FDA-filed SPL labeling · retrieved through openFDA

Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid used across multiple forms and routes to treat inflammation, allergic conditions, endocrine disorders, certain blood and autoimmune diseases, eye conditions, and multiple myeloma.

Brand names DecadronDexamethasone IntensolDexpak TaperpakDexiumDexasone +11 more
Drug class ⓘ Corticosteroid
Rx/OTC Forms 6 Routes Oral · Intra-articular; Intralesional; Intramuscular; Intravenous; Soft Tissue · Intra-articular, Intralesional, Intramuscular, Intravenous, Soft Tissue · Intramuscular, Intravenous +7
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 96 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

At a glance
Linked label effectiveJan 9, 2026
Clinical labels in scope ⓘ96
AvailabilityRx/OTC
Earliest approval/marketing year ⓘ1958
FDA-listed product records ⓘ567
Boxed warningNone found in compared labels
How we combine label and product data →
Other forms & routes:
Injection Ophthalmic
⭐ Dexamethasone at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
💊
HelloPharmacist Editorial Team Bottom Line
Dexamethasone is a powerful anti-inflammatory corticosteroid available in many forms — oral, injectable, and eye-specific products — each approved for specific conditions ranging from allergic reactions and adrenal disorders to multiple myeloma and eye diseases. It works well but carries real risks with long-term or high-dose use, including immune suppression, bone loss, and blood sugar elevation. Always take it exactly as prescribed, never stop it abruptly, and keep your healthcare team informed about any new symptoms.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →

📖 Dexamethasone: Patient Information Guide

A plain-language walkthrough of Dexamethasone — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.

🎯What it's used for▾

Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid available in multiple products and formulations, each approved for specific uses:

  • Oral tablets and solutions (including Dexamethasone Intensol and TaperDex): severe allergic conditions (asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug reactions, allergic rhinitis, serum sickness); inflammatory skin diseases (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, pemphigus, mycosis fungoides); endocrine disorders (adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, nonsuppurative thyroiditis, cancer-related high calcium); gastrointestinal diseases (ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis); blood disorders; rheumatic conditions; kidney disease with heavy protein loss; nervous system conditions; and respiratory diseases including tuberculosis complications
  • Hemady (oral tablet): used in combination with other anti-myeloma medicines specifically for multiple myeloma in adults
  • Injectable forms (IV/IM — dexamethasone sodium phosphate): used when oral therapy is not possible for the same broad range of endocrine, rheumatic, inflammatory, and other conditions; also used in shock unresponsive to conventional therapy when adrenal insufficiency is present or suspected
  • Intra-articular/intralesional/soft tissue injection: local inflammation in joints and soft tissues
  • Dextenza (intracanalicular insert): eye inflammation and pain after eye surgery; eye itching from allergic conjunctivitis (adults and children 2 years and older)
  • Ozurdex (intravitreal implant): macular edema after branch or central retinal vein occlusion; non-infectious uveitis in the posterior eye; diabetic macular edema
  • Dexycu (intraocular injection): inflammation after eye surgery
  • Maxidex (ophthalmic suspension) and dexamethasone sodium phosphate eye drops: steroid-responsive inflammatory conditions of the eye (conjunctiva, cornea, anterior segment)
  • Dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic/otic solution: steroid-responsive eye inflammation and outer ear canal inflammation
  • Seacall topical ointment: skin conditions including contact dermatitis, neurodermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and chronic eczema
⚙️How it works▾

Dexamethasone is a synthetic corticosteroid — it mimics and amplifies the action of cortisol, a natural hormone made by the adrenal glands. It works mainly by dampening inflammation and dialing down overactive immune responses throughout the body. In multiple myeloma, it also directly triggers the death of cancer cells (a process called apoptosis), though the exact mechanism is not fully understood. Because it has very low mineralocorticoid activity — meaning it has minimal effect on sodium and water balance compared to some other steroids — it is often preferred when fluid retention is a concern.

💊How it's taken▾

How dexamethasone is taken depends entirely on the product and condition being treated. Oral tablets and liquid solutions are taken by mouth; a high-fat meal does not meaningfully affect overall drug absorption, though taking it with food may ease stomach upset. Injectable forms are given by a healthcare provider — by vein (IV), into muscle (IM), into a joint, or into soft tissue. Eye-specific products are placed in or around the eye by a trained provider: Dextenza is a small dissolvable insert placed in the tear duct, Ozurdex is a tiny implant injected into the back of the eye, and Dexycu is a single injection given at the end of eye surgery.

  • Dosage and frequency vary widely — always follow your prescriber's exact instructions
  • Never stop oral or injectable dexamethasone abruptly after extended use — doses must be tapered gradually
  • If you miss a dose, follow the guidance on your prescription label or call your pharmacist
🤒Side effects — in detail▾

Dexamethasone can cause a range of side effects depending on the form, dose, and length of use:

  • Elevated blood sugar (glucose), which can worsen or unmask diabetes
  • High blood pressure and fluid retention
  • Mood changes, insomnia, irritability, euphoria, or depression
  • Increased appetite and weight gain
  • Increased susceptibility to infections
  • With eye products: increased eye pressure, cataracts, conjunctival hemorrhage (bloodshot appearance), and eye pain
  • Bone thinning (osteoporosis) with long-term use
  • Muscle weakness at high doses

Seek medical attention right away if you notice signs of serious infection, sudden severe stomach pain, major mood or behavior changes, vision changes, or symptoms of a blood clot (leg swelling, chest pain, or shortness of breath).

⚠️Warnings & precautions▾
  • Immune suppression and infection risk: Dexamethasone suppresses the immune system. It can make you more vulnerable to bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections — and can mask symptoms so infections seem milder than they are. Tuberculosis, hepatitis B, chickenpox, measles, and fungal infections all carry special risks.
  • Do not stop abruptly: Stopping suddenly after extended use can trigger adrenal crisis — a life-threatening drop in the body's stress hormones. Doses must be reduced gradually.
  • Blood sugar: Dexamethasone raises blood glucose and can worsen or cause diabetes. Regular monitoring is essential.
  • Bone loss: Long-term use increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, especially in older adults and postmenopausal women.
  • Blood clots: Risk of dangerous blood clots (venous and arterial thromboembolism) is elevated, particularly in combination with certain multiple myeloma medications.
  • Mood and psychiatric effects: Serious mood disturbances — including euphoria, depression, insomnia, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts — can occur, sometimes within days of starting treatment.
  • Pregnancy: Dexamethasone can cause birth defects (including cleft palate) and low birth weight. Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant should discuss risks with their doctor.
  • Kaposi's sarcoma: A rare skin cancer has been reported in patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy.
🔀What it interacts with▾

Dexamethasone interacts with several medications and should be used carefully alongside:

  • Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole): Dramatically increase dexamethasone blood levels, raising the risk of side effects — avoid if possible
  • Strong CYP3A4 inducers: Lower dexamethasone levels and may reduce its effectiveness — avoid if possible
  • NSAIDs and aspirin: Combined use increases the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding
  • Blood thinners (anticoagulants): Dexamethasone may blunt their effect; close monitoring of clotting is needed
  • Antidiabetic drugs: Dexamethasone raises blood sugar, potentially requiring higher doses of diabetes medication
  • Digitalis glycosides (heart medicines): Low potassium caused by dexamethasone can trigger dangerous heart rhythms
  • Cyclosporine: Both drugs become more active together; seizures have been reported
  • Estrogen-containing medicines (including birth control pills): May increase dexamethasone exposure and side effects
  • Live vaccines: Must not be given to patients on immunosuppressive doses of dexamethasone
  • Cholestyramine and ephedrine: Can reduce dexamethasone levels and efficacy

This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

📋Before taking it▾
  • Tell your prescriber if you have or have had diabetes — dexamethasone raises blood sugar
  • Tell your prescriber about any active or recent infections, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B, chickenpox, measles, or fungal infections
  • Tell your prescriber if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding — dexamethasone can harm an unborn baby and passes into breast milk
  • Females of reproductive potential should use effective contraception during treatment and for at least one month after the final dose
  • Tell your prescriber if you have heart failure, high blood pressure, or recently had a heart attack
  • Tell your prescriber if you have osteoporosis or risk factors for it — especially if you are an older adult or postmenopausal woman
  • Tell your prescriber if you have glaucoma or elevated eye pressure (particularly relevant for Ozurdex, which is contraindicated in certain glaucoma patients)
  • Tell your prescriber if you have a torn or ruptured posterior lens capsule in your eye (Ozurdex is contraindicated)
  • Safety and effectiveness of Hemady have not been established in children
  • Older adults are at higher risk for bone loss, fractures, and other corticosteroid-related side effects; bone density should be monitored regularly
  • Tell your prescriber if you have thyroid disease — thyroid status affects how quickly the body clears dexamethasone
  • Tell your prescriber if you have a suspected pheochromocytoma (a rare adrenal tumor) — corticosteroids can trigger a dangerous crisis
🚑If you take too much▾

There is no specific antidote for a dexamethasone overdose. Treatment focuses on supportive and symptomatic care. In the case of an acute oral overdose, a healthcare provider may consider measures such as gastric lavage (stomach pumping) or induced vomiting depending on the patient's condition. If you suspect an overdose, seek emergency medical care immediately.

📡Pharmacodynamics — effects in the body▾

After a single oral dose of dexamethasone, the drug begins suppressing the body's own cortisol production. Cortisol suppression peaks at around 12 hours after the dose. The body's cortisol levels then gradually recover, returning to near normal within about 3 days after a single dose. This means even a single dose can meaningfully affect the body's stress hormone system for several days.

🔬Pharmacokinetics — how your body processes it▾

When taken orally, dexamethasone is absorbed relatively quickly — peak blood levels are typically reached within about 1 hour, though this can range from 30 minutes to 4 hours. A high-fat meal does not significantly affect overall absorption but may slightly reduce the peak concentration. Dexamethasone is about 77% bound to proteins in the blood. It is broken down (metabolized) mainly by the liver enzyme CYP3A4, with less than 10% leaving the body unchanged in the urine. The half-life — the time for blood levels to drop by half — is approximately 4 hours, though its effects on the body last much longer than this figure suggests.

📦How to store it▾

Store and Dispense Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Dispense in a tight light-resistant, child-resistant container as defined in the USP/NF. Do not freeze.

📄 Written from Dexamethasone’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →

221

Supplements & herbs that interact with Dexamethasone

221 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Dexamethasone in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 4
  • Moderate · 182
  • Minor · 35
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major GRAPEFRUIT Major LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY Major ST. JOHN'S WORT Major ACACIA RIGIDULA Moderate ACTIVE HEXOSE CORRELATED COMPOUND (AHCC) Moderate ADRAFINIL Moderate AFRICAN WILD POTATO Moderate +213 more
Every supplement checked against Dexamethasone — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 4 major · 182 moderate · 35 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Dexamethasone against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

8

Nutrient depletion considerations

Dexamethasone has been associated with lower levels of 8 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.

Evidence & significance mix
  • Higher significance · 1
  • Moderate · 5
  • Unrated · 2
ZINC Insignificant Depletion CALCIUM Moderate Depletion CHROMIUM Moderate Depletion MAGNESIUM Moderate Depletion POTASSIUM Moderate Depletion VITAMIN D Moderate Depletion SELENIUM Insufficient Evidence STRONTIUM Insufficient Evidence
See the full Dexamethasone nutrient depletion report

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Dexamethasone — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

Why has my doctor prescribed dexamethasone — it seems to be used for so many different things? ▾
You're right that it treats a lot of conditions, and that can feel confusing. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid, which is a type of anti-inflammatory medicine. Whether it's calming an overactive immune reaction, managing an adrenal disorder, fighting cancer like multiple myeloma, or reducing swelling in your eye after surgery — the common thread is that it dials down inflammation and immune activity. Your specific reason for taking it will depend on your diagnosis and which form of the medicine you've been prescribed.
Can I just stop taking dexamethasone if I feel better or if I'm worried about side effects? ▾
Please don't stop it abruptly without talking to your doctor first, especially if you've been on it for more than a few days. Your body adjusts to having this medication on board, and stopping suddenly can cause a serious reaction called adrenal crisis — symptoms include severe weakness, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Your prescriber will help you taper the dose down gradually when it's time to stop. If you're concerned about side effects, call your doctor — but don't stop on your own.
I have diabetes. Is dexamethasone safe for me to take? ▾
You can take it, but you need to be extra careful about monitoring your blood sugar. Dexamethasone raises blood glucose, and for people with diabetes that can be a real challenge. Your prescriber and pharmacist should know about your diabetes so they can adjust your diabetes medication if needed and make sure your sugar levels are checked regularly while you're on dexamethasone.
Are there medicines I need to avoid while taking dexamethasone? ▾
Yes, a few important ones. Medicines that strongly affect a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 — including some antifungals like itraconazole — can cause dexamethasone to build up in your body to much higher levels than intended. Other drugs that affect the same enzyme can make dexamethasone less effective. Anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin increase your risk of stomach bleeding when combined with dexamethasone. And if you're on blood thinners, your clotting needs to be monitored closely. Make sure your pharmacist has a complete list of everything you take — including supplements.
I'm pregnant. Is it safe to take dexamethasone? ▾
Dexamethasone does cross the placenta and has been linked to risks including cleft palate, low birth weight, and blood sugar problems in newborns. That doesn't mean it can never be used in pregnancy — sometimes the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk — but this is a decision your doctor needs to make with you carefully. If you're of childbearing age and taking dexamethasone, use reliable contraception and call your doctor right away if you think you might be pregnant.
What side effects should I just watch for versus which ones mean I need to call my doctor right away? ▾
Some effects — like a bit of trouble sleeping, increased appetite, or mild mood changes — are common and worth mentioning at your next visit. But call your doctor right away if you notice signs of infection (fever, chills, unusual fatigue), severe stomach pain, sudden vision changes, significant swelling in your legs or shortness of breath (possible blood clot), severe mood changes or depressive thoughts, or if your blood sugar readings are running much higher than usual. These are signs that need prompt medical attention, not a 'wait and see.'
Is Dexamethasone available over the counter? ▾
Both — Dexamethasone is sold both over the counter and by prescription, according to its FDA labeling. Lower strengths or certain forms are often available without a prescription, while higher strengths or specialized forms still require one. Ask your pharmacist which version is right for you.
When was Dexamethasone first available? ▾
Dexamethasone has been available in the United States since at least 1958, based on FDA approval history (Drugs@FDA) and product marketing records.
Who makes Dexamethasone? ▾
Dexamethasone is supplied by 113 manufacturers listed in the FDA NDC Directory, including Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., A-S Medication Solutions, Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC.

💬 Answers drafted from Dexamethasone’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →

🧰 Keep exploring

📊Dexamethasone supplement interactions221 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerDexamethasone vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Dexamethasone NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication

💊 How Dexamethasone comes

Dexamethasone is available in 6 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Injection

In the eye · Into a joint · Into a muscle · Into a vein · Intralesional · Soft Tissue
Brands Dexycu Dmt Suik
Available strengths 4 strengths
517 mcg/0.005 mL 4 mg/mL 10 mg/mL 100 mg/10 mL
216 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral solution

By mouth
Brands Dexamethasone Intensol
Available strengths 3 strengths
0.5 mg/5 mL 1 mg/10 mL 1 mg/mL
19 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Eye drops

In the eye · Intracanalicular
Brands Dextenza Maxidex Ozurdex
Available strengths 3 strengths
0.4 mg 0.7 mg 1 mg/mL
11 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Insert or device

By mouth
Available strengths 2 strengths
0.4 mg 0.7 mg
2 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Topical cream, ointment or gel

On the skin
Available strengths 1 strength
0.075 g/100 g
1 FDA-listed product record ⓘ

📊 Dexamethasone across the U.S. market

How Dexamethasone appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

6
Dose forms ⓘ
113
Manufacturers
19
Brand names
567
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1958
First marketed ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (42) · Kit (2) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.7%
A-S Medication Solutions6%
Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC5%
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC5%
Remedyrepack Inc.5%
Mylan Institutional LLC4%
Other makers68%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

📈 How widely Dexamethasone is used

A general measure of how commonly Dexamethasone is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Dexamethasone is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

2,033,076
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$74.7M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Dexamethasone prescribed? Of the 1,596 medications we measure, Dexamethasone ranks #110 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 93% of them.

Where Dexamethasone ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #110 of 1,596
#105 Lidocaine Transdermal... 2,146,915 Rx #106 Baclofen 2,144,009 Rx #107 Tamsulosin 2,108,678 Rx #108 Lorazepam 2,080,821 Rx #109 Pregabalin 2,058,308 Rx #110 Dexamethasone 2,033,076 Rx #111 Prazosin 2,024,285 Rx #112 Potassium 1,949,817 Rx #113 Nicotine 1,920,723 Rx #114 Dulaglutide Injection 1,895,289 Rx #115 Valacyclovir 1,885,604 Rx

Utilization by Dexamethasone product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 4 mg oral tablet is the most-dispensed Dexamethasone product — about 21% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

dexamethasone 4 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed

421,958 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 21% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $5.3M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $13 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 13 of 166 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197582

dexamethasone phosphate 10 MG/ML Injectable Solution

395,350 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 19% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $13.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $33 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 7 of 36 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309696

1 ML dexamethasone phosphate 4 MG/ML Injection

378,555 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 19% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $19.6M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $52 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 35 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1812194

dexamethasone phosphate 4 MG/ML Injectable Solution

293,065 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 14% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $12M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $41 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 13 of 66 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1116927

1 ML dexamethasone phosphate 10 MG/ML Injection

219,303 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 11% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $11.2M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $51 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 7 of 34 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1812079

dexamethasone 0.1 MG/ML Oral Solution

66,926 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 3% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $994,023 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $15 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 4 of 13 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309686

dexamethasone 6 MG Oral Tablet

62,410 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 3% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $551,538 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $8.84 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 11 of 22 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197583

dexamethasone 2 MG Oral Tablet

60,528 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 3% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $716,252 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $12 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 10 of 31 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197581

dexamethasone 1 MG Oral Tablet

60,440 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 3% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $460,635 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $7.62 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 4 of 10 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197579

dexamethasone phosphate 1 MG/ML Ophthalmic Solution

24,795 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $1.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $46 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 226343

dexamethasone 1 MG/ML Oral Solution

12,678 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $233,946 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $18 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 1 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309684

dexamethasone 0.75 MG Oral Tablet

10,146 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $80,769 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $7.96 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 6 of 40 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 343033

dexamethasone 0.5 MG Oral Tablet

9,451 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $69,884 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $7.39 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 6 of 10 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197577

dexamethasone 0.7 MG Drug Implant

5,914 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $8.1M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $1,362 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 854177

dexamethasone 0.4 MG Drug Implant

3,142 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $509,001 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $162 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 7 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2108015

1 ML dexamethasone phosphate 4 MG/ML Prefilled Syringe

2,493 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $324,778 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $130 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1812095

dexamethasone 1 MG/ML Ophthalmic Suspension

2,431 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $207,437 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $85 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 309692

dexamethasone 1.5 MG Oral Tablet

2,215 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $20,411 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $9.21 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 5 of 38 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 197580

1 ML dexamethasone phosphate 10 MG/ML Prefilled Syringe

1,265 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $5,101 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $4.03 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 2 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2099700

dexamethasone 20 MG Oral Tablet

11 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Dexamethasone prescriptions shown $194 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $18 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 4 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2261802

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Dexamethasone, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 106 of 529 listed Dexamethasone NDCs with Medicaid activity.

🔍 Compare Dexamethasone products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Dexamethasone — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Showing 200 of 567 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 567 Dexamethasone NDCs →

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Dexamethasone RxCUI 3264 11 dose forms · 29 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Drug Implant RxCUI 854176 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.4 MG RxCUI 2108015 0.7 MG RxCUI 854177
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Injectable Solution RxCUI 371725 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) phosphate 10 MG/ML RxCUI 309696 phosphate 4 MG/ML RxCUI 1116927 sodium phosphate 0.4 MG/ML RxCUI 1249712 sodium phosphate 4 MG/ML RxCUI 1049400 2 MG/ML RxCUI 435681 3 MG/ML RxCUI 880649
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Injectable Suspension RxCUI 371721 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) acetate 8 MG/ML RxCUI 1374372
  5. Dose form (SCDF) Ophthalmic Solution RxCUI 377418 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) phosphate 1 MG/ML RxCUI 226343
  6. Dose form (SCDF) Ophthalmic Suspension RxCUI 371723 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 1 MG/ML RxCUI 309692
  7. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 371728 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.1 MG/ML RxCUI 309686 1 MG/ML RxCUI 309684
  8. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 371729 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.25 MG RxCUI 197576 0.5 MG RxCUI 197577 0.75 MG RxCUI 343033 1 MG RxCUI 197579 1.5 MG RxCUI 197580 2 MG RxCUI 197581 4 MG RxCUI 197582 6 MG RxCUI 197583 20 MG RxCUI 2261802
  10. Dose form (SCDF) Topical Ointment RxCUI 2691148 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 0.00075 MG/MG RxCUI 2691149
  11. Dose form (SCDF) Topical Solution RxCUI 393151 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 1 MG/ML RxCUI 388755

Look up RxCUI 3264 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

🏷️ Sold under these brand names

Decadron Dexamethasone Intensol Dexpak Taperpak Dexium Dexasone Dexycu Maxidex Dextenza Hemady Dexlyt Ozurdex TaperDex 6-day TaperDex 12-day Dmt Suik TaperDex 7-day Cortaren Corticosteroid/Anti-Inflammatory System

🏭 Manufacturers & labelers

Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. 32 A-S Medication Solutions 25 Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC 23 Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC 22 Remedyrepack Inc. 22 Mylan Institutional LLC 16 Bryant Ranch Prepack 14 HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst 14 Apotex Corp. 14 ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 13 Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC 12 Somerset Therapeutics, LLC 12 NorthStar Rx LLC 12 Sportpharm LLC 11 Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc. 11 Cardinal Health 107, LLC 11 PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 11 Eugia US LLC 10 Direct_Rx 9 Amneal Pharmaceuticals NY LLC 9 Henry Schein, Inc. 9 Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. 9 Proficient Rx LP 9 Asclemed USA, Inc. 8

…and 16 more on the FDA NDC directory.

RxNorm drug class

Dexamethasone belongs to the Corticosteroid class.

Pharmacologic class Corticosteroid
Drug family (ATC) Corticosteroids for local oral treatment, Corticosteroids, Corticosteroids, moderately potent (group II)
How it works Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

🔬 Where this comes from

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jan 9, 2026
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Dexamethasone.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Dexamethasone after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
96
NDC products indexed
567
Distinct labelers/manufacturers represented
113
Linked representative label ⓘ
Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals LLC.
Linked label effective
Jan 9, 2026
Composite sections available
22
Linked SPL Set ID
6b9cf32c-6d60-4853-bbfd-2304ffc2c129
Linked SPL Document ID
d3488fd8-88b2-4f73-9fa4-fbcf14ddd972
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How we combine label and product data

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 96 FDA-filed SPL label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.

For canonical ingredient pages, bounded product-attributed indication and administration excerpts may be added to the AI evidence, and the generator is instructed to preserve available product, brand, route, and form qualifiers instead of treating one label as universal. Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals LLC. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.

This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.