What is Baycadron?

Dexamethasone is in a class of drugs called steroids. Dexamethasone prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Dexamethasone is used to treat many different conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders.

Dexamethasone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Baycadron?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to dexamethasone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Before taking dexamethasone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, and about all other medicines you are using. There are many other diseases that can be affected by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.

Your steroid medication needs may change if you have any unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you during treatment.

Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection or worsening an infection you already have or have recently had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chicken pox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal in people who are using steroid medication.

Do not receive a “live” vaccine while you are taking dexamethasone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.

Do not stop using dexamethasone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Baycadron?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to dexamethasone, or if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Steroid medication can weaken your immune system, making it easier for you to get an infection. Steroids can also worsen an infection you already have, or reactivate an infection you recently had. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take dexamethasone:

liver disease (such as cirrhosis)
kidney disease
a thyroid disorder
diabetes
a history of malaria
tuberculosis
osteoporosis
a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis
glaucoma or cataracts
herpes infection of the eyes
stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis
depression or mental illness
congestive heart failure; or
high blood pressure

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether dexamethasone is harmful to an unborn baby. Before you take this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Dexamethasone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Steroids can affect growth in children. Talk with your doctor if you think your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medication.

Baycadron Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Baycadron?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

problems with your vision
swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath
severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizure (convulsions)
bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood
pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate)
low potassium (confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling); or
dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure)

Less serious side effects may include:

sleep problems (insomnia), mood changes
acne, dry skin, thinning skin, bruising or discoloration
slow wound healing
increased sweating
headache, dizziness, spinning sensation
nausea, stomach pain, bloating
muscle weakness; or
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist)

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Baycadron Interactions

What other drugs affect Baycadron?

There are many other medicines that can interact with steroids. Below is only a partial list of these medicines:

aspirin (taken on a daily basis or at high doses)
a diuretic (water pill)
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth
ketoconazole (Nizoral)
rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane); or
seizure medications such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with dexamethasone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Baycadron?

Do not receive a “live” vaccine while you are being treated with dexamethasone. Vaccines may not work as well while you are taking a steroid.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking dexamethasone.

Baycadron Dosage

How should I take Baycadron?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Your steroid medication needs may change if you have unusual stress such as a serious illness, fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor about any such situation that affects you.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using dexamethasone.

Do not stop using dexamethasone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking a steroid, in case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you should know that you are taking steroid medication.

Store dexamethasone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Baycadron?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have received too much of this medicine.

A single large dose of dexamethasone is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms. However, long-term use of high steroid doses can lead to symptoms such as thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual problems, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

What happens if I miss a dose of Baycadron?

If you miss a dose or forget to take your medicine, contact your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Edited from everydayhealth.com

Baycadron