Dexacan

DEXAMETHASONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE INJECTION IP 4mg/ml

Package leaflet: Information for the user Dexamethasone sodium phosphate
injection 4mg/ml Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this
medicine because it contains important information for you. - Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again. - If you have any further questions, ask your
doctor, pharmacist or nurse. - If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor,
pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this
leaflet.

What is in this leaflet:
1. What Dexamethasone is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you use Dexamethasone
3. How you use Dexamethasone
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Dexamethasone
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Dexamethasone is and what it is used for: The name of your medicine is
Dexamethasone. This belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids.
Corticosteroids are hormones that are found naturally in your body that help to keep
you healthy and well. Boosting your body with extra corticosteroid, such as
Dexamethasone, is an effective way to treat various illnesses involving inflammation in
the body. Dexamethasone lowers inflammation, which could otherwise go on making
your condition worse. You must take this medicine regularly to get maximum benefit
from it. Dexamethasone is given by injection to patients unable to take a tablet form of
the medicine. When given into a vein or muscle, dexamethasone reduces
inflammation and suppresses the immune system and is used normally for patients
with: severe allergic reactions causing swelling of the face and throat, low blood
pressure and collapse (angioneurotic oedema and anaphylaxis), severe exacerbation
of bronchial asthma (such as status asthmaticus), hypersensitivity reaction to other
medications shock caused by infection or severe tuberculosis (also with anti-infective
treatments e.g. antibiotics) raised pressure in the skull caused by tumours or infantile
spasms Dexamethasone can be used to control cerebral oedema (swelling in the
brain) caused by brain tumour or after neurosurgery, but not in cases of head trauma.
Sometimes, the injection is given into the painful area itself e.g. inflammation of the
joints (rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis).