Dexmethsone (Dexamethasone) 0.5mg

Dexmethsone general information

What is Dexmethsone used for?

Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg are a steroid medication used in wide range of inflammatory, allergic and immune disorders to suppress clinical symptoms of the disease.  Amongst their many applications, Dexmethsone 0.5 is used to reduce inflammation in conditions where the immune system is overactive, like anaphylaxis, severe bronchial asthma, acute outbreaks of eczema and severe allergies; to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease, where the body’s immune system is directed against self, and to prevent rejection following organ transplant.  Also to treat skin conditions like pemphigus, secondary hypercalcaemia, autoimmune haemolytic anaemias, oedema and some eye disorders.  Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg are also used as an anti-cancer medication along with other drugs, to treat certain tumours like leukemia and lymphoma.  Brain tumours can cause swelling of the brain and Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg can be used to counteract the development of oedema.  Dexmethsone 0.5 is used as replacement therapy in secondary adrenal insufficiency, due to insufficient production of the hormone corticotrophin by the pituitary gland, resulting in lack of the natural corticosteroid cortisol by the adrenal glands, which can affect the ability of the body to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, energy levels, normal development and protect against stress.  Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg should not be used for primary adrenal insufficiency, such as Addison’s disease or after removal of the adrenal gland as other adrenal hormones are also deficient in these conditions and they cannot be replaced by Dexmethsone.   

How does Dexmethsone work?

Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg contain dexamethasone, a potent synthetic corticosteroid hormone (glucocorticoid) with up to 7 times greater anti-inflammatory potency than prednisolone, a synthetic derivative of the natural glucocorticoid cortisol, and 25 times greater potency than hydrocortisone, a naturally occurring glucocorticoid corticosteroid.  Dexamethasone in Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg also has anti-allergic, antipyretic and immunosuppressive properties but has very little water or salt retaining properties (mineralocorticoid) properties and is longer lasting than other synthetic corticosteroids.  Dexamethasone in Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg acts directly through the glucocorticoid receptor that is expressed inside most cells of the body and regulates transcription of specific genes that control many aspects of development, metabolism and the immune response, and this results in widespread effects, acting on most tissues in the body to modify glucose, fat, protein and calcium metabolism.  The major therapeutic actions of dexamethasone in Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg are to reduce the vascular (blood vessels) and cellular inflammatory response primarily by blocking the production of inflammatory cytokines, like prostaglandins and leukotrienes, from inflammatory cells to reduce the swelling, redness and pain associated with inflammation; to modify the actions of cells involved in the allergic response, and to suppress the immune system to prevent rejection following organ transplant.  Dexamethasone tablets 0.5mg also has anti-cancer properties and has been found to inhibit cell growth of certain tumours. 

What does Dexmethsone contain?

Dexmethsone tablets contains the active ingredient dexamethasone tablets 0.5mg, a potent corticosteroid used to used to treat a wide range of inflammatory, allergic and immune disorders.  They also contain magnesium stearate, lactose, maize starch, wheat starch and povidone.

Treating inflammation with Dexmethsone

Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg contain dexamethasone, a potent synthetic corticosteroid hormone that is used to treat a wide range of inflammatory, allergic and immune disorders to suppress clinical symptoms of the disease due to inflammation.  These conditions include severe bronchial asthma, acute outbreaks of eczema and severe allergies; autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease, where the body’s immune system is directed against self.  Dexmethsone 0.5 is also used to help control oedema, which often accompanies brain tumours, to reduce swelling.  Dexamethasone in Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg acts directly through the glucocorticoid receptor that is expressed inside most cells of the body and regulates transcription of specific genes that control many aspects of development, metabolism and the immune response, and this results in widespread effects acting on most tissues in the body to modify glucose, fat, protein and calcium metabolism.  The major therapeutic actions of dexamethasone in Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg are to reduce the vascular (blood vessels) and cellular inflammatory response primarily by blocking the production of inflammatory cytokines, like prostaglandins and leukotrienes, from inflammatory cells to reduce the swelling, redness and pain associated with inflammation.

Dexmethsone for adrenal hormone replacement therapy

Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg contain dexamethasone that is used as replacement therapy for the adrenal hormone cortisol in secondary adrenal insufficiency, which is due to insufficient production of the hormone corticotrophin by the pituitary gland, resulting in lack of the natural corticosteroid cortisol by the adrenal glands.  A lack of cortisol can affect the ability of the body to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, energy levels, normal development and protect against stress.  It should not be used for primary adrenal insufficiency, such as Addison’s disease or after removal of the adrenal gland, as other adrenal hormones are also deficient and cannot be replace by dexamethasone alone, which is a glucocorticoid hormone and has very little water or salt retaining properties (mineralocorticoid) required to replace hormones controlling salt and water balance (aldosterone).

What are the side effects of Dexmethsone?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg include, increased susceptibility to infection, muscle or bone aches and pains, weight gain, thinning of skin, bone demineralisation, slow wound healing, acne, redistribution of body fat creating the typical moon face, altered vision. Also behavioural and mood disturbances such as depression, irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances.

When should Dexmethsone not be used?

You should not use Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg if you:

• are allergic to dexamethasone or any ingredients in Dexmethsone tablets
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or recent myocardial infarction
• have mood disorders, psychosis, epilepsy, diabetes, glaucoma, osteoporosis, migraine, peptic ulcers
• have any infectious disease, acute infection, systemic fungal infection, tuberculosis, uncomplicated viral hepatitis
• are due to receive a vaccination with a live virus vaccine
• are taking medicines that interact with Dexmethsone, including rifampicin for serious bacterial infections like tuberculosis, barbiturates, the anticonvulsants phenytoin, primidone and carbamazepine, aminoglutethimide for breast cancer, antidiabetic drugs including insulin, the antifungal ketoconazole, anti-inflammatories like diclofenac, ibuprofen and aspirin, diuretics and digoxin for heart failure, coumarin anticoagulants like warfarin, oral contraceptives, antacids for reflux

What medications interact with Dexmethsone?

Several medications interact with Dexmethsone and should either not be taken while you are taking Dexmethsone or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Dexmethsone: anti-inflammatories like diclofenac and ibuprofen, diuretics and digoxin for heart failure
• Drugs that affect Dexmethsone: rifampicin for serious bacterial infections like tuberculosis, barbiturates, the anticonvulsants phenytoin, primidone and carbamazepine, aminoglutethimide for breast cancer, the antifungal ketoconazole, coumarin anticoagulants like warfarin, oral contraceptives, antacids for reflux
• Drugs that are affected by Dexmethsone: antidiabetic drugs including insulin, live virus vaccine may be less effective

How should Dexmethsone be taken?

You should take your Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg swallowed whole with a glass of water and with food.  The dose that you take, how often and for how long depends on what you are being treated for and should be as recommended by your doctor.  You should continue to take your Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor and should not stop taking them suddenly; withdrawal should be gradual to reduce risk of side effects.   

How long should you take Dexmethsone?

You should continue to take your Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor and should not stop taking them suddenly; withdrawal should be gradual to reduce risk of side effects.   

Missed dose of Dexmethsone

If you miss a dose of Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Dexmethsone be stored?

You should store your Dexmethsone tablets 0.5mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.