Dexamethasone

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Sections available in full article Name, Class of drug, Uses, Administration, Routes of administration, Dosage, Pharmocokinetics, Physiological, variations, Pathological variations, Precautions, Interactions, Adverse reactions, Sources, Publications,
Contributors

Name

  • Dexamethasone.

Class of drug

  • Corticosteroid.

Uses

Action

  • High glucocorticoid but low mineralocorticoid activities.

Indications

  • High-dose therapy in conditions where water retention would be a disadvantage.
  • Anti-inflammatory potency 7.5 x prednisolone.
  • Not suitable for alternate day use because of long duration of action.
  • Anti-inflammatory drug.
  • Assessment of adrenal function in suspect cases of hyperadrenocorticism  Hyperadrenocorticism  (dexamethasone suppression test)  Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test  .

Adverse reactions

Other reported reactions

  • Prolonged use of glucocorticoids will suppress hypothalamic-pituitary axis and cause adrenal atrophy.
  • Animals on chronic therapy should be tapered off steroids when discontinuing drug.
  • Impaired wound healing and delayed recovery from infections.
  • Cutaneous atrophy.
  • Weight loss.
  • Polyuria/polydipsia.
  • Vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Iatrogenic Cushings syndrome  Hyperadrenocorticism  (chronic administration).
  • A single dose of dexamethasone or dexamethasone sodium phosphate will suppress adrenal gland function for up to 32 hours.

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