Dexamethasone (Dexamethasone) - Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Fluid and electrolyte disturbances:

    Sodium retention

    Fluid retention

    Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients

    Potassium loss

    Hypokalemic alkalosis

    Hypertension

Musculoskeletal:

    Muscle weakness

    Steroid myopathy

    Loss of muscle mass

    Osteoporosis

    Vertebral compression fractures

    Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads

    Tendon rupture

    Pathologic fracture of long bones

Gastrointestinal:

    Peptic ulcer with possible subsequent perforation and hemorrhage

    Perforation of the small and large bowel; particularly in patients with inflammatory

    bowel disease

    Pancreatitis

    Abdominal distention

    Ulcerative esophagitis

Dermatologic:

    Impaired wound healing

    Thin fragile skin

    Petechiae and ecchymoses

    Erythema

    Increased sweating

    May suppress reactions to skin tests

    Burning or tingling, especially in the perineal area (after IV injection)

    Other cutaneous reactions, such as allergic dermatitis, urticaria, angioneurotic edema

Neurologic:

    Convulsions

    Increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually after

    treatment

    Vertigo

    Headache

    Psychic disturbances

Endocrine:

    Menstrual irregularities

    Development of cushingoid state

    Suppression of growth in pediatric patients

    Secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times of

    stress, as in trauma, surgery, or illness

    Decreased carbohydrate tolerance

    Manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus

    Increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetics

    Hirsutism

Ophthalmic:

    Posterior subcapsular cataracts

    Increased intraocular pressure

    Glaucoma

    Exophthalmos

    Retinopathy of prematurity

Metabolic:

    Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism

Cardiovascular:

    Myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction (see WARNINGS )

    Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in low birth weight infants

 Other:

    Anaphylactoid or hypersensitivity reactions

    Thromboembolism

    Weight gain

    Increased appetite

    Nausea

    Malaise

    Hiccups

The following additional adverse reactions are related to parenteral corticosteroid therapy:

    Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation

    Subcutaneous and cutaneous atrophy

    Sterile abscess

    Charcot-like arthropathy

REPORTS OF SUSPECTED DEXAMETHASONE SIDE EFFECTS / ADVERSE REACTIONS

Possible Dexamethasone side effects / adverse reactions in 58 year old female

Reported by a physician from Australia on 2011-10-03

Patient: 58 year old female

Reactions: Pyomyositis

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Paclitaxel
    Indication: Endometrial Cancer Stage III

Dexamethasone
    Dosage: 40 mg
    Indication: Premedication

Dexamethasone
    Dosage: 4 mg
    Indication: Prophylaxis of Nausea and Vomiting

Carboplatin
    Dosage: 600 mg
    Indication: Endometrial Cancer Stage III

Possible Dexamethasone side effects / adverse reactions in 16 year old male

Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from United States on 2011-10-03

Patient: 16 year old male

Reactions: Psychotic Disorder, Nausea, Mental Status Changes, Neutropenia, Hepatic Enzyme Increased

Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Dexamethasone
    Dosage: 6.00-mg-1.0days;
    Indication: Nausea

Cisplatin
    Dosage: 20.00-mg/m2-
    Indication: Testicular Germ Cell Cancer

Etoposide
    Dosage: 100.00-mg/m2-
    Indication: Testicular Germ Cell Cancer

Bleomycin Sulfate
    Dosage: 30.00-mg-
    Indication: Testicular Germ Cell Cancer

Other drugs received by patient: Ondansetron; Promethazine

Possible Dexamethasone side effects / adverse reactions in 59 year old male

Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from Germany on 2011-10-03

Patient: 59 year old male weighing 71.0 kg (156.2 pounds)

Reactions: Plasmacytoma, Pneumonia, Acute Myocardial Infarction

Adverse event resulted in: life threatening event, hospitalization

Suspect drug(s):
Dexamethasone
    Dosage: 40 milligram
    Indication: Multiple Myeloma
    Start date: 2011-07-01
    End date: 2011-07-22

Dexamethasone
    Start date: 2011-09-23

Revlimid
    Dosage: 25 milligram
    Administration route: Oral
    Indication: Multiple Myeloma
    Start date: 2011-07-01
    End date: 2011-07-21

Dexamethasone
    Dosage: 40 milligram
    Start date: 2011-07-29
    End date: 2011-08-05

Revlimid
    Dosage: 25 milligram
    Administration route: Oral
    Start date: 2011-07-29
    End date: 2011-08-11

Other drugs received by patient: Avelox; Avelox