What are the typical side effects of dexamethasone?

Dexamethasone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • upset stomach.
  • stomach irritation.
  • vomiting.
  • headache.
  • dizziness.
  • insomnia.
  • restlessness.
  • depression.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medlineplus.gov


What are the worst side effects of dexamethasone?

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
  • Unusual tiredness.
  • Unusual dizziness.
  • Unusual digestive upset. ...
  • Blood in your stool, or black stools.
  • Blood in your urine.
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising.
  • Unusual swelling throughout your body, or bloating in your abdomen (stomach area)
  • Infection.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


What should I avoid while taking dexamethasone?

Dexamethasone can cause some stomach irritation so it is best to avoid foods and beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine while taking this medication.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on goodrx.com


What does dexamethasone do to your body?

Dexamethasone provides relief for inflamed areas of the body. It is used to treat a number of different conditions, such as inflammation (swelling), severe allergies, adrenal problems, arthritis, asthma, blood or bone marrow problems, kidney problems, skin conditions, and flare-ups of multiple sclerosis.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


How long does it take for dexamethasone side effects to 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on singlecare.com


Side effects from corticosteroids



Does 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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cclg.org.uk


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 a low-sodium, low-salt, potassium-rich, or high-protein diet.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medindia.net


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


Why is dexamethasone used in Covid?

In patients hospitalized with Covid-19, the use of dexamethasone resulted in lower 28-day mortality among those who were receiving either invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygen alone at randomization but not among those receiving no respiratory support.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nejm.org


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on practo.com


What drugs interact with dexamethasone?

Some products that may interact with this drug include: aldesleukin, drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, "blood thinners" such as dabigatran/warfarin, NSAIDs such as aspirin/celecoxib/ibuprofen), mifepristone.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medlineplus.gov


How long does 40 mg dexamethasone stay in your system?

Dexamethasone is known as a long-acting drug. Its half-life is 36-72 hours.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on singlecare.com


Does dexamethasone make your legs weak?

This medicine may cause myopathy. Tell your doctor right away if you have new or worsening unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


How long does 10mg of dexamethasone stay in your system?

Dexamethasone is a long-acting glucocorticoid with a half-life of 36 to 72 hours[4].
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com


What are the withdrawal symptoms of dexamethasone?

Symptoms of corticosteroid withdrawal include:
  • Intense fatigue.
  • Physical weakness.
  • Muscle aches.
  • Joint pain.
  • Appetite and weight loss.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Abdominal pain.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on americanaddictioncenters.org


How long do Covid patients take dexamethasone?

The dexamethasone dosing regimen for pediatric patients is dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg per dose (with a maximum dose of 6 mg) once daily for up to 10 days. There is insufficient evidence to recommend either for or against the use of inhaled corticosteroids in pediatric patients with COVID-19.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov


Does dexamethasone lower immune system?

Dexamethasone works by suppressing inflammation and the immune system, both of which are activated in the course of COVID-19 infection. A generic glucocorticoid, it was one of several drugs studied in the RECOVERY trial (the others, hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir–ritonavir showed little promise and were abandoned).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on pennmedicine.org


When do you take dexamethasone Covid?

The Panel recommends using dexamethasone for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who require mechanical ventilation or ECMO (AI). The Panel recommends using dexamethasone plus tocilizumab for patients with COVID-19 who are within 24 hours of admission to the ICU (BIIa).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov


Is 8mg of dexamethasone a lot?

Adults—At first, 0.75 to 9 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


Can you gain weight taking dexamethasone?

Weight Gain From Steroids

Steroids (such as prednisone or dexamethasone) may cause your child to gain excess weight. Steroids can cause an increase in appetite and a build up (retention) of fluid.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on curesearch.org


Can I take Tylenol with dexamethasone?

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between dexamethasone and Tylenol. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on drugs.com


Does dexamethasone give you energy?

Dexamethasone can give people an increase in energy. They may also develop insomnia, or difficulty sleeping. Taking the medication in the morning may help to prevent this.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on oncolink.org


Does dexamethasone affect memory?

Conclusions. Results from this pilot study suggest that adult survivors of ALL treated with dexamethasone are at increased risk for memory deficits and altered neural activity in specific brain regions and networks associated with memory function.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Does dexamethasone make you jittery?

hyperactivity and jitters. dizziness and headaches. difficulty concentrating. increased number of white blood cells.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myeloma.org
Next question
What grade is Megumi?