What are the long term side effects of dexamethasone?

Taking dexamethasone for several months can increase the risk of some other side effects. If you take it long term you can get thinner bones (osteoporosis), eyesight problems and slower growth in children and teenagers. If you have diabetes, dexamethasone can affect blood sugar control.

What happens when you stop taking dexamethasone?

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.

What does dexamethasone do to the brain?

Dexamethasone and Brain Tumors

“Dexamethasone is really the only steroid that can effectively decrease inflammatory reactions in the brain to help our patients,” he said. Some patients receive dexamethasone to prevent inflammation in the brain and remain on the medicine indefinitely.

What are the disadvantages of dexamethasone?

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);

What are the side effects of dexamethasone in humans?

Stomach upset, heartburn, headache, trouble sleeping, or increased appetite may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

Medical Index - Short and Long Term Side Effects from Corticosteroids

How long can you safely take dexamethasone?

Your doctor will tell you how long to take it for. When used to treat croup in children, your doctor will give a single one-off dose. For some conditions you may only need to take dexamethasone for a few days or weeks. However, for other conditions you may need to take it for longer, sometimes for several months.

Can dexamethasone cause liver damage?

In the low-dose dexa group, moderate liver damage was seen, while mild liver damage was observed in the high-dose dexa group. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroids reduced liver damage produced by bile duct obstruction.

When will dexamethasone side effects go away?

How long do dexamethasone side effects last? With a half-life of four hours (the amount of time it takes the body to eliminate half a dose), a 20 mg dose is eliminated from the body in about 24 hours. Many of the temporary side effects of dexamethasone, such as mood changes or anxiety, will wear off by that time.

Can dexamethasone cause kidney damage?

Conclusions: Dexamethasone offers no renal protective effect and the drug is associated with significant improvement in A-a O(2) gradient, respiratory index, PaO(2)/FiO( 2) at 12, 24 hours postoperatively and had no effect on extubation time and lung compliance.

Why is dexamethasone used in Covid?

The Panel recommends using dexamethasone for children with COVID-19 who require high-flow oxygen, noninvasive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (BIII).

Does dexamethasone cause moon face?

Prednisone isn't the only steroid that can cause moon face. Other steroids in the corticosteroid family can also lead to the development of moon face. This includes: dexamethasone.

Can dexamethasone cause leg weakness?

With high-dose corticosteroids, however, the weakness may occur within 2 weeks of starting therapy. The fluorinated corticosteroids, including triamcinolone, betamethasone, and dexamethasone, are particularly likely to cause myopathy.

Does dexamethasone prolong life?

Pharmacology: Dexamethasone is often selected in palliative care given its prolonged half-life, multiple routes of administration, and relatively low mineralocorticoid effect (thus less likelihood of fluid retention) (2).

How long does your immune system take to recover after steroids?

Immune system suppression after steroid intake ranges from 3 weeks to 2 months. Kindly continue your medications for diabetes and maintain your sugar level within normal limits. Follow COVID appropriate behavior.

Does dexamethasone cause muscle loss?

Dexamethasone induced a significant loss in body and muscle weight, atrophy in type 2B fibers, and decreased expression of P-Akt, P-GSK3 , and P-FOXO3a.

What happens to your body when you stop taking steroids?

Steroid use cannot be stopped abruptly; tapering the drug gives the adrenal glands time to return to their normal patterns of secretion. Withdrawal symptoms and signs (weakness, fatigue, decreased appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain) can mimic many other medical problems.

What are the signs of kidney disease?

What drugs are hard on the kidneys?

Does dexamethasone increase creatinine levels?

Intravenous dexamethasone can lead to spurious creatinine results, not due to analytical interference but rather the analytically correct measurement of creatinine added as an excipient.

Can dexamethasone make you angry?

The problems with dexamethasone are challenging and can add to the difficulties parents face. They can make you feel very angry and frustrated with your child, which you then feel guilty about.

What should I eat when taking dexamethasone?

Dexamethasone is available in the form of a tablet or a solution to take by mouth. Therefore it can be taken either with food or milk. Your doctor may tell you to follow low-sodium, low-salt, potassium-rich, or high-protein diet.

What drugs interact with dexamethasone?

Can dexamethasone cause eye problems?

Steroid eye drops may cause glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye) or posterior subcapsular cataracts (a rare type of cataract) if used too long. Slow or delayed healing may also occur while you are using this medicine after cataract surgery.

Does dexamethasone cause fatty liver?

Additive effects of dexamethasone and palmitate on hepatic lipid accumulation and secretion. Synthetic and natural glucocorticoids are able to highly modify liver lipid metabolism, which is possibly associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease development.

What helps with dexamethasone withdrawal?