Low doses of dexamethasone increase the chances of survival in COVID-19 patients who require respiratory support, the University of Oxford’s RECOVERY clinical trial has shown.
In the study, the drug reduced mortality by a third for people on ventilators and by a fifth for those on oxygen. For those who did not need respiratory support, no benefit was found. Do not use this medicine to treat COVID-19 unless your doctor tells you to. If you have questions about using dexamethasone to treat COVID-19, talk with your doctor.
For information on how to prepare, advice on prevention and treatment, and expert advice, visit our COVID-19 hub.
Dexamethasone is a prescription drug. It is available as oral tablets, oral solution, eye drops, and ear drops. It is also available as an injection or intraocular solution to be administered after surgery. The last two forms should only be submitted by healthcare professionals.
Dexamethasone oral tablet is used to treat conditions that cause inflammation, conditions associated with immune system activity, and hormone deficiencies. These conditions include:
Dexamethasone belongs to a class of drugs called steroids. A drug class is a group of drugs that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat these conditions.
If these effects are mild, they may disappear within a few days or weeks. If symptoms worsen or do not disappear, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Dexamethasone oral tablet may interact with other medicines, vitamins, or herbs you are taking. An interaction is when a substance changes how a drug works. It can be harmful or prevent the medicine from working well.
To avoid interactions, your doctor must carefully monitor all of your medications. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or herbs you are taking. To find out how this drug may interact with other medicines you are taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Examples of drugs that can interact with dexamethasone are listed below. This is not an exhaustive list. Check with your doctor before taking any new medications or supplements.
Erythromycin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. When used with dexamethasone, this drug may increase the amount of dexamethasone in the body. This increases the risk of side effects.
Some medicines used to treat fungal infections may increase blood levels of dexamethasone when used with dexamethasone. This may increase the risk of side effects. Examples of such drugs include:
Amphotericin B is another drug used to treat fungal infections. Using this drug with dexamethasone may increase the risk of low potassium levels. (Potassium is a mineral that helps nerves, muscles, and organs work properly.) This can cause muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue, and an irregular heartbeat.
Taking dexamethasone with some blood thinners can lower the levels of these drugs in your body. This can make them less effective and increase your risk of blood clots or stroke. Examples of such drugs include:
Warfarin is also used to thin the blood. Using dexamethasone with this drug may change the risk of bleeding. Your doctor may need to monitor you closely.
If you take dexamethasone with certain medicines used to lower cholesterol levels, it may cause your body to not absorb dexamethasone well. It can also interfere with the action of dexamethasone. Examples of such drugs include:
Aminoglutethimide is used to treat symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome, a disease of the adrenal glands. Using this drug with dexamethasone may decrease the amount of dexamethasone in the body. This means that it may not work properly.
Dexamethasone can raise blood sugar levels, although this is rare. If you are taking diabetes medication, your doctor may need to change your dosage. Examples of such drugs include:
When used with dexamethasone, these drugs lower the levels of potassium in the body. (Potassium is a mineral that helps nerves, muscles, and organs work properly.) This can cause muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue, and an irregular heartbeat. Examples of such drugs include:
When used with dexamethasone, some medicines used to treat epilepsy may lower blood levels of dexamethasone. It can also interfere with the action of dexamethasone. Examples of such drugs include:
Digoxin is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure. Taking this drug with dexamethasone may increase the risk of irregular heartbeat due to low potassium levels. (Potassium is a mineral that helps your nerves, muscles, and organs work properly.)
Taking certain hormones with dexamethasone can cause the levels of these hormones in the body to drop. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of dexamethasone or hormone therapy. Examples of such drugs include:
Taking certain medications used to treat HIV with dexamethasone can lower the levels of those medications in your body, although this rarely happens. This means they may not work and your body may stop responding to HIV medications. Your doctor may avoid using these drugs with dexamethasone. Examples of such drugs include:
Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with dexamethasone increases the risk of stomach ulcers or bleeding. Talk to your doctor about whether these medicines can be taken together. Examples of NSAIDs include:
When used with dexamethasone, some medicines used to treat tuberculosis (TB) may lower blood levels of dexamethasone. It can also interfere with the action of dexamethasone. Examples of such drugs include:
Isoniazid is another anti-TB drug. When used with dexamethasone, it may lower isoniazid levels. This will prevent the action of isoniazid.
Avoid live vaccines while taking dexamethasone. With a live vaccine, you are given a small amount of the virus so that your body learns to build an immune response against it.
These vaccines should not be given while you are using dexamethasone because the drug can weaken your immune system. If this happens, your body will not be able to properly defend itself against the vaccine and you could get sick.
Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is often used to treat pain and is also used as a blood thinner to reduce the risk of a heart attack. Dexamethasone may lower aspirin levels. This can make aspirin less effective and increase the risk of a heart attack.
Also, aspirin may increase the risk of bleeding from a stomach ulcer when used with dexamethasone. If you are taking aspirin, talk to your doctor about whether dexamethasone is safe for you.
Thalidomide is used to treat skin lesions and multiple myeloma. Simultaneous use with dexamethasone can cause toxic epidermal necrolysis. This skin condition can be life-threatening. If your doctor prescribes both of these drugs for you, he will be wary of the possible effects of the combination.
Cyclosporine is used to prevent organ rejection in transplant recipients and to treat rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. Taking this drug with dexamethasone may increase the risk of suppressing your immune system (not as effective). This increases the risk of infection.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most current and up-to-date information. However, because drugs interact differently with each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information does not replace medical advice. Be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider potential interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take, as well as over-the-counter medications.
If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this drug, do not take this drug again. Repeated use may be lethal (lead to death).
For people with infections: Dexamethasone can aggravate fungal infections throughout the body. (Systemic means it affects the whole body, not just one area.) You should not use this medicine if you are taking medicine for a systemic fungal infection. In addition, dexamethasone may mask signs of a non-fungal infection.
For people with congestive heart failure: Dexamethasone increases sodium levels, edema (edema), and potassium loss. This can aggravate heart failure. Before taking this drug, talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you.
For people with high blood pressure: Dexamethasone may increase sodium levels and swelling. This raises your blood pressure. Before taking this drug, talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you.
For people with peptic ulcers: Dexamethasone may increase the risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding and ulcers. If you have a peptic ulcer or other bowel disease, ask your doctor if this drug is safe for you. Intestinal diseases include:
For people with osteoporosis: Dexamethasone reduces bone formation. It also increases bone resorption (breakdown of bones). Therefore, long-term use may increase the risk of developing osteoporosis (osteoporosis). The risk of osteoporosis is higher in people at increased risk for osteoporosis, including postmenopausal people.
For people with hyperthyroidism: This drug is eliminated from the body faster than usual. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this drug depending on your condition.
For people with eye problems: Long-term use of dexamethasone may cause eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure. Your risk is higher if you already have vision problems.
For people with TB: If you have latent TB or tuberculin reactivity, dexamethasone may reactivate the disease. If you test positive for tuberculosis, talk to your doctor about whether it is safe for you to take this drug.
For people with a recent heart attack: If you have recently had a heart attack, using dexamethasone may cause a heart muscle to tear. Before you start taking this drug, make sure your doctor knows about your recent heart attack.
For people with diabetes: Dexamethasone can increase blood sugar levels. Because of this, your doctor may change the dosage of your diabetes medication.
For people with myasthenia gravis (MG): If you have myasthenia gravis, taking dexamethasone with some medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s disease can cause severe weakness. Examples of such drugs include:
Consult your physician if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Animal studies have shown adverse effects on the fetus when the drug is taken by pregnant parents. There have not been enough human studies to be sure how this drug may affect the fetus. This drug should only be used if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk.
Post time: Jul-13-2023