Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone

Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a682792
Pregnancy category	AU: A US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration	by mouth, IV, IM, SC and IO
ATC code	A01AC02 (WHO) C05AA09 (WHO), D07AB19 (WHO), D10AA03 (WHO), H02AB02 (WHO), R01AD03 (WHO), S01BA01 (WHO), S02BA06 (WHO), S03BA01 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only) CA: ℞-only UK: POM (Prescription only) US: ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	80-90%
Protein binding	77%
Metabolism	hepatic
Biological half-life	190 minutes
Excretion	Urine (65%)
Identifiers
IUPAC name (8S,9R,10S,11S,13S,14S,16R,17R)-9- Fluoro-11,17-dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-10,13,16-trimethyl-6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17- dodecahydro-3H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one
CAS Number	50-02-2 Y
PubChem (CID)	5743
IUPHAR/BPS	2768
DrugBank	DB01234 N
ChemSpider	5541 Y
UNII	7S5I7G3JQL Y
KEGG	D00292 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:41879 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL384467 Y
PDB ligand ID	DEX (PDBe, RCSB PDB)
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.004
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C22H29FO5
Molar mass	392.461 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
Melting point	262 °C (504 °F)
SMILES O=C(CO)[C@]3(O)[C@]2(C[C@H](O)[C@]4(F)[C@@]/1(\C(=C/C(=O)\C=C\1)CC[C@H]4[C@@H]2C[C@H]3C)C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C22H29FO5/c1-12-8-16-15-5-4-13-9-14(25)6-7-19(13,2)21(15,23)17(26)10-20(16,3)22(12,28)18(27)11-24/h6-7,9,12,15-17,24,26,28H,4-5,8,10-11H2,1-3H3/t12-,15+,16+,17+,19+,20+,21+,22+/m1/s1 Y Key:UREBDLICKHMUKA-CXSFZGCWSA-N Y
NY (what is this?)

Dexamethasone is a type of steroid medication. It is used in the treatment of many conditions, including rheumatic problems, a number of skin diseases, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, croup, brain swelling, and along with antibiotics in tuberculosis. In adrenocortical insufficiency, it should be used together with a medication that has greater mineralocorticoid effects such as fludrocortisone. In preterm labor, it may be used to improve outcomes in the baby. It may be taken by mouth, as an injection into a muscle, or intravenously. The effects of dexamethasone are frequently seen within a day and last for about three days.

The long-term use of dexamethasone may result in thrush, bone loss, cataracts, easy bruising, or muscle weakness. It is pregnancy category C in the United States meaning use should be based on benefits being predicted to be greater than risks. In Australia, it is class A, meaning it has been frequently used in pregnancy and not been found to cause problems to the baby. It should not be taken when breastfeeding. Dexamethasone has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects.