Dexamethasone 8 mg/2 ml Ampule

Dexamethasone 8 mg

Dosing & Uses
Adult

Dosage Forms & Strengths

tablet

  • 0.5 mg
  • 0.75 mg
  • 1 mg
  • 1.5 mg
  • 2 mg
  • 4 mg
  • 6 mg

injectable suspension

  • 4 mg/mL
  • 10 mg/mL

elixir/oral solution

  • 0.5 mg/5 mL

oral concentrate

  • 1 mg/1 mL

Inflammation

0.75-9 mg/day IV/IM/PO divided q6-12hr

Intra-articular, intralesional, or soft tissue: 0.2-6 mg/day

Multiple Sclerosis (Acute Exacerbation)

30 mg/day PO for 1 week; follow by 4-12 mg/day for 1 mo

Cerebral Edema

10 mg IV, then 4 mg IM q6hr until clinical improvement is observed; may be reduced after 2-4 days and gradually discontinued over 5-7 days

Shock

1-6 mg/kg IV once or 40 mg IV q2-6hr PRN

Alternative: 20 mg IV, then 3 mg/kg/day by continuous IV infusion

High-dose treatment not to be continued beyond 48-72 hours

Allergic Conditions

For control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, and serum sickness

Day 1: 4-8 mg IM

Days 2-3: 3 mg/day PO divided q12hr

Day 4: 1.5 mg/day PO divided q12hr

Days 5-6: 0.75 mg/day PO in single daily dose

Day 7: No treatment

Dexamethasone Suppression Test

Low-dose test

  • Screening for Cushing syndrome
  • Overnight test: 1 mg PO between 11:00 PM and midnight; cortisol level tested between 8:00 and 9:00 AM on following morning
  • Standard 2-day test: 0.5 mg PO q6hr (9:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 9:00 PM, 3:00 AM) for 2 days; cortisol level tested 6 hours after final dose (9:00 AM)

High-dose test

  • Confirmed Cushing syndrome in which further workup is needed to identify whether hormone excess is the result of cushing syndrome or other causes
  • Standard 2-day test: After determination of baseline serum cortisol or 24-hr urinary free cortisol, 2 mg PO q6hr for 2 days; urine for free cortisol is collected during test, and serum cortisol is checked 6 hours after final dose
  • Overnight test: After determination of baseline serum cortisol, 8 mg (typically) PO between 11:00 pm and midnight; cortisol level tested between 8:00 and 9:00 AM on following morning
  • IV test: After determination of baseline serum cortisol, 1 mg/hr by continuous IV infusion for 5-7 hours

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea & Vomiting (Off-label)

8-12 mg PO/IV alone or in combination with other antiemetics before chemotherapy, then 8 mg PO/IV q24hr for 1-3 days after chemotherapy (days 2-4)

Altitude Sickness (Off-label)

Prophylaxis

  • 2 mg PO q6hr or 4 mg PO q12hr beginning on day of ascent; may be discontinued after 2- to 3-day stay at same elevation or initiation of descent

Treatment

  • Acute mountain sickness (AMS): 4 mg PO/IV/IM q6hr
  • High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE): 8 mg once followed by 4 mg PO/IV/IM q6hr until symptoms resolve

Spinal Cord Compression (Off-label)

10-100 mg IV, then 4-24 mg IV q6hr during radiation therapy, then tapered

Pediatric

Dosage Forms & Strengths
tablet

  • 0.5 mg
  • 0.75 mg
  • 1 mg
  • 1.5 mg
  • 2 mg
  • 4  mg
  • 6 mg
injectable suspension

  • 4 mg/mL
  • 10 mg/mL
elixir/oral solution

  • 0.5 mg/5 mL
oral concentrate

  • 1 mg/1 mL
Airway Edema
0.5-2 mg/kg/day PO/IV/IM divided q6hr, starting 24 hours before extubation and continued for 4-6 doses afterward  

Croup
0.6 mg/kg PO/IV/IM once; not to exceed 16 mg 

Inflammation
0.08-0.3 mg/kg/day IV/PO/IM divided q6hr or q12hr  

Meningitis
>6 weeks: 0.6 mg/kg/day IV divided q6hr for first 2-4 days of antibiotic therapy, starting 10-20 minutes before or simultaneously with first antibiotic dose  

Cerebral Edema Associated With Brain Tumor
1-2 mg/kg IV/IM once; maintenance: 1-1.5 mg/kg/day IV/IM divided q4-6hr; not to exceed 16 mg/day  

Spinal Cord Compression
2 mg/kg/day IV divided q6hr 

Adrenal Cortical Hyperfunction Test
After determination of baseline cortisol level, 1 mg PO at bedtime
Plasma cortisol level then determined at 8:00 AM on following morning; level will be decreased in normal individuals but at baseline level in Cushing syndrome

Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Premature Infants (Off-label)
Prophylaxis
4 mg IM q8hr administered to mother for 2 days before delivery