Dexamethasone, also known as flumetasone, flumethasone, and dexamethasone, is a glucocorticoid. Its derivatives include hydrocortisone, prednisone, etc. Its pharmacological effects are mainly anti-inflammatory, anti-toxic, anti-allergic, and anti-rheumatic, and are widely used clinically. It is easily absorbed from the digestive tract. Its plasma T1/2 is 190 minutes and tissue T1/2 is 3 days. After intramuscular injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate or dexamethasone acetate, the peak plasma concentration is reached at 1 hour and 8 hours respectively. . The plasma protein binding rate of this product is lower than that of other corticosteroid drugs. The anti-inflammatory activity of 0.75 mg of this product is equivalent to 5 mg of prednisolone.

Adverse reactions

Higher doses of this product can easily cause symptoms of diabetes, peptic ulcers and Cushing's syndrome, and have a strong inhibitory effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Complicated infections are the main adverse reactions.

Usage by pregnant and lactating women: Use by pregnant women can increase the incidence of placental insufficiency, neonatal weight loss or stillbirth. Animal tests have shown teratogenic effects, so the pros and cons should be weighed before use. Wet mothers who receive large doses of medication should not breastfeed to prevent the drug from being excreted through breast milk and causing adverse reactions such as growth suppression and adrenal gland function suppression in infants.

Pediatric medication: If children use adrenocortical hormones, they must be very cautious. The use of hormones can inhibit the growth and development of children. If long-term use is really necessary, short-acting or medium-acting preparations should be used to avoid Use a long-acting dexamethasone preparation. And observe changes in intracranial pressure.

Usage in the elderly: It is prone to high blood pressure, and elderly patients, especially postmenopausal women, are prone to osteoporosis.

6 Contraindications

It is prohibited for patients with a history of allergies to this product and adrenocortical hormone drugs. Patients with hypertension, thrombosis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, mental illness, electrolyte metabolism abnormalities, myocardial infarction, visceral surgery, glaucoma, etc. are generally not suitable for use. Use it under special circumstances by weighing the pros and cons, but attention should be paid to the possibility of worsening of the condition.

7 Precautions

1. Patients with tuberculosis, acute bacterial or viral infection should use with caution. When necessary, appropriate anti-infective treatment must be given.

2. After long-term medication, the dosage should be gradually reduced before stopping the medication.

3. People with diabetes, osteoporosis, liver cirrhosis, poor kidney function, and hypothyroidism.

4. Athletes should use with caution.