Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved dexamethasone oral tablet to treat various conditions in adults and some children. These include certain:
- digestive conditions
- endocrine problems
- cancers
- skin conditions
- blood disorders
This article describes possible side effects of dexamethasone oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for dexamethasone.
Dexamethasone oral tablet is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version. Dexamethasone also comes in other forms, including a solution for injection and a liquid solution you swallow, but this article does not describe these forms. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
You can explore this dexamethasone overview article to learn more about dexamethasone oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, dosage, and more.
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More common side effects of dexamethasone
Dexamethasone may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of dexamethasone oral tablet include:
- trouble sleeping
- acne
- upset stomach
- fluid buildup
- weight gain
Mild side effects of dexamethasone
Dexamethasone may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and easily manageable. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or bother you.
Mild side effects of dexamethasone oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- trouble sleeping
- acne
- upset stomach
- fluid buildup
- nausea and vomiting
- weight gain
- appetite changes
- agitation (restlessness)
- hair loss and hair thinning
- dry skin
- sweating more than usual
- changes in menstrual period
- muscle weakness
- blurry vision
- mild mood changes
- mild allergic reaction
Dexamethasone may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Note: To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects of dexamethasone in detail” section on this page.
Serious side effects of dexamethasone
Dexamethasone may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from dexamethasone, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Serious side effects of dexamethasone oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- adrenal insufficiency (when your body doesn’t produce enough cortisol hormone)
- Cushing syndrome (high levels of cortisol)
- fluid buildup in your lungs
- heart problems, including irregular heart rhythm and high blood pressure
- increased blood sugar level, which may lead to type 2 diabetes
- increased risk of infection
- liver damage
- low blood potassium level
- osteoporosis (decrease in bone density) and bone fracture (break)
- pancreatitis (swelling of your pancreas)
- perforation (holes) in your intestines or stomach
- stomach ulcers (sores)
- seizure
- serious eye problems, including cataracts or glaucoma
- swelling and increased pressure in your brain
- mental health side effects, including depression, personality changes, and severe mood changes
- severe allergic reaction
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with dexamethasone.
Note: To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects of dexamethasone in detail” section on this page.
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Get free cardSide effects of dexamethasone in children
Dexamethasone is approved to treat inflammation (swelling) caused by a variety of conditions. Doctors may prescribe it to certain children.
Like other corticosteroid drugs, dexamethasone treatment may slow growth in children. This side effect can happen with low dexamethasone doses. And the risk of this side effect increases as the dose increases. Taking dexamethasone long term also increases the risk of slowed growth in children.
Due to this risk, your child’s doctor will only prescribe dexamethasone if the benefits outweigh the risks. If they prescribe dexamethasone to your child, they’ll use the lowest dose possible to treat your child’s condition. And they’ll monitor your child’s growth throughout treatment with dexamethasone.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about the side effects of dexamethasone in children.
Side effects of dexamethasone in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of dexamethasone oral tablet.
Mood changes
Some people may experience mood changes from taking dexamethasone or other corticosteroid drugs. It is unknown how often this side effect occurred in studies of dexamethasone.
Possible mood changes reported with dexamethasone include:
- new or worsening depression
- euphoria (feeling “high”)
- new or worsening psychosis
Your risk of mood changes is also higher if you have an existing mental health condition, such as depression.
Mood changes may occur at any time while you’re taking dexamethasone. But your risk increases the longer you take the drug. In rare cases, mood changes can happen even once you’ve stopped taking dexamethasone.
Suddenly stopping treatment with dexamethasone may also cause mood changes as a withdrawal symptom. Withdrawal describes symptoms that can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on. (With dependence, your body needs the drug to feel like it usually does.)
To learn more, see “If I stop taking dexamethasone, will I experience certain side effects?” in the “Common questions about side effects of dexamethasone” section on this page.
Ways to manage
Before you start taking dexamethasone, let your doctor know about any mental health conditions you may have. Your doctor can determine whether the drug is safe for you to take.
If your doctor prescribes dexamethasone for you, they’ll prescribe the lowest dose possible. And they’ll prescribe the drug for the shortest time needed to treat your symptoms. This helps lower your risk of changes in mood. But if you notice this side effect while taking dexamethasone, tell your doctor right away.
High blood sugar and type 2 diabetes
Similar to other corticosteroid drugs, dexamethasone treatment may cause high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms can include:
- feeling thirstier than usual
- feeling more hungry than usual
- fatigue (low energy)
- needing to urinate often
- blurry vision
Dexamethasone can cause changes to your blood sugar even when you take it for a short time. In most people, this doesn’t cause problems. But if you already have diabetes, changes in your blood sugar levels could cause problems. It can also affect how well your diabetes medications work.
Taking dexamethasone long term may cause high blood sugar levels that could lead to type 2 diabetes.
People ages 65 years and older have a higher risk of this side effect from taking dexamethasone.
Ways to manage
Before you start taking dexamethasone, be sure to tell your doctor if you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. They may want you to monitor your blood sugar more closely. They may also adjust the dose of any diabetes medications you take.
If you don’t have diabetes, watch for symptoms of high blood sugar while taking dexamethasone. Contact your doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed above. They may want to order a blood test to check for diabetes.
To lower your risk of high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes, your doctor will prescribe dexamethasone at the lowest dose and for the shortest time needed to treat your symptoms.
Allergic reaction
For some people, dexamethasone oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. It’s not clear how often this side effect happened in studies of dexamethasone, but it can occur.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to dexamethasone oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Common questions about side effects of dexamethasone
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of dexamethasone oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How long do side effects of dexamethasone last?
It depends. In most cases, dexamethasone’s side effects are temporary and usually wear off once the drug is out of your system.
Dexamethasone oral tablet has a half-life of about 4 hours. This is how long it takes for your body to reduce the drug’s active ingredient by half. On average, it will take about 20 hours for dexamethasone to leave your system. It may take longer if you have certain health conditions. Once dexamethasone is out of your system, the side effects should start to wear off.
But it’s possible that dexamethasone could cause long-term side effects. These include:
- adrenal insufficiency (when your body doesn’t produce enough cortisol)
- Cushing syndrome (high levels of the hormone cortisol)
- increased blood sugar, which may lead to type 2 diabetes
- increased risk of infection
- liver damage
- osteoporosis (decrease in bone density) and bone fracture (break)
Long-term side effects are those that begin while taking a drug and continue for a long time, possibly after ending treatment. They can also be side effects that start after you’ve taken the medication for a long time or after stopping treatment.
The above is not a complete list of long-term side effects of dexamethasone treatment. Like other corticosteroid drugs, your risk of side effects increases the longer you take dexamethasone. It also increases with a higher dose of the drug.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions or concerns about the short- or long-term side effects of dexamethasone.
Does dexamethasone oral tablet cause different side effects than dexamethasone injection?
Generally, the side effects of dexamethasone oral tablets are similar to the side effects of dexamethasone injection. The injection form of dexamethasone is only given by healthcare professionals.
Your body typically processes injectable drugs quicker than drugs taken as a tablet. So, side effects may appear sooner and wear off faster with dexamethasone injection. Sometimes, the side effects from dexamethasone injection may also be more intense or serious. This is because the drug enters your system more quickly than a drug you take in tablet form.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about dexamethasone injection. Note that you likely won’t receive this form of dexamethasone unless you’re in the hospital.
If I stop taking dexamethasone, will I experience certain side effects?
Yes, stopping dexamethasone treatment can lead to certain side effects. These are known as withdrawal symptoms. They can happen when you suddenly stop taking a drug your body is physically dependent on.
Withdrawal symptoms from suddenly stopping dexamethasone treatment can include:
- fatigue (low energy)
- body aches
- appetite loss
- low blood pressure, which may cause fainting
- nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- mood changes
To avoid withdrawal symptoms, do not suddenly stop taking dexamethasone. If you want to stop treatment, talk with your doctor first. If they agree it’s safe for you to stop taking dexamethasone, they can slowly decrease your dose over time. This is called a drug taper. It helps lower your risk of side effects if you need to stop taking dexamethasone.
If you have questions about the withdrawal symptoms of dexamethasone, talk with your doctor.
Can dexamethasone be used for COVID-19? Will taking it for COVID-19 cause different side effects?
Maybe, but dexamethasone isn’t approved to treat COVID-19.
Dexamethasone has been found effective for treating COVID-19 in certain situations. In this case, it’s used off-label. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for. But the drug shouldn’t cause different side effects when prescribed for this use.
Dexamethasone is only prescribed to treat COVID-19 in certain situations. Do not use dexamethasone to treat COVID-19 unless your doctor specifically recommends that you do so. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the use of dexamethasone for COVID-19.
Coupon for dexamethasone
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Warnings for dexamethasone
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking dexamethasone oral tablet.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take dexamethasone oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether dexamethasone oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking dexamethasone oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include those listed below.
Eye problems: Dexamethasone can increase the pressure inside your eye and cause other eye problems,* including glaucoma and cataracts. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have an existing eye problem before you take dexamethasone. This is because the drug may worsen your condition. Your doctor can determine whether dexamethasone is safe for you to take.
Infection: Similar to other corticosteroid drugs, dexamethasone treatment may weaken your immune system. This may increase your risk of having an infection. It can also hide symptoms of an infection. In rare cases, dexamethasone can make certain serious infections, such as chickenpox, more serious or even life threatening. Be sure to tell your doctor about any infection you may have, especially tuberculosis or herpes. Taking dexamethasone may reactivate the organism that causes these infections.
Mental health condition: Dexamethasone can cause mental health side effects such as depression and mood changes. If you already have these conditions, dexamethasone can worsen them. Your doctor can determine whether dexamethasone is right for you. To learn more, see the “Side effects of dexamethasone in detail” section on this page.
Type 1 or 2 diabetes: Dexamethasone can increase your blood sugar as a side effect. If you already have high blood sugar, dexamethasone can increase it further and cause diabetes. Your doctor will determine whether dexamethasone is right for you. To learn more, see the “Side effects of dexamethasone in detail” section on this page.
Weak bones, including osteoporosis: Dexamethasone treatment can cause weak bones.* It may even cause osteoporosis when used long term. If you already have weak bones or osteoporosis, taking dexamethasone may worsen your condition. Your doctor can determine whether dexamethasone is safe for you to take.
Digestive problems: Dexamethasone can cause digestive problems as a side effect. These include new or worsening ulcers in your stomach or the upper part of your small intestine. This may lead to perforation (holes) in these areas.* Ulcers can lead to stomach bleeding in some cases. If you have a digestive condition, your doctor can determine whether dexamethasone is safe to take.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to dexamethasone oral tablet or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe this medication. Ask them about other treatment options that may be better for you.
Dexamethasone and pregnancy
It is unknown whether dexamethasone is safe to take during pregnancy. There aren’t enough studies in pregnant people to know whether the drug is safe to take while pregnant.
Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or can become pregnant before taking dexamethasone. Your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits of treatments for your condition if you take it during pregnancy.
Dexamethasone and breastfeeding
It’s not safe to take dexamethasone while breastfeeding. The drug is known to pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. This includes slowed growth. (To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of dexamethasone in children” section on this page.) Your doctor likely won’t recommend breastfeeding while taking dexamethasone.
Your doctor can suggest other feeding options for your child instead. Or they can discuss whether there are other treatments for your condition that may be safer to take while breastfeeding.
Dexamethasone and alcohol
Dexamethasone oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.
However, consuming alcohol while taking dexamethasone may increase your risk of certain side effects that both drugs may cause. This includes headaches, mood changes, and upset stomach.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with dexamethasone oral tablet.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.