Dexamet Adverse Reactions

The incidence of predictable undesirable effects, including hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal suppression, correlates with the relative potency of the drug, dosage timing of administration and the duration of treatment.
Fluid and electrolyte disturbances: Sodium retention, fluid retention, congestive heart failure in susceptible patients, potassium loss, hypokalemic alkalosis, hypertension, increased calcium excretion.
Musculoskeletal: Muscle weakness, steroid myopathy, loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis (especially in post-menopausal females), vertebral compression fractures, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, pathological fracture of long bones, tendon rupture, and post-injection flare (following intra-articular use).
Gastro-intestinal: Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage perforation of the small and the large bowel, particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, abdominal distension, ulcerative esophagitis, dyspepsia, esophageal candidiasis.
Dermatological: Impaired wound healing, thin fragile skin, petechiae and ecchymoses, erythema, striae, telangiectasia, acne, increased sweating, possible suppression of skin tests, burning or tingling especially in the perennial area (after intravenous injection), other cutaneous reactions such as allergic dermatitis, urticaria, angioneurotic edema and hypo- or hyper-pigmentation.
Neurological: Convulsions, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually after treatment, vertigo, headache, psychic disturbances (e.g., euphoria, psychological dependence, depression, insomnia).
Endocrine: Menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, development of Cushingoid state, suppression of growth in children and adolescents, secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness (particularly in time of stress, as in trauma, surgery, or illness), decreased carbohydrate tolerance, manifestations of latent diabetes mellitus, increased requirements for insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents in diabetes, hirsutism.
Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects: Increased susceptibility and severity of infections with suppression of clinical symptoms and signs. Opportunistic infections, recurrence of dormant tuberculosis.
Ophthalmic: Posterior subcapsular cataracts, increased intra-ocular pressure, papilledema, corneal or scleral thinning, exacerbation or ophthalmic viral disease, glaucoma, exophthalmos, rare instances of blindness associated with intra-lesion therapy around the face and head, retinopathy of prematurity.
Metabolic: Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism. Negative calcium balance.
Cardiovascular: Myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in low birth-weight infants.
Others: Hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis has been reported, leukocytosis, thrombo-embolism, weight gain, increased appetite, nausea, malaise, hiccups, a sterile abscess.
Withdrawal symptoms and signs: Too rapid a reduction of corticosteroid dosage following prolonged treatment can lead to acute adrenal insufficiency, hypotension, and death. In some instances, withdrawal symptoms may stimulate a clinical relapsed of the disease for which the patient has been undergoing treatment.