DEXAMETHASONE (ORAL)

(dex a METH a sone) Brand: Baycadron, Dexamethasone Intensol, DexPak 10 Day Taperpak, DexPak 13 DayTaperpak, DexPak 6 DayTaperpak, Dexpak Jr. Taperpak, Zema Pak 10-Day, Zema Pak 13-Day, Zema Pak 6-Day

What is the most significant information I must know about dexamethasone?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to dexamethasone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

• Till taking dexamethasone, speak your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all another medicines you are using. There are much another illness that can be affected by steroid use, and much another medicines that can interact with steroids.

• Your steroid medicine needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious diseases, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical abnormal. Speak your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.

• Steroid medicine 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. Speak your doctor about any diseases or infection you have had within the past different weeks.

• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. 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.

• Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are taking dexamethasone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.

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

• Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take dexamethasone. Any medical care provider who treats you must know that you are using a steroid.

What is dexamethasone?

• Dexamethasone is a steroid that prevents the release of substances in the body that reason inflammation.

• Dexamethasone is used to treat much various conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders.

• Dexamethasone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking dexamethasone?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to dexamethasone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

• Steroid medicine can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor about any diseases or infection you have had within the past different weeks.

• To create certain you can safely take dexamethasone, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· liver malady (such as cirrhosis);

· kidney disease;

· a thyroid disorder;

· diabetes;

· a history of malaria;

· tuberculosis;

· osteoporosis;

· a muscle mess such as myasthenia gravis;

· glaucoma or cataracts;

· herpes infection of the eyes;

· stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis;

· depression or mental illness;

· congestive heart failure; or

· tall blood pressure

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether dexamethasone will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Dexamethasone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Steroids can affect growth in children. Conversation with your doctor if you think your baby is not growing at a usual course while using this medication.

How must I take dexamethasone?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• Your steroid medicine needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious diseases, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical abnormal. Speak your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

• This medicine can reason unusual results with determined medical trials. Speak any doctor who treats you that you are using dexamethasone.

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

• Wear a medical alert tag or carry an ID card stating that you take dexamethasone. Any medical care provider who treats you must know that you are using steroid medication.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Long-term use of tall steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, light bruising, changes in the shape or location of body thick (especially in your person, neck, back, and waist), heighten acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

What must I avoid while 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 malady. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), oral polio, rotavirus, typhoid, varicella (chickenpox), H1N1 influenza, and nasal flu vaccine.

• Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking dexamethasone.

What are the possible side effects of dexamethasone?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· problems with your vision;

· swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;

· severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions);

· bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood;

· pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, quick heart rate);

· low potassium (confusion, uneven heart course, extreme thirst, heighten urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or

· dangerously tall blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes;

· acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration;

· slow wound healing;

· heighten sweating;

· headache, dizziness, spinning sensation;

· nausea, stomach pain, bloating;

· muscle weakness; or

· changes in the shape or location of body thick (especially in your arms, legs, person, 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 message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect dexamethasone?

• Many drugs can interact with dexamethasone. Below is just a partial list. Speak your doctor if you are using:

· aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at tall doses);

· a diuretic (water pill);

· a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

· cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

· insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;

· ketoconazole (Nizoral);

· rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane); or

· seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with dexamethasone. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about dexamethasone.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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