Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is a strong, long-acting steroid used to reduce inflammation and calm an overactive immune system. It is used for severe allergic reactions, asthma flare-ups, croup in children, and some skin, joint and bowel conditions. Doctors also use it to reduce swelling around brain tumours, to prevent sickness with cancer treatment, in certain blood cancers, and in hospital for severe COVID-19 in people who need oxygen. The injection is given by a doctor or nurse.

How it works

Dexamethasone acts like cortisol, a hormone the adrenal glands make naturally. It switches off many of the chemical signals that cause inflammation and dampens the immune response.

Drug class: Corticosteroid (steroid medicine that reduces inflammation)

30 brands from 28 makers, in these forms and strengths:

Tablet

0.5 mg4 mg6 mg

IM/IV Injection

4 mg/ml5 mg/ml6 mg/ml

Same medicine, different makers — ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching.

Cheapest first. Prices are DGDA maximum retail prices (MRP) per unit as listed, rounded down to the whole taka. ≈ marks an indicative MRP from a public price list that Mukti has not yet checked against the pack. The MRP printed on the pack always applies.

Mukti's medicine catalogue marks Dexamethasone as a prescription medicine. Keep a valid prescription ready when you order it in the Mukti Health app, and use it only as your doctor directs.

Common side effects

Short courses can cause increased appetite, indigestion, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, mood changes and higher blood sugar. Longer use can lead to weight gain, a rounder face, raised blood pressure, thinner skin, weaker bones, eye problems such as cataracts, and a higher chance of infections.

Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first

Warnings