Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL Elixir, 237 mL
🆔 Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Corticosteroid class.
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🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
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🩺 Clinical
Dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, is similar to a natural hormone produced by your adrenal glands. It often is used to replace this chemical when your body does not make enough of it. It relieves inflammation (swelling, heat, redness, and pain) and is used to treat certain forms of arthritis; skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid, and intestinal disorders (e.g., colitis); severe allergies; and asthma. Dexamethasone is also used to treat certain types of cancer. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- 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
Some supplements/herbs that may interact with Dexamethasone — tap one for details:
Dexamethasone may be associated with lower levels of 8 nutrients — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.
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Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
💊 What it looks like
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🧪 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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UNII 3K9958V90M
A liquid solvent derived from fermentation or chemical synthesis. In medicines, alcohol dissolves active ingredients, helps preserve the product, and improves how the body absorbs certain drugs.
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UNII XF417D3PSL
Anhydrous citric acid is a sour, crystalline powder derived from citric acid with water removed. In medicines, it acts as a buffer to control pH, adds tartness to improve taste, and helps tablets disintegrate.
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UNII 8SKN0B0MIM
Benzoic acid is a naturally occurring organic acid used as a preservative in medicines and foods. It helps prevent bacterial and fungal growth to extend shelf life and maintain product stability.
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UNII WZB9127XOA
A synthetic red dye used to color medications and make them easier to identify. It serves as a colorant in tablets, capsules, and liquid formulations.
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UNII 6DC9Q167V3
Propylene glycol is a clear liquid derived from petroleum or vegetable sources. It acts as a solvent, humectant, and preservative in medicines, helping dissolve active ingredients and maintain product stability.
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UNII C151H8M554
A natural sugar derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. It's used as a sweetener, filler, and binder to improve taste, add bulk, and help hold tablet or capsule ingredients together.
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UNII B22547B95K
A salt derived from citric acid that helps maintain the proper acid-base balance in the medicine. It's used as a buffer to keep the product stable and at the right pH level.
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UNII 059QF0KO0R
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.
8 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
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💲 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 | $0.101 | $24.01 / 237 ml |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $0.0986 | $23.37 / 237 ml |
| Medicare Part B allowsASP · J8540 | $0.026 / J8540 unit | — |
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🧾 Billing & reimbursement
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🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mLthis 62135-0114-37 | Chartwell | 237 ml | $0.101 | AA | Availability likely | — |
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL 64980-0509-24 | Rising | 237 ml | $0.101 | AA | Availability likely | — |
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL 70954-0872-10 | ANI | 1 bottle | $0.101 | AA | Availability likely | — |
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL 85742-0004-03 | Kanchan | 237 ml | $0.101 | AA | Availability likely | — |
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL 00054-3177-57 | Hikma | 240 ml | $0.165 | — | Availability likely | +63% |
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL 10135-0795-71 | Marlex | 237 ml | — | AA | FDA listed | — |
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL 72162-2600-02 | Bryant | 237 ml | — | AA | FDA listed | — |
| Dexamethasone .5 mg/5mL 81033-0010-24 | Kesin | 20 cups | — | AA | FDA listed | — |
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?
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
🔬 Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Top reported reactions
Age at onset
Reporter sex
Serious outcomes
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📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62135-0114-37 You're viewing this | 237 mL in 1 BOTTLE (62135-114-37) | 2023-01-13 | Active |
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Allergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment: Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis Bronchial asthma Contact dermatitis Atopic dermatitis Serum sickness Drug hypersensitivity reactions Collagen Diseases During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of: Systemic lupus erythematosus Acute rheumatic carditis Dermatologic Diseases Pemphigus Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis Severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) Exfoliative dermatitis Mycosis fungoides Severe psoriasis Severe seborrheic dermatitis Edematous States To induce a diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus Endocrine Disorders Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the first choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance).
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Nonsuppurative thyroiditis Hypercalcemia associated with cancer Gastrointestinal Diseases To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in: Ulcerative colitis Regional enteritis Hematologic Disorders Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults Secondary thrombocytopenia in adults Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia Erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia) Congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia Miscellaneous Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement Neoplastic Diseases For palliative management of: Leukemia and lymphomas in adults Acute leukemia of childhood Ophthalmic Diseases Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye and its adnexa, such as: Allergic conjunctivitis Keratitis Allergic corneal marginal ulcers Herpes zoster ophthalmicus Iritis and iridocyclitis Chorioretinitis Anterior segment inflammation Diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis Optic neuritis Sympathetic ophthalmia Respiratory Diseases Symptomatic sarcoidosis Loeffler's syndrome not manageable by other means Berylliosis Fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy Aspiration pneumonitis Rheumatic Disorders As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in: Psoriatic arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy) Ankylosing spondylitis Acute and subacute bursitis Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis Acute gouty arthritis Post-traumatic osteoarthritis Synovitis of osteoarthritis Epicondylitis
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION For oral administration: DOSAGE REQUIREMENTS ARE VARIABLE AND MUST BE INDIVIDUALIZED ON THE BASIS OF THE DISEASE AND THE RESPONSE OF THE PATIENT. The initial dosage varies from 0.75 to 9 mg a day depending on the disease being treated. In less severe diseases doses lower than 0.75 mg may suffice, while in severe diseases doses higher than 9 mg may be required.
The initial dosage should be maintained or adjusted until the patient's response is satisfactory. If satisfactory clinical response does not occur after a reasonable period of time, discontinue dexamethasone elixir and transfer the patient to other therapy. After a favorable initial response, the proper maintenance dosage should be determined by decreasing the initial dosage in small amounts to the lowest dosage that maintains an adequate clinical response.
Patients should be observed closely for signs that might require dosage adjustment, including changes in clinical status resulting from remissions or exacerbations of the disease, individual drug responsiveness, and the effect of stress (e.g., surgery, infection, trauma). During stress it may be necessary to increase dosage temporarily. If the drug is to be stopped after more than a few days of treatment, it usually should be withdrawn gradually.
The following milligram equivalents facilitate changing to dexamethasone elixir from other glucocorticoids: DEXAMETHASONE ELIXIR METHYLPREDNISOLONE AND TRIAMCINOLONE PREDNISOLONE AND PREDNISONE HYDROCORTISONE CORTISONE 0.75 mg = 4 mg = 5 mg = 20 mg = 25 mg Dexamethasone suppression tests Tests for Cushing's syndrome. Give 1 mg of dexamethasone orally at 11:00 p.m. Blood is drawn for plasma cortisol determination at 8:00 a.m. the following morning.
For greater accuracy, give 0.5 mg of dexamethasone orally every 6 hours for 48 hours. Twenty-four hour urine collections are made for determination of 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion. Test to distinguish Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary ACTH excess from Cushing's syndrome due to other causes.
Give 2 mg of dexamethasone orally every 6 hours for 48 hours. Twenty-four hour urine collections are made for determination of 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Contraindicated in patients with known systemic fungal infections (See WARNINGS : Infections: Fungal Infections ) and patients with a known sensitivity to this drug.
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS In patients on corticosteroid therapy subjected to unusual stress, increased dosage of rapidly acting corticosteroids before, during, and after the stressful situation is indicated. Immunosuppression and Increased Risk of Infection Corticosteroids, including dexamethasone elixir, suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection with any pathogen, including viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or helminthic pathogens. Corticosteroids can: Reduce resistance to new infections Exacerbate existing infections Increase the risk of disseminated infections Increase the risk of reactivation or exacerbation of latent infections Mask some signs of infection Corticosteroid-associated infections can be mild but can be severe and at times fatal.
The rate of infectious complications increases with increasing corticosteroid dosages. Monitor for the development of infection and consider dexamethasone elixir withdrawal or dosage reduction as needed. Tuberculosis If dexamethasone elixir is used to treat a condition in patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity, reactivation of tuberculosis may occur.
Closely monitor such patients for reactivation. During prolonged dexamethasone elixir therapy, patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity should receive chemoprophylaxis. Varicella Zoster and Measles Viral Infections Varicella and measles can have a serious or even fatal course in non-immune patients taking corticosteroids, including dexamethasone elixir.
In corticosteroid-treated patients who have not had these diseases or are non-immune, particular care should be taken to avoid exposure to varicella and measles: If a dexamethasone elixir-treated patient is exposed to varicella, prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin may be indicated. If varicella develops, treatment with antiviral agents may be considered. If a dexamethasone elixir-treated patient is exposed to measles, prophylaxis with immunoglobulin may be indicated.
Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation Hepatitis B virus reactivation can occur in patients who are hepatitis B carriers treated with immunosuppressive dosages of corticosteroids, including dexamethasone elixir. Reactivation can also occur infrequently in corticosteroid-treated patients who appear to have resolved hepatitis B infection. Screen patients for hepatitis B infection before initiating immunosuppressive (e.g., prolonged) treatment with dexamethasone elixir.
For patients who show evidence of hepatitis B infection, recommend-consultation with physicians with expertise in managing hepatitis B regarding monitoring and consideration for hepatitis B antiviral therapy. Fungal Infections Corticosteroids, including dexamethasone elixir, may exacerbate systemic fungal infections; therefore, avoid dexamethasone elixir use in the presence of such infections unless dexamethasone elixir is needed to control drug reactions. For patients on chronic dexamethasone elixir therapy who develop systemic fungal infections, dexamethasone elixir withdrawal or dosage reduction is recommended.
Amebiasis Corticosteroids, including dexamethasone elixir, may activate latent amebiasis. Therefore, it is recommended that latent amebiasis or active amebiasis be ruled out before initiating dexamethasone elixir in patients who have spent time in the tropics or patients with unexplained diarrhea. Strongyloides Infestation Corticosteroids, including dexamethasone elixir, should be used with great care in patients with known or suspected Strongyloides (threadworm) infestation.
In such patients, corticosteroid-induced immunosuppression may lead to Strongyloides hyperinfection and dissemination with widespread larval migration, often accompanied by severe enterocolitis and potentially fatal gram-negative septicemia. Cerebral Malaria Avoid corticosteroids, including dexamethasone elixir, in patients with cerebral malaria. Kaposi’s Sarcoma Kaposi’s sarcoma has been reported to occur in patients receiving corti…
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS Fluid and Electrolyte Disturbances: Sodium retention Fluid retention Congestive heart failure in susceptible patients Potassium loss Hypokalemic alkalosis Hypertension Musculoskeletal: Muscle weakness Steroid myopathy Loss of muscle mass Osteoporosis Vertebral compression fractures Aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads Pathologic fracture of long bones Tendon rupture Gastrointestinal: Peptic ulcer with possible perforation and hemorrhage Perforation of the small and large bowel, particularly in patients with inflammatory bowel disease Pancreatitis Abdominal distention Ulcerative esophagitis Dermatologic: Impaired wound healing Thin fragile skin Petechiae and ecchymoses Erythema Increased sweating May suppress reactions to skin tests Other cutaneous reactions, such as allergic dermatitis, urticaria, angioneurotic edema Neurologic: Convulsions Increased intracranial pressure with papilledema (pseudotumor cerebri) usually after treatment Vertigo Headache Psychic Disturbances Endocrine: Menstrual irregularities Development of cushingoid state Suppression of growth in children Secondary adrenocortical and pituitary unresponsiveness, particularly in times 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 Ophthalmic: Posterior subcapsular cataracts Increased intraocular pressure Glaucoma Exophthalmos Metabolic: Negative nitrogen balance due to protein catabolism Cardiovascular: Myocardial rupture following recent myocardial infarction (See WARNINGS ) Other: Hypersensitivity Thromboembolism Weight gain Increased appetite Nausea Malaise Hiccups
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE Reports of acute toxicity and/or death following overdosage of glucocorticoids are rare. In the event of overdosage, no specific antidote is available; treatment is supportive and symptomatic. The oral LD 50 of dexamethasone in female mice was 6.5 g/kg.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Naturally occurring glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone and cortisone), which also have salt-retaining properties, are used as replacement therapy in adrenocortical deficiency states. Their synthetic analogs, including dexamethasone, are primarily used for their potent anti-inflammatory effects in disorders of many organ systems. Glucocorticoids cause profound and varied metabolic effects.
In addition, they modify the body's immune responses to diverse stimuli. At equipotent anti-inflammatory doses, dexamethasone almost completely lacks the sodium-retaining property of hydrocortisone and closely related derivatives of hydrocortisone.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Dexamethasone Elixir, USP, 0.5 mg/5 mL is supplied as a red colored, cherry-flavored liquid in the following size: Bottles of 8 fl oz (237 mL) NDC 62135-114-37 STORAGE Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. KEEP TIGHTLY CLOSED AVOID FREEZING Dispense in a tight container as defined in the USP. Manufactured for: Chartwell RX, LLC. Congers, NY 10920 L71175 Rev 02/2024
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Each red colored, cherry flavored, 5 mL (teaspoonful) contains: Dexamethasone, USP ……….. 0.5 mg Also contains: Benzoic Acid, USP …..…… 0.1% w/v (as preservative) Ethyl Alcohol ……………………. 5.1% v/v Inactive Ingredients: citric acid, sodium citrate dihydrate, sucrose, ethyl alcohol, benzoic acid, propylene glycol, wild cherry flavor, FD&C Red #40, and purified water.
Dexamethasone, a synthetic adrenocortical steroid, is a white to practically white, odorless, crystalline powder. It is stable in air. It is practically insoluble in water.
The molecular weight is 392.47. It is designated chemically as 9-fluoro-11β,17,21-trihydroxy-16α-methylpregna-1, 4-diene-3,20-dione. The molecular formula is C 22 H 29 FO 5 and the structural formula is: Dexamethasone-chemical-structure