Dexamethasone (Dexamethasone) Drug Overview of Drug Interactions and Missed Dose for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

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May 26, 2012

Dexamethasone

Types of Pain Medications »

For what conditions are pain medications used?

Virtually any disease as well as most injuries and surgical procedures involve some degree of pain. It's not surprising, then, that pain medications, also known as analgesics, are among the most commonly used drugs in the U.S. Pain can range from minor, acute complaints, such as a muscle sprain, to chronic, severe pain, such as that sometimes experienced by cancer patients. Some drugs used for other conditions also are effective at relieving certain types of pain. These drugs include certain drugs used for depression, epilepsy, and anxiety.

What are the differences among the types of pain medications?

Pain medications can be broadly classified into two categories: prescription and nonprescription. In the latter category are several mild anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen), as well as acetaminophen. These are mainly meant for use with short-term, acute pain -- menstrual cramps,...

Read the Types of Pain Medications article »

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Dexamethasone User Reviews >>

Dexamethasone

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Dexamethasone Consumer (continued)

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medication because a very serious interaction may occur: natalizumab.

If you are currently using the medication listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting dexamethsone.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: aminoglutethimide, aprepitant, birth control pills, "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), bupropion, certain cancer drugs (dasatinib, lapatinib, sunitinib, aldesleukin), caspofungin, cholestyramine, cyclosporine, diabetes medications (e.g., glyburide), digoxin, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove dexamethasone from your body (such as azole antifungals including ketoconazole, barbiturates including phenobarbital, macrolide antibiotics including erythromycin, rifamycins including rifampin, certain anti-seizure medications including phenytoin, carbamazepine), drugs that may cause potassium loss (e.g., amphotericin B, "water pills"/diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide), ephedrine, estrogen hormone replacement, HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir), isoniazid, mifepristone, quinolone antibiotics (e.g., levofloxacin), salicylates (e.g., salsalate), temsirolimus, thalidomide.

Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever reducers (NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen) that may increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Low-dose aspirin should be continued if prescribed by your doctor for specific medical reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (usually at dosages of 81-325 milligrams per day). Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including skin tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents should call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents should call a provincial poison control center.

NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.

If this medication is used for an extended time, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood sugar/mineral levels, blood pressure, eye exams) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Talk with your doctor about making changes to your lifestyle that may decrease the side effects of this medication (e.g., weight-bearing exercise, dietary changes including controlling salt intake and getting more potassium/calcium).

MISSED DOSE: If you are taking this medication daily and on a regular schedule, and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you are taking this medication every other day or are slowly reducing your dose, and you miss a dose, then contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately to establish a new dosing schedule.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).