Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate

Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate

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Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Serious Neurologic Adverse Reactions with Epidural Administration

Serious neurologic events, some resulting in death, have been reported with epidural injection of corticosteroids. Specific events reported include, but are not limited to, spinal cord infarction, paraplegia, quadriplegia, cortical blindness, and stroke. These serious neurologic events have been reported with and without use of fluoroscopy.  The safety and effectiveness of epidural administration of corticosteroids has not been established, and corticosteroids are not approved for this use.

Because rare instances of anaphylactoid reactions have occurred in patients receiving parenteral corticosteroid therapy, appropriate precautionary measures should be taken prior to administration, especially when the patient has a history of allergy to any drug. Anaphylactoid and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported for dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection. (See ADVERSE REACTIONS).

Corticosteroids may exacerbate systemic fungal infections and, therefore, should not be used in the presence of such infections unless they are needed to control drug reactions due to amphotericin B. Moreover, there have been cases reported in which concomitant use of amphotericin B and hydrocortisone was followed by cardiac enlargement and congestive failure.

In patients on corticosteroid therapy subjected to any unusual stress, increased dosage of rapidly acting corticosteroids before, during, and after the stressful situation is indicated.

Drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may result from too rapid withdrawal of corticosteroids and may be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. This type of relative insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy; therefore, in any situation of stress occurring during that period, hormone therapy should be reinstituted. If the patient is receiving steroids already, dosage may have to be increased. Since mineralocorticoid secretion may be impaired, salt and/or a mineralocorticoid should be administered concurrently.

Corticosteroids may mask some signs of infection, and new infections may appear during their use. There may be decreased resistance and inability to localize infection when corticosteroids are used. Moreover, corticosteroids may affect the nitroblue-tetrazolium test for bacterial infection and produce false negative results.

In cerebral malaria, a double-blind trial has shown that the use of corticosteroids is associated with prolongation of coma and a higher incidence of pneumonia and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Corticosteroids may activate latent amebiasis. Therefore, it is recommended that latent or active amebiasis be ruled out before initiating corticosteroid therapy in any patient who has spent time in the tropics or in any patient with unexplained diarrhea.

Prolonged use of corticosteroids may produce posterior subcapsular cataracts, glaucoma with possible damage to the optic nerves, and may enhance the establishment of secondary ocular infections due to fungi or viruses.

Average and large doses of cortisone or hydrocortisone can cause elevation of blood pressure, salt and water retention, and increased excretion of potassium. These effects are less likely to occur with the synthetic derivatives except when used in large doses. Dietary salt restriction and potassium supplementation may be necessary. All corticosteroids increase calcium excretion.

Administration of live virus vaccines, including smallpox, is contraindicated in individuals receiving immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids. If inactivated viral or bacterial vaccines are administered to individuals receiving immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids, the expected serum antibody response may not be obtained. However, immunization procedures may be undertaken in patients who are receiving corticosteroids as replacement therapy, e.g., for Addison's disease.

Patients who are on drugs which suppress the immune system are more susceptible to infections than healthy individuals. Chickenpox and measles, for example, can have a more serious or even fatal course in non-immune children or adults on corticosteroids. In such children or adults who have not had these diseases, particular care should be taken to avoid exposure. The risk of developing a disseminated infection varies among individuals and can be related to the dose, route and duration of corticosteroid administration as well as to the underlying disease. If exposed to chickenpox, prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) may be indicated. If chickenpox develops, treatment with antiviral agents may be considered. If exposed to measles, prophylaxis with immune globulin (IG) may be indicated. (See the respective package inserts for VZIG and IG for complete prescribing information.)

The use of dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection, USP in active tuberculosis should be restricted to those cases of fulminating or disseminated tuberculosis in which the corticosteroid is used for the management of the disease in conjunction with appropriate antituberculous regimen.

If corticosteroids are indicated in patients with latent tuberculosis or tuberculin reactivity, close observation is necessary as reactivation of the disease may occur. During prolonged corticosteroid therapy, these patients should receive chemoprophylaxis.

Literature reports suggest an apparent association between use of corticosteroids and left ventricular free wall rupture after a recent myocardial infarction; therefore, therapy with corticosteroids should be used with great caution in these patients.

Usage in Pregnancy

Since adequate human reproduction studies have not been done with corticosteroids, use of these drugs in pregnancy or in women of childbearing potential requires that the anticipated benefits be weighed against the possible hazards to the mother and embryo or fetus. Infants born of mothers who have received substantial doses of corticosteroids during pregnancy should be carefully observed for signs of hypoadrenalism.

Corticosteroids appear in breast milk and could suppress growth, interfere with endogenous corticosteroid production, or cause other unwanted effects. Mothers taking pharmacologic doses of corticosteroids should be advised not to nurse.

 

Legal Issues

There is currently no legal information available for this drug.

FDA Safety Alerts

There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.

Uses

A. By intravenous or intramuscular injection when oral therapy is not feasible:

1. Endocrine disorders:

Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; synthetic analogs may be used in conjunction with mineralocorticoids where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance).

Acute adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; mineralocorticoid supplementation may be necessary, particularly when synthetic analogs are used).

Preoperatively, and in the event of serious trauma or illness, in patients with known adrenal insufficiency or when adrenocortical reserve is doubtful.

Shock unresponsive to conventional therapy if adrenocortical insufficiency exists or is suspected.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Nonsuppurative thyroiditis.

Hypercalcemia associated with cancer.

2. Rheumatic Disorders:

As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in:

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Synovitis of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis, including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (selected cases may require low-dose maintenance therapy).

Acute and subacute bursitis.

Epicondylitis.

Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis.

Acute gouty arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis.

Ankylosing spondylitis.

3. Collagen Diseases:

During an exacerbation or as maintenance therapy in selected cases of:

Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Acute rheumatic carditis.

4. Dermatologic Diseases:

Pemphigus.

Severe erythema multiforme. (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome)

Exfoliative dermatitis.

Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis.

Severe seborrheic dermatitis.

Severe psoriasis.

Mycosis fungoides.

5. Allergic States:

Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment in:

Bronchial asthma.

Contact dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis.

Serum sickness.

Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions.

Urticarial transfusion reactions.

Acute noninfectious laryngeal edema (epinephrine is the drug of first choice).

6. Ophthalmic Diseases:

Severe acute and chronic allergic and inflammatory processes involving the eye, such as:

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

Iritis, iridocyclitis.

Chorioretinitis.

Diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis.

Optic neuritis.

Sympathetic ophthalmia.

Anterior segment inflammation.

Allergic conjunctivitis.

Keratitis.

Allergic corneal marginal ulcers.

7. Gastrointestinal Diseases:

To tide the patient over a critical period of the disease in:

Ulcerative colitis (systemic therapy).

Regional enteritis (systemic therapy).

8. Respiratory Diseases:

Symptomatic sarcoidosis.

Berylliosis.

Fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis when used concurrently with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy.

Loeffler's syndrome not manageable by other means.

Aspiration pneumonitis.

9. Hematologic Disorders:

Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in adults (IV only; IM administration is contraindicated).

Secondary thrombocytopenia in adults.

Erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia).

Congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia.

10. Neoplastic Diseases:

For palliative management of:

Leukemias and lymphomas in adults.

Acute leukemia of childhood.

11. Edematous States:

To induce diuresis or remission of proteinuria in the nephrotic syndrome, without uremia, of the idiopathic type or that due to lupus erythematosus.

12. Miscellaneous:

 Tuberculosis meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block when used concurrently   with appropriate antituberculous chemotherapy.

 Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement.

13.  Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction.

14.  Cerebral Edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, or head injury. Use in cerebral edema is not a substitute for careful neurosurgical evaluation and definitive management such as neurosurgery or other specific therapy.

B. By intra-articular or soft tissue injection:

As adjunctive therapy for short-term administration (to tide the patient over an acute episode or exacerbation) in:

Synovitis of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis.

Acute and subacute bursitis.

Acute gouty arthritis.

Epicondylitis.

Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis.

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

C. By intralesional injection:

Keloids.

Localized hypertrophic, infiltrated, inflammatory lesions of: lichen planus, psoriatic plaques, granuloma annulare, and lichen simplex chronicus (neurodermatitis).

Discoid lupus erythematosus.

Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum.

Alopecia areata.

May also be useful in cystic tumors of an aponeurosis or tendon (ganglia).

 

History

There is currently no drug history available for this drug.

Other Information

Dexamethasone sodium phosphate, a synthetic adrenocortical steroid, is a white or slightly yellow, crystalline powder. It is freely soluble in water and is exceedingly hygroscopic. The molecular weight is 516.41. It is designated chemically as 9-fluoro-11β,17-dihydroxy-16α-methyl-21-(phosphonooxy)pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione disodium salt. The empirical formula is C22H28FNa2O8P and the structural formula is:

MM1

Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection, USP is a sterile solution of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, and is supplied in 4 mg/ mL and 10 mg /mL.

Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection, USP 4 mg/mL is a sterile solution for intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, intralesional and soft tissue administration. Each mL contains:

Active: Dexamethasone sodium phosphate 4.4 mg (equivalent to dexamethasone phosphate 4 mg). Preservatives: Methylparaben 1.5 mg; Propylparaben 0.2 mg. Inactives: Edetate Disodium 0.11 mg; Sodium Citrate Anhydrous 10 mg; Citric Acid and/or Sodium Hydroxide q.s to adjust pH 7.0 to 8.5 and Water for Injection q.s to 1 mL.

Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection, USP 10 mg/mL is a sterile solution for intravenous or intramuscular use only. Each mL contains:

Actives: Dexamethasone sodium phosphate 11 mg (equivalent to dexamethasone phosphate 10 mg). Preservatives: Methylparaben 1.5 mg; Propylparaben 0.2 mg. Inactives: Edetate Disodium 0.11 mg; Sodium Citrate Anhydrous 10 mg; Citric Acid and/or Sodium Hydroxide q.s to adjust pH 7.0 to 8.5 and Water for Injection q.s to 1 mL.

 

Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Manufacturers


  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • General Injectables And Vaccines, Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection [General Injectables And Vaccines, Inc.]
  • Cardinal Health
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Cardinal Health]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • A-s Medication Solutions Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [A-s Medication Solutions Llc]
  • A-s Medication Solutions Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [A-s Medication Solutions Llc]
  • A-s Medication Solutions Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [A-s Medication Solutions Llc]
  • Physicians Total Care, Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate (Dexamethasone) Injection [Physicians Total Care, Inc.]
  • General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection [General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc.]
  • App Pharmaceuticals, Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [App Pharmaceuticals, Llc]
  • General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [General Injectables & Vaccines, Inc]
  • Cardinal Health
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Cardinal Health]
  • Cardinal Health
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection [Cardinal Health]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc]
  • Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Remedyrepack Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Remedyrepack Inc. ]
  • Mylan Institutional Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Mylan Institutional Llc ]
  • Mylan Institutional Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Mylan Institutional Llc ]
  • Cardinal Health
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Cardinal Health]
  • West-ward Pharmaceutical Corp.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection [West-ward Pharmaceutical Corp.]
  • Cardinal Health
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Cardinal Health]
  • Cardinal Health
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Cardinal Health]
  • Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc]
  • American Regent, Inc.
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [American Regent, Inc.]
  • General Injectables And Vaccines, Inc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [General Injectables And Vaccines, Inc]
  • Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc]
  • Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc
    Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, Solution [Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc]

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