Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate 1 mg/mL Solution/ Drops
Other active recalls for Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate (different manufacturers) — 2 · tap to view
🆔 Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Corticosteroid class.
Where does this data come from?
🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
Where does this data come from?
🩺 Clinical
- 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...
- Why has my doctor prescribed dexamethasone — it seems to be used for so many different things?
- 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,...
- Can I just stop taking dexamethasone if I feel better or if I'm worried about side effects?
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Dexamethasone may be associated with lower levels of 8 nutrients — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.
Where does this data come from?
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
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Benzalkonium chloride is a chemical compound that works as a preservative and antimicrobial agent in medications. It prevents bacterial and fungal growth in liquid formulations to keep the product safe during storage and use.
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Creatinine is a chemical compound naturally found in muscle tissue. In medications, it may be used as a reference standard or marker to help measure kidney function or validate analytical testing procedures.
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Edetate disodium is a chemical compound that binds and removes certain metal ions. In medicines, it acts as a preservative and stabilizer by preventing metals like calcium from interfering with the product's shelf life and consistency.
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A strong acid used to adjust and maintain the proper pH level in liquid medicines, ensuring stability and preventing breakdown of active ingredients.
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A naturally-derived alcohol used as a preservative and fragrance in medicines. It helps prevent bacterial and fungal growth, extending the product's shelf life.
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Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic emulsifier derived from sorbitol and oleic acid. It helps mix oil and water-based ingredients together in medications and improves how the product disperses in the body.
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Sodium bisulfite is a chemical salt used as a preservative and antioxidant in medicines. It prevents discoloration and degradation of active ingredients, especially in liquid formulations and injectables.
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Sodium borate is an inorganic salt compound used in medicines as a buffer to help maintain a stable pH level, and sometimes as a mild preservative or cleansing agent in topical formulations.
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Sodium citrate is a salt derived from citric acid. It works as a buffer to maintain the medicine's pH level and may also help improve taste or act as a preservative in the formulation.
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Water is a liquid solvent that dissolves and mixes ingredients together in liquid medicines, syrups, and injections. It helps distribute the active drug evenly throughout the product.
10 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Can inactive ingredients matter?
💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per mL | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | $8.322 | $41.61 / 5 ml |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | $8.30 | $41.49 / 5 ml |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $8.56 | $42.79 / 5 ml |
Where does this data come from?
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate 1 mg/mLthis 24208-0720-02 | Bausch | 1 bottle | $8.322 | — | Availability likely | — |
Where does this data come from?
⏳ Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
🗺️ Medicaid utilization & spend
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
🔬 Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Top reported reactions
Age at onset
Reporter sex
Serious outcomes
Where does this data come from?
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24208-0720-02 You're viewing this | 1 BOTTLE, DROPPER in 1 CARTON (24208-720-02) / 5 mL in 1 BOTTLE, DROPPER | 1996-07-26 | Active |
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE For the treatment of the following conditions: Ophthalmic: Steroid responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and anterior segment of the globe, such as allergic conjunctivitis, acne rosacea, superficial punctate keratitis, herpes zoster keratitis, iritis, cyclitis, selected infective conjunctivitis when the inherent hazard of steroid use is accepted to obtain an advisable diminution in edema and inflammation; corneal injury from chemical or thermal burns, or penetration of foreign bodies.
Otic: Steroid responsive inflammatory conditions of the external auditory meatus, such as allergic otitis externa, selected purulent and nonpurulent infective otitis externa when the hazard of steroid use is accepted to obtain an advisable diminution in edema and inflammation.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The duration of treatment will vary with the type of lesion and may extend from a few days to several weeks, according to therapeutic response. Relapses, more common in chronic active lesions than in self-limited conditions, usually respond to treatment. Eye: Instill one or two drops of solution into the conjunctival sac every hour during the day and every two hours during the night as initial therapy.
When a favorable response is observed, reduce dosage to one drop every four hours. Later, further reduction in dosage to one drop three or four times daily may suffice to control symptoms. Ear: Clean the aural canal thoroughly and sponge dry.
Instill the solution directly into the aural canal. A suggested initial dosage is three or four drops two or three times a day. When a favorable response is obtained, reduce dosage gradually and eventually discontinue.
If preferred, the aural canal may be packed with a gauze wick saturated with solution. Keep the wick moist with the preparation and remove from the ear after 12 to 24 hours. Treatment may be repeated as often as necessary at the discretion of the physician.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis). Acute infectious stages of vaccinia, varicella, and many other viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva. Mycobacterial infection of the eye. Fungal diseases of ocular or auricular structures. Hypersensitivity to any component of this product, including sulfites (see WARNINGS ). Perforation of a drum membrane.
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS Prolonged use may result in ocular hypertension and/or glaucoma, with damage to the optic nerve, defects in visual acuity and fields of vision, and posterior subcapsular cataract formation. Prolonged use may suppress the host response and thus increase the hazard of secondary ocular infections. In those diseases causing thinning of the cornea or sclera, perforations have been known to occur with the use of topical corticosteroids.
In acute purulent conditions of the eye or ear, corticosteroids may mask infection or enhance existing infection. If these products are used for 10 days or longer, intraocular pressure should be routinely monitored even though it may be difficult in children and uncooperative patients. Employment of corticosteroid medication in the treatment of herpes simplex other than epithelial herpes simplex keratitis, in which it is contraindicated, requires great caution; periodic slit-lamp microscopy is essential.
This product contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that may cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible people. The overall prevalence of sulfite sensitivity in the general population is unknown and probably low. Sulfite sensitivity is seen more frequently in asthmatic than in nonasthmatic people.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS Glaucoma with optic nerve damage, visual acuity and field defects, posterior subcapsular cataract formation, secondary ocular infection from pathogens including herpes simplex, perforation of the globe. Rarely, filtering blebs have been reported when topical steroids have been used following cataract surgery. Rarely, stinging or burning may occur.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch & Lomb Incorporated at 1-800-553-5340 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
🧓 Geriatric Use ▾
Geriatric Use No overall differences in safety and effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Dexamethasone sodium phosphate suppresses the inflammatory response to a variety of agents and it probably delays or slows healing. No generally accepted explanation of these steroid properties has been advanced.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic solution USP, 0.1% is supplied in a plastic squeeze bottle with a white cap and a controlled drop tip in the following size: 5 mL fill in a 10 mL bottle - NDC 24208-720-02 Storage: Store between 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). Keep out of reach of children. Distributed by: Bausch & Lomb Americas Inc.
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 USA Manufactured by: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Tampa, FL 33637 USA © 2022 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates Revised: August 2022 9100205 (Folded) 9100305 (Flat) donotuse
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic solution is a clear, colorless to pale yellow topical steroid solution for ophthalmic or otic administration. Glucocorticoids are adrenocortical steroids, both naturally occurring and synthetic. Dexamethasone is a synthetic analog of naturally occurring glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone and cortisone).
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate is a water soluble, inorganic ester of dexamethasone. It is approximately three thousand times more soluble in water at 25°C than hydrocortisone. Chemical Name: 9-fluoro-11β, 17-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-21-[phosphonooxy]pregna-1,4-diene-3, 20-dione disodium salt.
Each mL contains: Active: dexamethasone sodium phosphate [equivalent to 1 mg (0.1%) dexamethasone phosphate]. Inactives: sodium citrate, sodium borate, creatinine, polysorbate 80, edetate disodium dihydrate, purified water. Hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust pH (6.6-7.8).
Preservatives: sodium bisulfite 0.1%, phenylethyl alcohol 0.25%, benzalkonium chloride 0.02%. chemicalinfo
💬 Information for Patients ▾
Information for Patients Patients should be instructed to avoid allowing the tip of the dispensing container to contact the eye or surrounding structures. Patients should also be instructed that ocular solutions, if handled improperly, can become contaminated by common bacteria known to cause ocular infections. Serious damage to the eye and subsequent loss of vision may result from using contaminated solutions (see PRECAUTIONS, General ).
Patients should also be advised that if they develop an intercurrent ocular condition (e.g., trauma, ocular surgery or infection), they should immediately seek their physician’s advice concerning the continued use of the present multidose container. One of the preservatives in dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic solution, benzalkonium chloride, may be absorbed by soft contact lenses. Patients wearing soft contact lenses should be instructed to wait at least 15 minutes after instilling dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic solution before they insert their lenses.