Here are some descriptions of dexamethasone and its effects and side effects that I picked up off a Google search.
From aegis.com (a human drugs and medications web site):
"DRUG DESCRIPTION
Dexamethasone suppresses inflammation and normal immune response, and is used systemically and locally to treat chronic inflammatory disorders, severe allergies, and other diseases.
SIDE EFFECTS
Chronic treatment with dexamethasone will lead to adrenal suppression. Adrenal glands produce necessary hormones and some steroids. Chronic use in children inhibits growth, and the lowest possible dose should be used over the shortest period of time. The most common side effects are depression, euphoria, hypertension, nausea, anorexia, decreased wound healing, acne, muscle wasting, bone pain, and increased susceptibility to infection. Inflammation is one of the ways your body fights off infection, and if the inflammatory response has to be suppressed, usually because it is an autoimmune response, then your immune system is not as able to fight off other infections."
From marvistanet.com (a general veterinary info site):
"USES OF THIS MEDICATION
Dexamethasone is a member of the glucocorticoid class of hormones. This means they are steroids but, unlike the anabolic steroids that we hear about regarding sports medicine, these are “catabolic” steroids. Instead of building the body up, they are designed to break down stored resources (fats, sugars and proteins) so that they may be used as fuels in times of stress. Cortisone would be an example of a related hormone with which most people are familiar. Glucocorticoids hormones are produced naturally by the adrenal glands.
We do not use glucocorticoids for their influences on glucose and protein metabolism; we use them because they are also the most broadly anti-inflammatory medications that we have. Their uses fit into several groups:
Anti-inflammatory (especially for joint pain and itchy skin)
Immune-suppression (treatment of conditions where the immune system is destructively hyperactive. Higher doses are required to actually suppress the immune system)
Cancer Chemotherapy (especially in the treatment of lymphoma)
Central Nervous System Disorders (usually after trauma or after a disc episode to relieve swelling in the brain or spinal cord)
Shock (steroids seem to help improve circulation)
Blood Calcium Reduction (in medical conditions where blood calcium is dangerously high treatment is needed to reduce levels to normal)
SIDE EFFECTS
Dexamethasone does not have activity in the kidney leading to the conservation of salt. This means that the classical side effects of dexamethasone use ( excessive thirst and excessive urination) are less pronounced with thius steroid than with others. This makes dexamethasone a more appropriate choice for patients with concurrent heart disease or other condition requiring restricted salt intake. If this occurs, another steroid can be selected or the dexamethasone dose can be dropped.
Dexamethasone is commonly used for several weeks or even months at a time to get a chronic process under control. It is important that the dose be tapered to an every third day schedule once the condition is controlled. The reason for this is that body will perceive these hormones and not produce any of its own. In time, the adrenal glands will atrophy so that when the medication is discontinued, the patient will be unable to respond to any stressful situation. An actual circulatory crisis can result. By using the medication every other day, this allows the body’s own adrenal glands to remain active.
Any latent infections can be unmasked by dexamethasone use. (Feline upper respiratory infections would be a classical example. When a cat recovers clinically, the infection simply goes dormant. Glucocorticoid use could bring the infection out again.)
Glucocorticoid hormone use can be irritating to the stomach at higher doses.
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER DRUGS
Glucocorticoid hormones should not be used in combination with medications of the NSAID class (ie aspirin, Rimadyl, phenylbutazone etc.) as the combination of these medications could lead to bleeding in the stomach or intestine. Ulceration could occur.
CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS
Dexamethasone is considered to be a long acting steroid, meaning that a dose lasts about two or two-and-a-half days. For this reason an “every other day” schedule will be excessive for dexamethasone; every third day (or less) is the goal for dexamethasone.
The same salt retention that accounts for the excessive thirst and urination may also be a problem for heart failure patients or other patients who require sodium restriction.
Diabetic patients should never take this medication unless there is a life-threatening reason why they must.
Glucocorticoid hormones can cause abortion in pregnant patients. This class of hormone should not be used in pregnancy.
Dexamethasone use is likely to change liver enzyme blood testing and interfere with testing for thyroid diseases.
Dexamethasone is approximately 10 times stronger than prednisone/prednisolone.
When dexamethasone is used routinely, serious side effects would not be expected. When doses become immune-suppressive (higher doses) or use becomes “chronic” (longer than 4 months at an every third day schedule), the side effects and concerns associated become different. In these cases, monitoring tests may be recommended or, if possible, another therapy may be selected."
From Medicinenet.com (a general human d&m information site)
"DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Dexamethasone is a synthetic adrenal corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are natural substances produced by the adrenal glands located adjacent to the kidneys. Corticosteroids have potent anti-inflammatory properties, and are used in a wide variety of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, colitis, asthma, bronchitis, certain skin rashes, and allergic or inflammatory conditions of the nose and eyes. There are numerous preparations of corticosteroids, including oral tablets, capsules, liquids, topical creams and gels, inhalers and eye drops, and injectable and intravenous solutions. Dexamethasone that is prescribed in oral tablet form is addressed in this article.
Dosage requirements of corticosteroids vary among individuals and diseases being treated. In general, the lowest possible effective dose is used. Corticosteroids given in multiple doses throughout the day are more effective, but also more toxic, than if the same total dose is given once daily, or every other day.
PRESCRIBED FOR: Dexamethasone is used to achieve prompt suppression of inflammation in many conditions. Some examples include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, acute gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Severe allergic conditions that fail conventional treatment may also respond to dexamethasone. Examples include bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, drug-induced dermatitis, and contact and atopic dermatitis. Chronic skin conditions treated with dexamethasone include dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigus, severe psoriasis and severe seborrheic dermatitis. Chronic allergic and inflammatory conditions of the uvea, iris, conjunctiva and optic nerves of the eyes are also treated with dexamethasone.
Dexamethasone is also used in the treatment of blood cell cancers (leukemias), and lymph gland cancers (lymphomas). Blood diseases involving destruction of platelets by the body’s own immune cells (idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura), and destruction of red blood cells by immune cells (autoimmune hemolytic anemia) can also be treated with dexamethasone. Other miscellaneous conditions treated with this medication include thyroiditis and sarcoidosis. Finally, dexamethasone is used as a hormone replacement in patients whose adrenal glands are unable to produce sufficient amounts of corticosteroids.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Prolonged use of dexamethasone can depress the ability of body’s adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids. Abruptly stopping dexamethasone in these individuals can cause symptoms of corticosteroid insufficiency, with accompanying nausea, vomiting and even shock. Therefore, withdrawal of dexamethasone is usually accomplished by gradual tapering. Gradually tapering dexamethasone not only minimizes the symptoms of corticosteroid insufficiency, it also reduces the risk of an abrupt flare of the disease under treatment.
Dexamethasone and other corticosteroids can mask signs of infection and impair the body’s natural immune response to infection. Patients on corticosteroids are more susceptible to infections, and can develop more serious infections than healthy individuals. For instance, chicken pox and measles viruses can produce serious and even fatal illnesses in patients on high doses of dexamethasone. Live virus vaccines, such as small pox vaccine, should be avoided in patients taking high doses of dexamethasone, since even vaccine viruses may cause disease in these patients. Some infectious organisms, such as tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, can remain dormant in a patient for years. Dexamethasone and other corticosteroids can reactivate dormant infections in these patients and cause serious illnesses. Patients with dormant tuberculosis may require anti- TB medications while undergoing prolonged corticosteroid treatment.
By interfering with the patient’s immune response, dexamethasone can impede the effectiveness of vaccinations. Dexamethasone can also interfere with the tuberculin (TB) skin test and cause false negative results in patients with dormant tuberculosis infection.
Dexamethasone impairs calcium absorption and new bone formation. Patients on prolonged treatment with dexamethasone and other corticosteroids can develop osteoporosis and an increased risk of bone fractures. Supplemental calcium and vitamin D are encouraged to slow this process of bone thinning. In rare individuals, destruction of large joints can occur while undergoing treatment with dexamethasone or other corticosteroids. These patients experience severe pain in the involved joints, and can require joint replacements. The reason behind such destruction is not clear.
PREGNANCY: Dexamethasone can be used in pregnancy, but is generally avoided.
SIDE EFFECTS: Dexamethasone side effects depend on the dose, the duration and the frequency of administration. Short courses of dexamethasone are usually well tolerated with few and mild side effects. Long term, high doses of dexamethasone will usually produce predictable, and potentially serious side effects. Whenever possible, the lowest effective doses of dexamethasone should be used for the shortest possible length of time to minimize side effects. Alternate day dosing can also help reduce side effects.
Side effects of dexamethasone and other corticosteroids range from mild annoyances to serious irreversible bodily damages. Side effects include fluid retention, weight gain, high blood pressure, potassium loss, headache, muscle weakness, puffiness of and hair growth on the face, thinning and easy bruising of skin, glaucoma, cataracts, peptic ulceration, worsening of diabetes, irregular menses, growth retardation in children, convulsions, and psychic disturbances. Psychic disturbances can include depression, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and even psychotic behavior. The bone and joint complications of corticosteroids are discussed above in DRUG INTERACTIONS."
It has many, many things going for it. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
If so, that is sad…