Medication 7-241 - Decadron (Dexamethasone)

CMH EMS & MIH Protocols

Scope of Practice:

• Registered Nurse
• Paramedic
• Community Paramedic

Route(s):

• IM/SQ, IO, IV, Neb, PO,

Pharmacodynamics (class and mechanism of action):

• Steriod.
• Anti-inflammatory (Reduces inflammation and immune response).
• Increases pulmonary microcirculation.

Pharmacokinetics:

• Half-life: 1-2 days.
• Onset time: 1-2 hours.
• Peak action time: 1-2 hours.
• Duration of action: 2-6 days.

• Peak	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	hours
  Duration	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	hours

Dosing:

• Refer to specific protocol(s) below for dose(s).

Indications:

• Protocol 2-770 - Respiratory Distress.

Contraindications:

• None in emergency setting.

Pregnancy Risk Factor:

• Category C
• Risk not ruled out: Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks. FDA requires a relatively large amount of high-quality data on a pharmaceutical for it to be defined as Pregnancy Category A. As a result of this, many drugs that would be considered Pregnancy Category A in other countries are allocated to Category C by the FDA.

Potential Incompatibilities:

• NA.

Precautions and Adverse Effects:

• Use with caution with Cushings, fungal infections, measles, and varicella.
• May cause Nausea, Vomiting, headache, vertigo, anxiety, hypokalemia, Hyperglycemia, tremors, Hypertension, and immunosuppression.

Antidote:

• NA.

Controlled Substance Information:

• Not a scheduled drug
• The DEA and FDA have not identified this drug with a schedule classification.
• DEA number: NA.
• Narcotic: No.
• Street names: NA.

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Polk, Hickory, Cedar, & St Clair County EMS Protocols is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.