Pronunciation: DEX-ah-METH-ah-sone
Generic Name: Dexamethasone
Brand Name: Dexasol
Dexamethasone Drops are used for:
Treating swelling, itching, redness, and irritation of the eyes and eyelids. It may also be used in the ear canal to treat inflammation of the outer ear. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Dexamethasone Drops are a corticosteroid. It works by decreasing inflammation, which helps to relieve symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching, warmth, and pain.
Do NOT use Dexamethasone Drops if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Dexamethasone Drops
- you have a herpes, viral, bacterial, or fungal infection of the eye; a fungal infection of the ear; a perforation of the eardrum membrane
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Dexamethasone Drops:
Some medical conditions may interact with Dexamethasone Drops. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have diabetes or thinning of the cornea or other eye tissues
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Dexamethasone Drops. Because little, if any, of Dexamethasone Drops are absorbed into the blood, the risk of it interacting with another medicine is low.
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Dexamethasone Drops may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Dexamethasone Drops:
Use Dexamethasone Drops as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- If your doctor prescribed more than 1 eye medicine, find out the best order for using each medicine.
- Remove contact lenses before you use Dexamethasone Drops; lenses may be placed back in the eyes 15 minutes after use of Dexamethasone Drops.
- To use Dexamethasone Drops in the eye, first, wash your hands. Tilt your head back. Using your index finger, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to form a pouch. Drop the medicine into the pouch and gently close your eyes. Immediately use your finger to apply pressure to the inside corner of the eyelid for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not blink. Remove excess medicine around your eye with a clean, dry tissue, being careful not to touch your eye. Wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them.
- To prevent germs from contaminating your medicine, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface, including the eye. Keep the container tightly closed.
- For ear treatment - Clean the ear canal completely and sponge dry. Instill the solution directly into the ear canal as directed by your doctor. If preferred, the ear canal can be packed with a gauze wick that has been soaked in the solution. Keep it wet with the solution and remove after 12 to 24 hours.
- If you miss a dose of Dexamethasone Drops, use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Dexamethasone Drops.
Important safety information:
- Some of these products contain sulfites, which can cause allergic reactions in certain individuals (eg, asthma patients). If you have previously had allergic reactions to sulfites, contact your pharmacist to determine if the product you are taking contains sulfites.
- Contact your health care provider at once if you develop another eye condition (eg, trauma, eye surgery, infection) while taking Dexamethasone Drops. It may be necessary to stop using Dexamethasone Drops.
- Dexamethasone Drops may cause blurred vision. Use Dexamethasone Drops with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks if you cannot see clearly.
- Do not use Dexamethasone Drops longer than recommended or for future eye problems without first checking with your doctor.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Dexamethasone Drops while you are pregnant. It is not known if Dexamethasone Drops are found in breast milk after topical use. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Dexamethasone Drops, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Dexamethasone Drops:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Blurring of vision; increased pressure in the eye.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); cataracts; changes in vision; continued or worsening itching or swelling; continuing blurred vision; discharge from eyes; eye pain; glaucoma; vision problems.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Dexamethasone Drops may be harmful if swallowed.
Proper storage of Dexamethasone Drops:
Store Dexamethasone Drops tightly closed at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Dexamethasone Drops out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Dexamethasone Drops, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Dexamethasone Drops are to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Dexamethasone Drops. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Dexamethasone resources
- Dexamethasone Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Dexamethasone Drug Interactions
- Dexamethasone Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Dexamethasone - Add your own review/rating
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