Decason 0.5 mg 10 pcs

Endocrine disorders: Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance). Acute adrenocortical insufficiency, pre operatively and in the event of serious trauma or illness, in patients with known adrenal insufficiency or when adrenocortical reserve is doubtful. Shock unresponsive to conventional therapy if adrenocortical insufficiency exists or is suspected congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, hypercalcemia associated with cancer

Rheumatic disorders: As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: post-traumatic osteoarthritis, synovitis of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy), acute and sub-acute bursitis, epicondylitis, acute nonspecific tenosynovitis, acute gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis.

Collagen diseases: During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of Systemic lupus erythematosus and acute rheumatic carditis

Dermatologic diseases: Pemphigus,Severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), Exfoliative dermatitis, Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, Severe seborrheic dermatitis,Severe psoriasis, Mycosis fungoides

Allergic states: Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in bronchial asthma, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, serum sickness, seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, urticarial transfusion reactions, acute non-infectious laryngeal edema (epinephrine is the drug of first choice)

Ophthalmic diseases: Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye, such as: herpes zoster ophthalmicus, iritis, iridocyclitis, chorioretinitis, diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis, optic neuritis, sympathetic ophthalmia, anterior segment inflammation, allergic conjunctivitis, keratitis, allergic corneal marginal ulcers.

Gastrointestinal diseases: To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in ulcerative colitis (systemic therapy), regional enteritis (systemic therapy) Respiratory diseases Symptomatic sarcoidosis, berylliosis, fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate anti-tuberculous chemotherapy, Loeffler’s syndrome not manageable by other means, aspiration pneumonitis.

Hematologic disorders: Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults (I.V. only: I.M administration is contraindicated), secondary thrombocytopenia in adults, erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia), congenital (erythroid) hypoplasticanemia

Neoplastic diseases: For palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas in adults, acute leukemia of childhood.

Edematous states: To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.

Miscellaneous: Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy,Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement

Cerebral Edema: Cerebral Edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, or head injury. Use in cerebral edema is not a substitute for careful neurosurgical evaluation and definitive management such as neurosurgery or other specific therapy.

May also be useful in cystic tumors of an aponeurosis or tendon (ganglia).

Glucocorticoids

Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid which decreases inflammation by inhibiting the migration of leukocytes and reversal of increased capillary permeability. It suppresses normal immune response.

Intraarticular-

Inflammatory joint diseases:

• Adult: 0.8-4 mg depending on the size of the affected joint. For soft-tissue inj, 2-6 mg may be used. May repeat inj every 3-5 days to every 2-3 wk.

Intravenous-

Prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting associated with cytotoxic therapy:

• Adult: Prevention: 10-20 mg 15-30 minutes before admin of chemotherapy on each treatment day. For continuous infusion regimen: 10 mg every 12 hr on each treatment day. For midly emetogenic regimen: 4 mg every 4-6 hr.

Unresponsive shock:

• Adult: As phosphate: Initially, 40 mg or 1-6 mg/kg as a single IV inj, may repeat every 2-6 hr. Continue high-dose treatment only until patient’s condition has stabilised and not to be continued beyond 48-72 hr.

Bacterial meningitis:

• Adult: 0.15 mg/kg 4 times daily, to be given 10-20 min before or with the 1st dose of anti-infective treatment. Treatment should be given for the first 2-4 days of the anti-infective treatment.
• Child: As phosphate: 2 mth-18 yr: 150 mcg/kg every 6 hr for 4 days, starting before or with 1st dose of antibacterial treatment.

Cerebral oedema caused by malignancy:

• Adult: As phosphate: 10 mg IV followed by 4 mg IM every 6 hr until response is achieved, usually after 12-24 hr. May reduce dosage after 2-4 days then gradually discontinued over 5-7 days. In severe cases, an initial dose of 50 mg IV may be given on day 1, with 8 mg every 2 hr, reduced gradually over 7-13 days. Maintenance dose: 2 mg 2-3 times daily.
• Child: As phosphate: 35 kg: Initially 25 mg, then 4 mg every 2 hr for 3 days, then 4 mg every 4 hr for 1 day, then 4 mg every 6 hr for 4 days, then decrease by 2 mg daily. Doses are given via IV inj.

Oral-

Anti-inflammatory:

• Adult: 0.75-9 mg daily in 2-4 divided doses; may also be given via IM/IV admin.
• Child: 1 mth-18 yr: 10-100 mcg/kg daily in 1-2 divided doses via oral admin, adjusted according to response; up to 300 micrograms/kg daily may be used in emergency situations.

Screening test for Cushing’s syndrome:

• Adult: 0.5 mg every 6 hr for 48 hr after determining baseline 24-hr urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS) concentrations. During the second 24 hr of dexamethasone admin, urine is collected and analysed for 17-OHCS. Alternatively, after a baseline plasma cortisol determination, 1 mg may be given at 11 pm and plasma cortisol determined at 8 am the next morning. Plasma cortisol and urinary output of 17-OHCS are depressed after dexamethasone admin in normal individuals but remain at basal levels in patients with Cushing’s syndrome.

Acute exacerbations in multiple sclerosis:

• Adult: 30 mg daily for 1 wk followed by 4-12 mg daily for 1 mth.
• Child: 1 mth-12 yr: 100-400 mcg/kg daily in 1-2 divided doses; 12-18 yr: Initially 0.5-24 mg daily. Max. 24 mg daily.

Drug interaction can be occurred with following drugs:Diuretics, cardiac glycosides, antidiabetics, NSAIDs, anticoagulants, antacids etc. Besides, if patients undergo long-term therapy of glucororticoids with concomitant salicylates, any reduction in glucocorticoid dosage should be made with caution, since salicylate intoxication has been reported in such cases.

In case of adrenal insufficiency, no absolute contraindications are applicable. In the treatment of non endocrine diseases where pharmacological doses are more likely to be used, the contraindications have to be considered carefully.

Relative contraindications include the followings: patient with Cushing’s syndrome, Osteoporosis, Diabetes mellitus, renal insufficiency, gastrointestinal ulcers, systemic fungal infection & acute infection.

Dexamethasone is generally well tolerated in standard low doses, Nausea, vomiting, increased appetite, and obesity may occur. Higher doses may result behavioral personality changes. Following adverse reactions have been associate with prolonged systemic glucocorticoid therapy, endocrine & metabolic disturbances, fluid & electrolyte disturbances, musculo-skeletal effects like osteoporosis etc; GI effects like ulcer, bleeding, perforation; Opthelmic effects like Glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure etc; immunosuppressive effects like increased susceptibility to infection etc.

Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Corticosteroids should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies. Glucocorticoids appear in breast milk, Mothers taking high dosages of corticosteroids should be advised not to breast-feed.

The lowest possible dose of corticosteroids should be used to control the conditions under treatment. Dexamethasone should be used with caution in patient with cardiomyopathy, heart failure, hypertension, or renal insufficiency, drug induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, peptic ulcer, diverticulitis, intestinal anastomosis, ulcerative colitis, osteoporosis, & latent tuberculosis etc.

Overdose is unlikely; however, treatment of overdose is by supportive and symptomatic therapy.

Store at 15-30° C.