Decadron (Dexamethasone) - Summary

DECADRON SUMMARY

DECADRON^® TABLETS
(Dexamethasone Tablets, USP)

DECADRON Registered trademark of MERCK & CO., Inc. (dexamethasone tablets, USP) tablets, for oral administration, are supplied in two potencies, 0.5 mg and 0.75 mg.

Decadron (dexamethasone) is indicated for the following:

Allergic states: 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.

Dermatologic diseases: Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative erythroderma, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus, and severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).

Endocrine disorders: Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; may be used in conjunction with synthetic mineralocorticoid analogs where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypercalcemia associated with cancer, and nonsuppurative thyroiditis.

Gastrointestinal diseases: To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in regional enteritis and ulcerative colitis.

Hematologic disorders: Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia, congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia (Diamond-Blackfan anemia), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults, pure red cell aplasia, and selected cases of secondary thrombocytopenia.

Miscellaneous: Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction, trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement, tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy.

Neoplastic diseases: For the palliative management of leukemias and lymphomas.

Nervous system: Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, cerebral edemaassociated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, or head injury.

Ophthalmic diseases: Sympathetic ophthalmia, temporal arteritis, uveitis, and ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids.

Renal diseases: To induce a diuresis or remission of proteinuria in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome or that due to lupus erythematosus.

Respiratory diseases: Berylliosis, fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy, idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias, symptomatic sarcoidosis.

Rheumatic disorders: As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in acute gouty arthritis, acute rheumatic carditis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy). For the treatment of dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Decadron (Dexamethasone)

dexamethasone oral, Decadron, DexPak
Source: MedicineNet Atopic Dermatitis Specialty [2009.03.12]
Title: dexamethasone oral, Decadron, DexPak
Category: Medications
Created: 12/31/1997
Last Editorial Review: 3/12/2009

ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone-otic suspension, Ciprodex
Source: MedicineNet Ear Tubes Specialty [2005.03.02]
Title: ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone-otic suspension, Ciprodex
Category: Medications
Created: 3/2/2005
Last Editorial Review: 3/2/2005

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Published Studies Related to Decadron (Dexamethasone)

Phase 2 trial results with the novel neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist casopitant in combination with ondansetron and dexamethasone for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. [2009.10.15]
BACKGROUND:: This randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial evaluated the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist casopitant mesylate in combination with ondansetron/dexamethasone (ond/dex) for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) related to moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC)... CONCLUSIONS:: Casopitant plus ond/dex was more effective than ond/dex alone for the prevention of CINV. Cancer 2009. (c) 2009 American Cancer Society.

Dexamethasone decreases oxycodone consumption following osteotomy of the first metatarsal bone: a randomized controlled trial in day surgery. [2009.10.10]
Background: Dexamethasone may improve multimodal pain management following painful orthopedic day surgery procedures, and decrease the need for post-operative opioids. We hypothesized that dexamethasone would reduce the need for oxycodone after surgical correction of hallux valgus... Conclusion: Oral dexamethasone combined with paracetamol significantly reduced total oxycodone consumption following surgical correction of hallux valgus.

Dexamethasone, cerebrospinal fluid matrix metalloproteinase concentrations and clinical outcomes in tuberculous meningitis. [2009.09.30]
BACKGROUND: Adjunctive dexamethasone reduces mortality from tuberculous meningitis, but how it produces this effect is not known. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important in the immunopathology of many inflammatory CNS diseases thus we hypothesized that that their secretion is important in TBM and might be influenced by dexamethasone...

l-Epinephrine and dexamethasone in postextubation airway obstruction: A prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. [2009.09.15]
CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone and l-epinephrine did not reduce the clinical progression of airway obstruction due to laryngeal edema in the early postextubation period.

An Open Randomized Controlled Trial of Desmopressin, and Pulse Dexamethasone as Adjunctive Therapy in Patients with Pulmonary Involvement Associated with Severe Leptospirosis. [2009.09.02]
Abstract Pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis is emerging as a common complication associated with severe leptospirosis. A prospective randomized controlled trial of desmopressin or high dose (pulse) dexamethasone as adjunctive therapy in 68 patients with pulmonary involvement associated with severe leptospirosis was conducted between July 2003 and October 2006 at 5 hospitals in Thailand...

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Clinical Trials Related to Decadron (Dexamethasone)

Dexamethasone for Paediatric Adeno-Tonsillectomy - A Dose-Finding Study [Terminated]
Adeno-tonsillectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure in children. Main morbidities are postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, and haemorrhage. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)widely used for paincontrol increase the risk of postoperative bleeding and reoperation. Dexamethasone is an powerful antiemetic and has shown analgesic efficacy. Antiemetic and analgesic dose-response has never been established.

XERECEPT® (hCRF) for Patients Requiring Dexamethasone to Treat Edema Associated With Brain Tumors [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of XERECEPT® to dexamethasone (Decadron) a common treatment for symptoms of brain swelling (edema). This study is specifically aimed at patients who require chronic high doses of dexamethasone to manage symptoms.

Vincristine, DOXIL® (Doxorubicin HCl Liposome Injection) and Dexamethasone vs. Vincristine, Doxorubicin, and Dexamethasone in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to determine how well newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients respond to an experimental regimen of Vincristine, DOXIL (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection) and Dexamethasone (VDD) versus the standard treatment of Vincristine, Doxorubicin and Dexamethasone (VAD).

Dasatinib in Combination With Revlimid (and Dexamethasone) [Recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of dasatinib when given in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Dexamethasone or Dexamethasone in Combination With Thalidomide as Salvage Therapy [Completed]
The purpose of this investigational trial is to find out how well patients respond and how long their response lasts when treated with a standard regimen of dexamethasone with or without thalidomide and also find out what kind of side effects patients will experience.

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