Dexamethasone 0.5 Tablet Uses and Side Effects

Dexamethasone is an oral prescription treatment for conditions that causes inflammation. It belongs to a class of drugs known as steroids. The medicine act as a corticosteroid that naturally occurs in the body, which helps to maintain overall health. Boosting your body with a dose of a corticosteroid such as a Dexamethasone is an effective way to treat inflammation related to serious illnesses. The steroid drug helps to reduce inflammation without making your condition worse. A patient needs to take it regularly to get the maximum benefit. Corticosteroids are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and have a variety of metabolic effects.

What are the uses of Dexamethasone 0.5 mg tablet?

A corticosteroid such as a Dexamethasone is primarily used as an anti-inflammatory agent in disorders of many organ systems. These include:

• Allergic reactions

Dexamethasone controls severe allergic conditions that are hard to control. 

• Dermatologic diseases

The drug is effective in reducing inflammation caused by skin conditions such as mycosis fungoides, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, pemphigus, exfoliative erythroderma, and bullous dermatitis herpetiformis.

• Gastrointestinal conditions

The steroid drug helps to treat inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis. The gastrointestinal condition causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the colon and rectum.

• Endocrine disorders

Adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (genetic disorders that affect the adrenal glands), nonsuppurative thyroiditis, and high calcium levels associated with cancer.

• Hematologic disorders

Dexamethasone helps to reduce inflammation in patients with acquired haemolytic anaemia, pure red cell aplasia, congenital hypoplastic anaemia (a rare condition in which bone marrow don make enough RBCs), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (a type of blood disease in which the blood does not clot normally and causing severe bruising and bleeding) in adults, as well as certain cases of secondary thrombocytopenia.  

• Nervous system disorders

A corticosteroid such as a Dexamethasone reduces inflammation involved in nervous system disorders like acute exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (a disease affecting the brain, spine, and optic nerves), head injury, craniotomy or surgical removal of the skull, or cerebral oedema (brain swelling) associated with the primary or metastatic brain.

• Occular issues

It is effective in ophthalmic disorders such as temporal arteritis (a condition in which temporal arteries that supply blood to the brain become inflamed), inflammation of uveitis also known as sympathetic ophthalmia, and other ocular conditions that do not receive a response to topical corticosteroids.

• Rheumatic disorders

Dexamethasone can be used as adjunctive therapy for short term use in rheumatic conditions such as acute gouty arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute rheumatic carditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.  

What do you need to know before Dexamethasone use (Side effects)?

You should not use Dexamethasone tablet if you are allergic to Dexamethasone or other ingredients of the medicine, including drugs containing sulphites. Suppose you are suffering from a severe infection that is affecting almost all your body parts and which is not being treated with antibiotic drugs, you must discuss with your doctor if any of this case applies to you. The steroid medication can cause side effects in many people such as stomach problems, mood changes, including depression. If you feel unwell in any way while receiving the treatment, continue taking medicine, and visit your doctor’s place. It will be best if you do not discontinue treatment without having words with your doctor. Some side effects associated with the use of corticosteroids occur after weeks or months of usage. These usually include weakness of arms or legs. You must not take medicine if you have chickenpox or shingles. If you already have these conditions, remember these could severely worsen your condition. If you encounter shingles or chickenpox, call your doctor right away.

The dose of the medicine will depend on the age and medical condition. A doctor or a health care specialist will carefully adjust the dose of the drug.  Follow the dosing regimen provided by your doctor. Do not take the drug without discussing with your doctor and do inform you, doctor, if your condition becomes worse even while receiving the treatment.