Dexamethasone

Generic Name: Dexamethasone

Brand Names: Baycadron, Ciprodex, Decadron, Dexamethasone Intensol, Dextenza, Dioptrol, Hexadrol, Hidex 6-day Taper, Maxidex, Maxitrol, Neofordex, Ozurdex, Taperdex 12 Day Taper, Taperdex 6 Day Taper, Taperdex 7-day Taper, Tobradex, Zcort 7 Day Taper

Drug Type: Small Molecule

Chemical Formula: C_₂₂H_₂₉FO_₅

CAS Number: 50-02-2

Unique Ingredient Identifier: 7S5I7G3JQL

Background: Dexamethasone, or MK-125, is a corticosteroid fluorinated at position 9 used to treat endocrine, rheumatic, collagen, dermatologic, allergic, ophthalmic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, hematologic, neoplastic, edematous, and other conditions. Developed in 1957, it is structurally similar to other corticosteroids like hydrocortisone and prednisolone.

Dexamethasone was granted FDA approval on 30 October 1958. In a press release for the Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial on 16 June 2020, dexamethasone was recommended for use in COVID-19 patients with severe respiratory symptoms. Dexamethasone reduced deaths by approximately one third in patients requiring ventilation and by one fifth in those requiring oxygen.

Indication: Dexamethasone and ciprofloxacin otic suspension is indicated for bacterial infections with inflammation in acute otitis media and acute otitis externa. Intramuscular and intravenous injections are indicated for a number of endocrine, rheumatic, collagen, dermatologic, allergic, ophthalmic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, hematologic, neoplastic, edematous, and other conditions. Oral tablets are indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma. An intravitreal implant is indicated for some forms of macular edema and non-infectious posterior uveitis affecting the posterior of the eye. Various ophthalmic formulations are indicated for inflammatory conditions of the eye.

Associated Conditions: Acute Gouty Arthritis, Acute Leukemia, Acute Otitis Externa, Acute Otitis Media (AOM), Adrenocortical Hyperfunction, Adrenocortical Insufficiency, Allergic Conjunctivitis (AC), Alopecia Areata (AA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Aspiration Pneumonitis, Asthma, Atopic Dermatitis, Berylliosis, Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, Bursitis, Chorioretinitis, Choroiditis, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), Congenital Hypoplastic Anemia, Conjunctivitis, Contact Dermatitis, Cushing's Syndrome, Dermatitis, Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE), Drug hypersensitivity reaction, Edema of the cerebrum, Epicondylitis, Episcleritis, Erythroblastopenia, Eye Infections, Eye allergy, Glaucoma, Hypercalcemia, Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), Infection, Inflammation, Inflammation of the External Auditory Canal, Intraocular Inflammation, Iridocyclitis, Iritis, Keloids Scars, Keratitis, Lichen Planus (LP), Lichen simplex chronicus, Loeffler's syndrome, Lymphoma, Macular Edema, Meningitis caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Middle ear inflammation, Mucosal Inflammation of the eye, Multiple Myeloma (MM), Muscle Inflammation caused by Cataract Surgery of the eye, Mycosis Fungoides (MF), Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum, Non-infectious Posterior Uveitis, Ocular Infections, Irritations and Inflammations, Ocular Inflammation, Ocular Inflammation and Pain, Ocular Irritation, Ocular Itching, Ophthalmia, Sympathetic, Optic Neuritis, Otitis Externa, Pemphigus, Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (PAR), Phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, Postoperative Infections of the eyes caused by susceptible bacteria, Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis, Regional Enteritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Juvenile, Rosacea, Sarcoidosis, Scleritis, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, Secondary thrombocytopenia, Serum Sickness, Severe Seborrheic Dermatitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Synovitis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Tenosynovitis, Trichinosis, Tuberculosis (TB), Ulcerative Colitis, Uveitis, Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, Acquired immune hemolytic anemia, Acute rheumatic carditis, Anterior eye segment inflammation, Corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses, Ear infection-not otherwise specified caused by susceptible bacteria, Exfoliative erythroderma, Granuloma annulare lesions, Non-suppurative Thyroiditis, Ocular bacterial infections, Severe Psoriasis, Steroid-responsive inflammation of the eye, Swelling of the eyes, Varicella-zoster virus acute retinal necrosis, Watery itchy eyes