Dexamethasone

General

• Type: Corticosteroid
• Dosage Forms: PO; IM; IV
• Common Trade Names:

Adult Dosing

Anaphylaxis

• 10mg IV or PO

Pediatric Dosing

Anaphylaxis

• 0.6mg/kg

Asthma Exacerbation

• 0.6mg/kg once PO

Post-operative Airway Edema

• 0.5 mg/kg PO q6hrs x1-2 days

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C
• Lactation: Single doses are considered compatible however corticosteroids are present in breast milk and further discussion should be had with mother due to potential serious adverse reactions in breastfed infant.
• Renal Dosing
  • Adult
    • Not defined
  • Pediatric
    • Not defined
• Hepatic Dosing
  • Adult
    • Not defined
  • Pediatric
    • Not defined

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug

Pharmacology

• Half-life:
  • Adults: Oral 4 ± 0.9 hours, IV 1 - 5 hours
• Metabolism: Hepatic
• Excretion: Urine ~10%
• Mechanism of Action: surpasses neutrophil migration, decreases production of inflammatory mediators, reverses increased capillary permeability, suppresses normal immune response

See Also

• EBQ:TOAST Trial
• EBQ:Single Dose Dexamethasone in Asthma
• Dextromethorphan Toxicity