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Introduction About DEXONA INJECTION
DEXONA INJECTION contains Dexamethasone which belongs to the group of medicines called Corticosteroids. It is used to manage problematic conditions of the adrenal glands (such as adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and nonsuppurative thyroiditis)
It can also be used to manage various inflammatory auto-immune disease conditions affecting the bones and joints (Ex. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis), skin and collagen (Ex. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, psoriasis), eyes (Ex. optic neuritis, uveitis or iritis), respiratory tract (Ex. asthma, pneumonitis, tuberculosis), blood and lymph (Ex. leukaemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, blood cancer, lymph cancer, sarcoidosis), bowel and gut (Ex. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), brain (Ex. tuberculous meningitis, cerebral edema associated with brain tumor, increased pressure within the skull) and heart (inflammation of heart membranes)
It is also indicated in the management of drug induced hypersensitivity reactions and in other allergic reactions (such as atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis). It also corrects calcium levels among cancer patients and increases urine output or reduces protein loss via urine among patients having kidney problems (such as nephrotic syndrome).
Before receiving DEXONA INJECTION inform your doctor if you any liver, kidney or heart problems. You must also inform your doctor if you have diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma, epilepsy, underactive thyroid, muscle problems, osteoporosis, stomach problems, tuberculosis, depression, mania or any other mental problems as a precaution.
DEXONA INJECTION is not recommended for use in patients with serious unmanageed infections in the body or bone problems. It is also not suitable for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
The most common side effects of receiving DEXONA INJECTION are headache, dizziness, acne, stomach discomfort, slow wound healing, skin thinning, high blood pressure, fluid retention, swelling and weight gain of the body and face, high blood sugar levels, muscle weakness, bone thinning and irregular menstrual periods. Consult your doctor if any of these side effect worsens.
Uses Of DEXONA INJECTION
It is used to manage the following disease conditions:
- adrenal insufficiency and its associated conditions
- bone and joint problems (Ex. rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis)
- skin and collagen disorders (Ex. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, psoriasis)
- eye problems (Ex. optic neuritis, uveitis or iritis)
- respiratory tract diseases (Ex. asthma, tuberculosis, pneumonitis)
- blood cancer (leukemia), lymph cancer (lymphoma)
- anemia (low RBC count in blood), thrombocytopenia (low platelet count in blood)
- problems of bowel and gut (Ex. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
- brain problems (Ex. tuberculous meningitis, cerebral edema)
- increased intracranial pressure
- heart inflammation (Ex. endocarditis)
- drug induced hypersensitivity reactions
- allergic reactions (such as atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis)
- high blood calcium levels caused due to cancer management
- protein loss via urine due to kidney problems
How DEXONA INJECTION Works
DEXONA INJECTION is a steroid medicine with anti-inflammatory and immune suppressant properties. It boosts your body with sufficient corticosteroid levels (cortisol, aldosterone) during deficient conditions and helps your body to function properly.
It also reduces the release of certain chemicals (prostaglandins) in the body that causes inflammation, pain, irritation and swelling. As a result, it reduces allergic and inflammatory conditions in the body.
How to use DEXONA INJECTION
DEXONA INJECTION will be given to you only by a doctor or a nurse into the vein, muscle, joints or tendons depending upon the site of inflammation.
Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of therapy for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.
Side Effects Of DEXONA INJECTION
Common
- headache, dizziness
- spinning sensation, increased sweating
- acne, skin rash, bruising
- nausea, stomach pain or discomfort, increased appetite
- changes in vision, feeling weak or tired, slow wound healing
- skin thinning
- fits
- difficulty in swallowing, sore throat
- high blood pressure, fluid retention
- swelling and weight gain of the body and face
- high blood sugar levels, with excessive thirst
- muscle weakness and wasting
- bone thinning with an increased risk of fractures
- raised pressure in the eye, cataracts
- irregular or lack of menstrual periods
- increased infections
Rare
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
- signs of allergic reaction (such as skin rash, itching, blistering and peeling of the skin, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, throat which may lead to breathing difficulties)
- severe skin rashes with blistering and peeling of skin
- feeling depressed, suicidal thoughts, mania, mood swings
- anxiety, sleeping problems, problems in thinking, confusion, memory loss
- hallucinations, strange thoughts, behavioural changes
- signs of pheochromocytoma crisis (headaches, sweating, palpitations and hypertension)
- signs of adrenal suppression (such as swelling and weight gain around the trunk, excessive hair growth in women, muscle weakness and wasting, irregular or missing periods, stunted growth in children, purple stretch marks on body skin, changes in the levels of protein and calcium in your body)
- signs of bleeding in the gut (such as stomach pain which radiates until your back, bleeding from the anus, black or blood-stained stools, blood in vomit)
- increased infections causing fever or a general feeling of being unwell
- signs of flare up of a previous tuberculosis infection (such as coughing blood or pain in the chest)
- signs of pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas causing severe stomach pain and vomiting)
- signs of blood clot in lungs (such as sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing up blood)
- signs of increased pressure within the skull (such as severe headaches with vomiting, lack of energy and drowsiness) usually occurs once therapy is stopped
How To Manage Side Effects

Dizziness Or Drowsiness
Try to rest and relax. Get enough sleep. Avoid driving or operating any tools or machines completely while you are feeling dizzy. Do not consume excessive alcohol, as it could aggravate your dizziness. Consult your doctor if your dizziness worsens.

Headache
Rest and relax. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids such as water or electrolytes. Applying a pain-relieving balm on your forehead can be beneficial. Do not consume excessive alcohol, as it could aggravate your headache. Consult your doctor if your headache worsens.

Nausea And Vomiting
Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating rich or spicy food. Consult your doctor if your nausea worsens.
Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy
ContraindicatedDEXONA INJECTION is not recommended for use in pregnant women as it may cause serious harm to the growing baby. Therefore, consult your doctor before receiving it.

Breastfeeding
ContraindicatedDEXONA INJECTION is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women as it may pass through the breast milk and affect the nursing infant. Therefore, consult your doctor before receiving it.

Driving and Using Machines
SafeDEXONA INJECTION is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or handle any heavy tools or machines.

Alcohol
Consult your doctorAvoid consumption of alcohol while receiving DEXONA INJECTION as it may make you feel drowsier.

Kidney
Use with CautionDEXONA INJECTION should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Therefore, consult your doctor before receiving it.

Liver
Use with CautionDEXONA INJECTION should be used with caution in patients with liver diseases. Therefore, consult your doctor before receiving it.

Allergy
Consult your doctorTalk to your doctor before receiving DEXONA INJECTION if you are allergic to Dexamethasone.

Heart Disease
Use with CautionDEXONA INJECTION should be used with caution in patients with heart problems (such as recent heart attack or heart failure). Therefore, consult your doctor before receiving it.
Others
DEXONA INJECTION is not recommended for use if you:
- have any serious infection that affects the whole body
- have any bone or joint problems
- have infections in the joints
- are about to get vaccinated (live-virus vaccine)
Before receiving DEXONA INJECTION, inform your doctor if you:
- currently have or previously had depression, bipolar disorder or any other mental illnesses
- have a family history of mental problems
- have diabetes or a family history of diabetes
- have fits
- have or have a family history of glaucoma
- have viral or fungal infections of the eyes
- have hypertension (high blood pressure)
- have underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
- have malaria affecting the brain
- have or had been in contact with someone who has chickenpox, measles or shingles
- have any muscle problems (Ex. myasthenia gravis)
- have osteoporosis (brittle bones)
- have pheochromocytoma (a rare tumor of the adrenal glands)
- have stomach ulcer or other serious stomach or intestinal problems
- have or had tuberculosis
- have symptoms of tumour lysis syndrome (such as muscle cramping, muscle weakness, confusion, visual loss or disturbances and shortness of breath)
- are scheduled for any upcoming surgery (including dental surgery)
- have any parasitic infection
- have Cushing’s disease
- have brain injury due to trauma
- have had stroke or any unusual stress
Use in Pediatrics:
DEXONA INJECTION should be used in children and adolescents (aged below 18 years) only if prescribed by the physician. Therefore, consult your doctor for advice before receiving it.
Use in Geriatrics:
DEXONA INJECTION should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years or above). Therefore, consult your doctor before receiving it.
Interactions
A. Drug - Drug interactions:
Before receiving DEXONA INJECTION, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines such as:
- aminoglutethimide or cyclophosphamide (used for managing cancer)
- anticoagulants (used for blood thinning) such as acenocoumarol, phenindione and warfarin
- medicines used to manage bacterial infections (Ex. isoniazid, erythromycin, clarithromycin and troleandomycin)
- medicines used to manage diabetes (Ex. metformin, glipizide)
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (used for fever and pain relief) such as aspirin, ibuprofen
- medicines used to manage epilepsy (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin and primidone)
- ephedrine (used for cough)
- medicines used to manage HIV infections such as ritonavir, cobicistat
- medicines used to manage fungal infection (such as ketoconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole)
- diuretics (used to manage edema and hypertension) Ex. furosemide, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide
- rifampicin and rifabutin (used to manage tuberculosis)
- carbenoxolone (used to manage mouth ulcer)
- anti-cholinergic medicines used to manage myasthenia gravis (such as distigmine and neostigmine)
- acetazolamide (a medicine used to manage glaucoma or edema)
Overdosage:
DEXONA INJECTION will be administered to you only by a doctor or a nurse in a hospital and so it is unlikely to receive an overdose. However, consult your doctor or nurse if you experience any unusual symptoms.
Synopsis
Drug | : | Dexamethasone |
Pharmacological Category | : | Corticosteroids |
Therapeutic Indication | : | Adrenal insufficiency, Auto Immune Disease, Allergic reactions, Proteinuria |
Dosage Forms | : | Tablet, Injection, Eye drops, Eye/Ear Drops |
More Information
- Keep DEXONA INJECTION out of reach of children
- Store DEXONA INJECTION at room temperature or in a refrigerator (between 2-8°C) based on the instructions mentioned in the product label
FAQs About DEXONA INJECTION
Q: What is DEXONA INJECTION used for?
A: DEXONA INJECTION is a corticosteroid medicine used to manage adrenal insufficiency. It can also be used to manage drug induced hypersensitivity reactions, allergic reactions and various inflammatory auto-immune disease conditions affecting the skin, collagen, bones and joints, brain, gut, eyes etc. It also increases urine output and manages protein loss via urine among patients having kidney problems.
Q: How DEXONA INJECTION is administered?
A: DEXONA INJECTION will be given to you only by a doctor or a nurse into the vein, muscle, joints or tendons depending upon the site of inflammation.
Q: Is DEXONA INJECTION a steroid?
A: Yes. DEXONA INJECTION is corticosteroid used to manage problems of adrenal gland and various allergic, hypersensitivity and inflammatory autoimmune disease conditions.
Q: What are the most common side effects of DEXONA INJECTION?
A: The most common side effects of receiving DEXONA INJECTION are headache, dizziness, acne, stomach discomfort, slow wound healing, skin thinning, high blood pressure, fluid retention, swelling and weight gain of the body and face, high blood sugar levels, muscle weakness, bone thinning and irregular menstrual periods. Consult your doctor if any of these side effect worsens.
Q: Can DEXONA INJECTION make you feel high?
A: Yes. DEXONA INJECTION may make you feel high. Such symptoms may disappear once the therapy has been stopped. However, consult your doctor if it bothers you.
Q: How does DEXONA INJECTION works?
A: DEXONA INJECTION boosts your body with sufficient corticosteroid levels and helps your body to function properly. It also reduces the release of certain chemicals in the body that causes inflammation. Therefore, it reduces allergic and inflammatory responses in the body.
Q: How long will it take for DEXONA INJECTION to control my disease?
A: The time taken by DEXONA INJECTION to control the disease may vary from person-to-person depending upon the dose of dexamethasone and disease severity.
Q: Is DEXONA INJECTION safe to use in diabetic patients?
A: DEXONA INJECTION may alter the blood sugar levels in your body. Therefore, it is necessary to inform your doctor if you have diabetes before receiving DEXONA INJECTION as a precaution.
Q: Who should not take DEXONA INJECTION?
A: DEXONA INJECTION is not recommended for use in patients with serious viral fungal infections. It is also not suitable for use in patients having bone problems, bone infection and mental illnesses or a family history of the same.
Q: Can I take a higher dose of DEXONA INJECTION?
A: No. It is not safe to take a higher dose of DEXONA INJECTION without consulting your doctor. If the prescribed dose is less effective for you, kindly consult your doctor for a suitable high dose or for an alternative therapy.
Q: Can I take DEXONA INJECTION daily?
A: Your doctor will evaluate your health condition and suggests whether can you take DEXONA INJECTION every day or not.
Q: Can I stop receiving DEXONA INJECTION once by pain reduces?
A: Take DEXONA INJECTION for the stipulated duration recommended by your doctor to achieve maximum results. Do not stop receiving DEXONA INJECTION or reduce the dose without consulting your doctor, as sudden cessation of the therapy may lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as skin itchiness, fever, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, runny nose, tiredness or weight loss, especially if you are receiving higher dose of dexamethasone.
Q: Can DEXONA INJECTION be used in children?
A: DEXONA INJECTION should be used in children and adolescents (aged below 18 years) only if prescribed by the physician. Therefore, consult your doctor for advice before receiving it.
Q: Can DEXONA INJECTION be used in pregnant women?
A: DEXONA INJECTION is not recommended for use in pregnant women as it may cause serious harm to the growing baby. Therefore, consult your doctor before receiving it.
References
1. KD. Tripathi. Hormones and Related Drugs. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. 7th Edition. 2013. Page – 289.
2. Donavon B. Johnson; Michael J. Lopez; Brendan Kelley. Dexamethasone. StatPearls. NIH. National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PMC. PubMed central. May 2022. [Accessed on 27th January 2023]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482130/
3. Siegfried Hameln GmbH. Dexamethasone 3.3 mg/ml Injection Dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Electronics Medicines Compendium. [Revised in January 2022]. [Accessed on 27th January 2023]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.4659.pdf
4. Aspen Pharma Trading Limited. Dexamethasone 3.8 mg/ml solution for injection Dexamethasone. Electronics Medicines Compendium. [Revised in January 2022]. [Accessed on 27th January 2023]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.5370.pdf
5. Sandoz Canada Inc. DEXAMETHASONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE INJECTION USP (4 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL). [Revised in June 2020]. [Accessed on 27th January 2023]. https://www.sandoz.ca/sites/www.sandoz.ca/files/Dexamethasone%20Sodium%20Phosphate%20Injection%20Product%20Monograph.pdf
6. Dexamethasone. NHS. UK. [Revised in August 2020]. [Accessed on 27th January 2023]. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/dexamethasone-tablets-and-liquid/
7. Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection IP Dexamethasone Tablets IP. Dexam. Getwell Oncology Pvt Ltd. [Accessed on 27th January 2023]. https://www.getwelloncology.com/pi/dexamethasone-tablets.pdf