Dexamethasone

• Water retention (excess fluid build up in the body), increase in weight
• Being unable to sleep or feeling restless
• Stomach discomfort
• Wounds taking a longer time to heal or healing poorly

Inform your doctor if any side effect lasts for more than a few days, or the side effects become serious or bothersome.

Other rare but serious effects that may occur include:

• Signs of infection like fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores or wound that will not heal
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling tired, feeling thirsty more easily, feeling hungry more easily, passing urine more often, flushing or fast breathing
• Severe abdominal (stomach) pains or vomiting
• Bone pain or fractures
• Swelling, warmth, numbness, change of skin colour, or pain in a leg or arm
• Change in eyesight or vision
• Having a full or very round face
• Mood changes such as feeling depressed, anxious or frequently changing emotions
• Unusual bruising or bleeding, including black tarry or bloody stools or vomiting

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Before starting on this medication, inform your doctor if you:

• Are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• Have plans to become pregnant, are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have tuberculosis (a type of lung infection) or other infections
• Have stomach ulcer
• Have severe depression (feeling extremely sad, having low mood), moodswings or unable to sleep
• Have epilepsy (fits)
• Have diabetes
• Have high blood pressure
• Have kidney, liver, thyroid or heart problems
• Have osteoporosis, a condition where you have thin or brittle bones
• Have any form of cancer
• Have glaucoma, a type of eye condition linked to increased pressure in the eye

If you come into contact with anyone who has an infectious disease such as chickenpox, shingles or measles, please see your doctor as soon as possible. Dexamethasone decreases your body’s natural immune response and you may be at higher risk of getting these diseases.

Talk to your doctor before getting any vaccinations.

Please inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications, before you start taking Dexamethasone:

• Aspirin
• Certain medications for pain such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Naproxen
• Oral medications to treat fungal infection
• Medications to thin your blood such as Warfarin
• Oral hormone pills
• Medications used to reduce the activity of your body’s immune system such as Cyclosporin or Tacrolimus

Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking or intend to take any other medications, supplements, traditional medications or herbal remedies.

• ​Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
• This medication should be taken after food to prevent stomach upset.

​If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

​Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.