How To Prevent And Treat Altitude Sickness

Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that can be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of altitude sickness. When used for prevention, most patients take a two-milligram dose by mouth every six hours, and some doctors could recommend taking a four-milligram dose every twelve hours. Military personnel and search and rescue team members who regularly work at altitudes of more than eleven thousand feet may be advised to take four milligrams every six hours. To reduce the risk of adrenal suppression and glucocorticoid toxicity, patients should not use this medicine for more than ten days. When dexamethasone is being used to treat altitude sickness, patients are typically given a four-milligram dose every six hours, and this dose might be administered intravenously. Potential side effects associated with dexamethasone include weight gain, mood changes, vision changes, dizziness, bloating, and nausea. Some patients might notice an elevated heart rate, headaches, anxiety, and irritability. Individuals who take this medication should let their doctor know about any side effects they experience. It may be possible to lower the dose of dexamethasone or switch to a new medication to reduce side effects.

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