Learn About Dexamethasone

Precautions

Ladies, go over your medical history with your doctor before taking this medication! This is vital, since it's not safe for everyone. Specifically, you can't take it when you have fungal infections, liver disease, or thyroid problems. You need something else when you have diabetes too. It's because this medication increases your blood sugar! Other health issues to mention include stomach ulcers, heart failure, high blood pressure, and depression. Your doctor has to take extra precautions or prescribe another drug!

Remember, ladies, that this drug puts you at a higher risk for infections. That's why you have to call your doctor right away when you think you have been exposed to measles or chickenpox. They have to give you fast treatment to avoid complications! Of course, you can't get any vaccines with live viruses when you're on this medication. It's also worth noting that this drug makes vaccines less effective! Finally, ladies, don't stop this medication suddenly. You have to do it under your doctor's supervision to avoid withdrawal.

Medication Interactions

Dexamethasone interacts with over 650 other drugs. Ladies, there are over 100 major interactions here! That's why you need to talk to your doctor about all the prescriptions, OTC medications, and supplements you already take. They will use this list to prevent interactions! Your pharmacist needs to double-check this list too.

Cancer medicines are a big category for interacts with this medication. Ladies, two examples here are rilpivirine and dasatinib! You can't take dexamethasone with the first one, and it makes the second less effective. Either way, your doctor has to make adjustments, like alternate drugs or adjusted doses. This one interacts with other medications too, like blood thinners, NSAIDs, and antiplatelets. Ladies, be cautious when you take any of them and talk to your doctor! Many of you who take a daily Aspirin have to stop when you need this corticosteroid.