Aeroseb-Dex

Dexamethasone is a prescription medication used to relieve inflammation and treat a variety of conditions that involve swelling, heat, redness, and pain in many body systems.

Dexamethasone belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids. These work by replacing natural hormones produced by your adrenal glands when your body cannot make enough.

This medication is available as an oral concentrate, an oral elixir, an oral solution, an oral tablet, eye drops, and ear drops. The directions and frequency of use will vary with the indication for dexamethasone.

This medication is also available as an intravitreal implant for injection into the eye by a healthcare professional.

This medication is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV), a muscle (IM), a joint (intra-articular), a lesion (intralesional), and soft tissue by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of dexamethasone include upset stomach, vomiting, headache, insomnia, restlessness, depression, anxiety, acne, increased hair growth, easy bruising, increased appetite and weight gain, and irregular or absent menstrual periods.

Dexamethasone can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how dexamethasone affects you.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Dexamethasone falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.