Dexamethasone Medsurge

Dexamethasone Medsurge

Active ingredient(s): dexamethasone sodium phosphate

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Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Dexamethasone Medsurge. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Dexamethasone Medsurge.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using Dexamethasone Medsurge?
2. What should I know before I use Dexamethasone?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Dexamethasone Medsurge?
5. What should I know while using Dexamethasone?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using Dexamethasone Medsurge?

Dexamethasone Medsurge contains the active ingredient dexamethasone sodium phosphate. Dexamethasone (as sodium phosphate) is a glucocorticoid and belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids. It may be used to treat an inactive or underactive adrenal gland or to treat a number of different diseases such as certain immune disorders and skin problems, asthma or arthritis. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation, one of the body’s reactions to injury. Except for its use in the treatment of underactive adrenal glands, dexamethasone (as sodium phosphate) does not cure disease; it treats the symptoms.

2. What should I know before I use Dexamethasone?

Do not use Dexamethasone if:

• you are allergic to dexamethasone sodium phosphate, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
• you have an internal fungal infection.
• you have recently been given a live vaccine such as smallpox or polio/sabin, unless you are being given the dexamethasone (as sodium phosphate) for replacement therapy.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

• shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
• rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Check with your doctor if you have:

• diabetes, a disorder of sugar metabolism or control
• current of recent infections
• heart failure or a recent heart attack
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• thyroid disease
• inflammation of the bowel wall or other bowel problems
• high blood pressure
• eye diseases, including infections, ulcers or allergies
• epilepsy, seizures or convulsions, migraine
• a stomach ulcer
• intestinal disease
• weak or brittle bones
• myasthenia gravis, a muscle wasting disease.
• severe mental health illness.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Like most corticosteroid medicines, dexamethasone (as sodium phosphate) is not generally recommended for use during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss with you the possible benefits and risks of using dexamethasone Injection during pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Dexamethasone Injection may pass into breast milk and there is a possibility that the breast-fed baby may be affected. Therefore, dexamethasone Injection is not recommended for use during breast-feeding.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and Dexamethasone Injection may interfere with each other. These include:

• barbiturates or phenytoin, medicines used to treat epilepsy
• aspirin, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, especially phenylbutazone
• insulin or other medicines for the control of sugar in the blood
• oestrogens and other oral contraceptives
• anti-thyroid medicines used to treat an overactive thyroid gland
• fluid tablets, particularly furosemide (frusemide) and thiazides or other medicines affecting the kidneys
• anticoagulant medicines (medicines to prevent blood clots), such as warfarin or heparin
• any recent vaccinations or immunisations
• ciclosporin, a medicine used to prevent transplant rejection
• rifampicin or amphotericin or vancomycin, medicines used to treat infections
• digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart conditions
• aminoglutethimide, a hormone used treat breast cancer
• daunorubicin or doxorubicin, a medicine used to treat cancer
• doxapram, a medicine used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• glycopyrrolate, a medicine used to dry up secretions or saliva.

These medicines may be affected by dexamethasone Injection or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take or use different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.

Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while you are being given dexamethasone Injection.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Dexamethasone Injection.

4. How do I use Dexamethasone Medsurge?

How much to take / use

• The dose of dexamethasone Injection is variable, depending upon the condition being treated. It may be given as a course of injections or as a single dose. Your doctor will decide what dose will receive. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight.
• As soon as an improvement in your condition is noticed, the dosage should be adjusted to the minimum required to control the symptoms.

When to take / use Dexamethasone Medsurge

• Dexamethasone Injection is given as a slow injection or infusion (intravenous drip) into the veins. It may also be given as an injection into an injured muscle or joint.
  Dexamethasone Injection should only be given by a doctor or nurse.

If you use too much Dexamethasone Medsurge

Dexamethasone Injection is most likely to be given to you in hospital under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much.

However, if you experience severe side effects tell your doctor or nurse immediately. If you are not already in hospital, go to the Accident & Emergency Department at your nearest hospital or immediately contact the Poisons Information Centre for advice on overdose (Call 13 11 26).

Symptoms of a dexamethasone Injection overdose may include the side effects listed below in the ‘Side Effects’ section but are usually of a more severe nature.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while using Dexamethasone?

Things you should do

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are being given dexamethasone Injection.

If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are being given Dexamethasone Injection.

If you become pregnant while you are being treated with Dexamethasone Injection, tell your doctor immediately.

If you get an infection while you are being given Dexamethasone Injection, you must tell your doctor immediately.

Like most corticosteroid medicines, dexamethasone (as sodium phosphate) may mask or hide the symptoms of an infection.

Call your doctor straight away if you:

• signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing

Things you should not do

• If you have been given dexamethasone Injection for a painful or inflamed joint, you should be careful not to overuse the joint as long as the inflammation is still present.
• Do not abruptly stop treatment with Dexamethasone Injection if you have been given high doses of this medicine or repeated doses for more than three weeks.
  A gradual dose reduction may be required to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how dexamethasone Injection affects you.

Dexamethasone Injection may cause dizziness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to dexamethasone Injection before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy. If this occurs do not drive.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Drinking alcohol while using Dexamethasone injection may worse dizziness.

Looking after your medicine

• Dexamethasone injection will usually be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place, protected from light, where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effects

What to do

If you only receive one or two doses of dexamethasone injection, side effects are rare. With higher doses, or longer-term therapy, side effects become more common. nausea and vomiting ‘gas’ or abdominal bloating bad taste in the mouth menstrual irregularity weight gain fluid retention increased body hair easy bruising slow wound healing muscular weakness headache dizziness thin, fragile skin acne reduced growth in children blurred vision fungal infection.

Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects	What to do
signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing severe stomach pain blood in the faeces irregular heartbeat changes in vision changes in mood or sleep patterns joint pain or broken bones seizures or convulsions.	Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What Dexamethasone Medsurge Injection contains

Active ingredient (main ingredient)	Dexamethasone sodium phosphate
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients)	Sodium citrate dihydrate Creatinine Disodium edetate Sodium hydroxide Water for injections
Potential allergens	None

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Dexamethasone Medsurge looks like

Dexamethasone Medsurge Injection 4 mg/1 mL is available as a Type I clear glass ampoule containing 1 mL solution in cartons of 5 ampoules and 10 ampoules (AUST R 391480).

Dexamethasone Medsurge Injection 8 mg/2 mL is available as a Type I clear glass ampoule containing 2 mL solution in cartons of 5 ampoules and 10 ampoules (AUST R 391479).

Who distributes Dexamethasone Medsurge

Medicianz Healthcare Pty Ltd
Unit 1&2, 6-7 Gilda Court
Mulgrave, Victoria 3170

Marketed and Distributed by Medsurge Healthcare.

Telephone: 1300 788 261

Website: https://medsurge.com.au

This leaflet was prepared in April 2023.