What Is Dexamethasone?

Possible Side Effects

This medication seems to trigger several possible side effects. Some of the common ones appear to include blurry vision, headaches, and dizziness. Patients may experience mood changes often as well. Some individuals may find they experience anxiety, depression, irritability, or agitation on this medication as well. Aggressiveness appears to be another possible side effect. Other side effects may include weight gain, increased appetite, and reduced urination. Trouble walking, thinking, or with speech may occur as well. Some individuals may deal with heartbeat issues, such as theirs being too fast, slow, or irregular. Swelling in the hands and feet seems to be possible also. Some patients may experience numbness in their legs and arms as well.

This medication may have several less common side effects. Examples appear to include eye pain, skin lightening, and pain in the abdomen. Abdominal swelling and backaches seem to be two other examples. Rarely, patients may see hair loss or facial redness. Patients should consider informing their doctor about all side effects. They may need a different dose or new medication for some of them.

Discover the potential precautions with this drug next.

Potential Precautions

Some individuals may not be able to use this medication. Thus, patients may wish to talk to their doctor about their complete medical history first. Thyroid problems, diabetes, and liver disease appear to be among the vital things to mention. This medication seems to increase blood sugar, which may be why diabetes patients need an alternative. Other issues that patients should mention may include a history of depression, stomach ulcers, or high blood pressure. A history of heart failure appears to be vital information as well. As mentioned, patients may be at a higher risk of more infections on this drug. This seems to be because it can suppress their immune system.

Patients may want to call their doctor right away if they think they were exposed to chickenpox or measles. They seem to need prompt treatment to prevent complications from these issues. In addition, patients on this drug may not be able to have a vaccine with any live virus. This medication may also reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. Doctors should supervise patients who want to try stopping this medication. This may help them prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Get the details on the possible medication interactions next.