your dose and after you stop taking the tablets or oral liquid, even if you switch to an inhalation corticosteroid medication. If these problems occur, call your doctor immediately. You may need to increase your dose of tablets or liquid temporarily or start taking them again.

Take dexamethasone exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

Your dose needs may change due to surgery, illness, stress, or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

dexamethasone can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using dexamethasone.

Do not stop using dexamethasone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.

In case of emergency, wear or carry medical identification to let others know you use dexamethasone.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

You should not use dexamethasone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

To make sure you can safely take dexamethasone, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease (such as cirrhosis);

• kidney disease;

• a thyroid disorder;

• malaria;

• tuberculosis;

• osteoporosis;

• a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis;

• diabetes (steroid medicine may increase glucose levels in your blood or urine);

• glaucoma or cataracts;

• herpes infection of the eyes;

• stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease;

• depression or mental illness;

• congestive heart failure; or

• high blood pressure.

Steroid medication affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily. Steroids can also worsen or reactivate an infection you've already had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using dexamethasone.

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of dexamethasone.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

An overdose of dexamethasone is not expected to produce life threatening symptoms. Long term use of high doses can lead to thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Your doctor may instruct you to follow a low-sodium, low-salt, potassium-rich, or high-protein diet. Follow these directions.

Dexamethasone may cause an upset stomach. Take dexamethasone with food or milk.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medicine.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking dexamethasone.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using dexamethasone. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to dexamethasone: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• muscle tightness, weakness, or limp feeling;

• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;

• shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain;

• severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• a seizure (convulsions);

• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood;

• fast or slow heart rate, weak pulse;

• pancreatitis - severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting;

• low potassium level - leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling; or

• increased blood pressure - severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.

Dexamethasone can affect growth in children. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using dexamethasone.

Common dexamethasone side effects may include:

• fluid retention (swelling in your hands or ankles);

• increased appetite;

• mood changes, trouble sleeping;

• skin rash, bruising or discoloration;

• acne, increased sweating, increased hair growth;

• headache, dizziness;

• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;

• changes in your menstrual periods; or

• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect dexamethasone, especially:

• an antibiotic or antifungal medicine;

• birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;

• insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;

• medicine to treat dementia or Parkinson's disease;

• a blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) - aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with dexamethasone. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to dexamethasone. Checkups are especially important for children because dexamethasone can slow bone growth.

If your condition worsens, call your doctor. Your dose may need to be adjusted.

Carry an identification card that indicates that you may need to take supplementary doses (write down the full dose you took before gradually decreasing it) of dexamethasone during periods of stress (injuries, infections, and severe asthma attacks). Ask your pharmacist or doctor how to obtain this card. List your name, medical problems, drugs and dosages, and doctor's name and telephone number on the card.

This drug makes you more susceptible to illnesses. If you are exposed to chicken pox, measles, or tuberculosis (TB) while taking dexamethasone, call your doctor. Do not have a vaccination, other immunization, or any skin test while you are taking dexamethasone unless your doctor tells you that you may.

Report any injuries or signs of infection (fever, sore throat, pain during urination, and muscle aches) that occur during treatment.

Your doctor may instruct you to weigh yourself every day. Report any unusual weight gain.

If your sputum (the matter you cough up during an asthma attack) thickens or changes color from clear white to yellow, green, or gray, call your doctor; these changes may be signs of an infection.

If you have diabetes, dexamethasone may increase your blood sugar level. If you monitor your blood sugar (glucose) at home, test your blood or urine more frequently than usual. Call your doctor if your blood sugar is high or if sugar is present in your urine; your dose of diabetes medication and your diet may need to be changed.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.