Indications

DEXAMETHASONE solution for injection is indicated in the following conditions:

• Shock: Shock states that do not respond to standard therapy, including anaphylactic shock.
• Endocrine disorders: Addison's disease, acute adrenal insufficiency following adrenalectomy, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, and hypercalcemia associated with cancer.
• Allergic disorders: Anaphylactic shock, allergic reactions caused by medicines or blood transfusions, acute asthma, serum sickness, angioneurotic edema, laryngeal edema, and acute dermatoses.
• Rheumatic diseases: Chronic progressive polyarthritis, acute rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis (including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis), psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondylitis, synovitis, tenosynovitis, and bursitis.
• Cerebral edema: Cerebral edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumors, craniotomy, or head trauma, provided that appropriate surgical or other specific treatment is also administered.
• Dermatological diseases: Psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, pemphigus, dermatomyositis, and scleroderma.
• Collagen diseases: Systemic lupus erythematosus and acute rheumatic carditis.
• Hematological disorders: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (intramuscular administration is contraindicated), thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, erythroblastopenia, and congenital hypoplastic anemia.
• Neoplastic diseases: Leukemias and lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphosarcoma.
• Other diseases: Tuberculous meningitis causing or likely to cause subarachnoid blockage, used in combination with antituberculosis therapy, and polyarteritis nodosa.

Dosage and Administration

The dosage varies depending on the disease, duration of treatment, and the patient's immune status.

The solution for injection may be administered intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM). For intravenous administration, the solution should be diluted in a glucose solution or physiological saline.

The usual initial daily dose for intravenous or intramuscular administration is 0.5–0.9 mg. This dose may be increased when necessary.

Adults

Once the disease is brought under control, the dose should be gradually reduced while the patient is carefully monitored.

In acute and severe conditions, such as anaphylactic shock or severe acute asthma, the appropriate dose may be increased.

For cerebral edema, the initial dose is 8–16 mg intravenously. After the patient's condition improves, 5 mg may be administered intravenously or intramuscularly every 6 hours.

In cases of increased intracranial pressure associated with brain tumors, dexamethasone may be used to reduce intracranial pressure.

Local Administration

The following doses are recommended for local administration. Administration should be performed under aseptic conditions:

• Intra-articular: 1.6–3 mg for large joints; 0.6–0.8 mg for small joints.
• Intrabursal: 1.6–3 mg.
• Into tendons: 0.3–0.8 mg.

The frequency of these injections may range from every 3–5 days to every 2–3 weeks, depending on the clinical situation.

For patients with ulcerative colitis, the recommended rectal drip dose is 4 mg diluted in 120 ml of water.

Children

The dose is generally calculated according to body weight.

The usual daily dose is 0.2-0.4 mg/kg.

Packaging

• 1 ml solution in a glass ampoule. 10 glass ampoules per blister. 1 blister is packed in a carton together with the package leaflet.
• 1 ml solution in a glass ampoule. 5 glass ampoules per blister. 5 blisters are packed in a carton together with the package leaflet.

Storage Conditions

Store at a temperature not exceeding 25°C, protected from light and out of the reach of children.

Prescription Status

Prescription only.

Manufacturer

Huazhong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., China

No. 118 Xianshan RD., Xiangyang, Hubei, China.