Could dexamethasone treat chronic sinus infection

An acute sinus infection probably isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. A chronic sinus infection can be every bit as miserable, if not more so. In reality it’s not the sinus infection itself that makes it feel like someone is blowing up a balloon behind your face. It is the inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) caused by the infection.

It is not uncommon for a physician to prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication in conjunction with an antibiotic in cases where prescription medication is determined to be necessary. One such anti-inflammatory medication is Dexamethasone.

Dexamethasone is a man-made steroid (corticosteroid). Corticosteroids are chemicals naturally produced by the body. The man-made, medical version of this chemical is used to block inflammation. The corticosteroid is also known to suppress the immune system. Dexamethasone is an extremely potent drug. It is 20 to 30 times more potent than naturally occurring cortisol and 4 to 5 times more potent than Prednisone, another common anti-inflammatory drug used in the treatment of sinusitis. Dexamethasone has been approved for use since 1958.

Like any drug, the side effects of dexamethasone vary widely depending on how much (dose), how long (duration) and how often (frequency) the medication is taken. The dose, duration and frequency of dexamethasone used to treat sinusitis is generally well tolerated with few or no issues. Longer term, higher doses of dexamethasone can produce potentially serious side effects. When possible, the lowest dose, duration and frequency of dexamethasone thought to be effective should be prescribed to minimize the potential of adverse side effects.

Virtually all cases of sinusitis are easily resolved with a standard, ten day course of an antibiotic with a three to five day course of Dexamethasone. In an extremely painful occurrence of acute sinusitis the dose and/or frequency may be increased to provide quicker relief. If the prescription to treat acute sinusitis extends beyond seven days, it would not be out of line to question the physician as to why the extended duration is necessary.

The chief complaint among Dexamethasone users is an increase in body weight. One study of over 22,000 users of the drug showed the weight gain was the primary concern for the majority of patients.

The oral version of the drug is most likely to be prescribed for sinusitis and is named Decadron Dexamethasone is used in the treatment of many other illnesses and diseases of varying severity. Some examples include altitude sickness, arthritis and even some cancers.

So the next time you are suffering from the unmistakable pain, pressure and general misery associated with acute or chronic sinusitis and you find yourself in an urgent care facility or your doctor’s office, don’t be surprised if Dexamethasone to ease the suffering until the infection is resolved.

“Can dexamethasone treat sciatica?“

Using dexamethasone to treat sciatica

Introduction: Defining Terms

Dexamethasone is a specific type of chemical compound called a corticosteroid. Medically, they are used to treat a wide range of disorders and diseases, but dexamethasone primarily targets treatment of inflammation, and it especially targets the causes of inflammation. As such, it is utilized for a wide variety of issues — including ulcerative colitis, certain inflammatory skin conditions, lupus, arthritis and, possibly: sciatica.

Sciatica is basically a common symptom of a nerve disorder, such as a pinched nerve, that can be its own symptom of something else. It is typically characterized as foot and leg pain. Although usually temporary and self-healing, sciatica is a painful state and many medications exist to combat it, with the most common being non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers, such as over the counter medications like Ibuprofen.

Physical therapy may be included in the recovery process to alleviate the pain both through therapeutic exercise, and by discovering what movements are the least painful, or bring the most relief.

Sometimes, muscle relaxants and spinal injections are administered, especially for extremely painful cases of sciatica.

However, dexamethasone has recently been introduced as a possible candidate for anti-inflammatory pain relief in sciatica nerves.

Pros: Possible Benefits and Proof of Effectiveness

In a recent study presented by Rahangdale and Kendall, the use of dexamethasone was shown to improve motor blockage of foot and ankle surgeries to those with sciatica, although it did not seem to improve overall surgery recovery.

Oral steroids are often administered by physicians for severe cases of sciatica, and they seem to significantly reduce overall pain, although they do not reportedly hasten or improve the entire recovery process. Dexamethasone is also used regularly for lumbar herniated disks, and it seems to give almost instant relief of serious pain. A study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry in 2012 revealed that this specific use yields significant pain relief.

It works especially to reduce pain that is caused by inflammation — which is the case in herniated disks. Sciatica is not equivalent with inflammation, but that is often an aspect of the painful disorder.

Additionally, dexamethasone is often a part of a cocktail of anti inflammatories and corticosteroids that are used to combat sciatica, usually in injection form.

Cons: Possible Side Effects and Ineffectiveness

All drugs and medications have side effects; dexamethasone is no different. Because of its hormonal, steroidal, and anti-inflammatory properties, some potential and fairly common side effects of dexamethasone include: increased aggression, mood changes, anxiety, nervousness, and depression; weight gain; decrease in urine production; dizziness; numbness, irregular heartbeat; shortness of breath or rattly sounding breath; increase in appetite; and others. Less likely side effects include severe abdominal pain, trouble sleeping, and many others.

As well, dexamethasone does not seem to do a terrible amount better than other drugs of its kind. Perhaps as use of the drug continues, we will be able to see whether it is truly better than other corticosteroids in the treatment of sciatica.

“Can you use Dexamethasone to cure sore throat?“

The use of dexamethasone for sore throat

Using dexamethasone for the treatment of severe sore throat appears to be a common practice in some doctors’ offices and hospitals. This is a steroid used in these cases to relieve pain and inflammation. It is believed, and the studies show that the relief of pain comes more quickly and the symptoms go away much more quickly with a one dose treatment of dexamethasone for sore throat. This is in addition to treatments being used for the illness causing the sore throat, and is considered effective for acute cases of sore throat.

It is used in both adult and pediatric cases. Dexamethasone is used for its rapid anti-inflammatory results, as well as pain relief but it is not used in every cases of sore throat encountered. Doctors use this steroid in cases of acute sore throat to shorten symptoms not only for pain relief but to allow the patient rest and time to allow the treatment for their illness to work. Some studies show the time it takes for the symptoms to start to go away by as much as half the time with the dexamethasone vs the placebo.

Multiple studies were found that stated it is used commonly in cases of severe strep throat in both pediatric and adult cases. Quickly reducing the pain and inflammation of the throat is a strategy that allows the patient to heal more quickly. Not much was mentioned in the studies of side effects, possibly because of the one dose nature of the medication that is used for sore throat.

There are numerous studies available on the use of dexamethasone for sore throat. One such study mentions the use of the medication in cases of infectious mononucleosis, again for the sore throat that comes along with this illness, due to the speed and severity that a sore throat can become threatening with mononucleosis. The use of dexamethasone, is indicated for the acute sore throat and inflammation that is present in various illnesses, but sore throat accompanying the common cold or other minor illnesses was not mentioned and does not seem to be indicated for use of dexamethasone.

It is however only showing in studies for acute sore throat and no minor illnesses were mentioned, so it is not a conclusive fact that it is not used in less severe illnesses. It only conclusive that those studies if in existence were not at the forefront.

It would seem that a one dose treatment of dexamethasone to alleviate severe sore throat and swelling is thoroughly and continuously studied and tested, for both adult and pediatric patients. It has had and continues to have a good success rate and is an accepted treatment among some doctors and hospitals.

“Dexamethasone for spinal cord compression“

Treatment of spinal cord compression with the use of dexamethasone

Clinical Name of the drug

Corticosteroid Dexamethasone,this drug is a steroid used to reduce the size of masses or tumors with in the body.

General procedure for treatment and administration of the drug

A patient is admitted, by an Oncologist generally, to the hospital. Once the patient has been admitted a course of Dexamethasone is begun. This course is generally administered intravenously (via IV drip) and is closely monitored by the attending physician. Dexamethasone is generally delivered at first in dosing between 4 and 100 mgs determined by the Doctor. There is some controversy about proper dosing; however the standard is between 4 and 100 mgs every 6 hours. Dexamethasone is administered to reduce swelling and compression from the mass or tumor present. In return for the reduction of swelling and compression there is a relief in pain as well. After the first dose of Dexamethasone many Doctors will administer other daily doses of 16 to 96 mgs divided throughout several days to insure optimal performance of the drug.

During use of the drug patients must be supervised closely to watch for side effects of the drug. These side effects include but are not limited to:

• Immunosuppression: The lack of immune system support causing the patient to become ill from outside sources. (Maryjo Osowski RN)

• Gastrointestinal Irritation: Inflammation or other irritations of the GI tract. (Maryjo Osowski RN)

• Fluid Retention: Swelling in the hands and/or feet indicating the patient is not releasing water as well as they should be. (Maryjo Osowski RN)

• Euphoria: Overwhelming feeling of happiness without provocation. (Maryjo Osowski RN)

• Depression: Overwhelming feeling of sadness of worthlessness without provocation. (Maryjo Osowski RN)

• Hyperglycemia: A sudden and extraordinarily high spike in the natural blood glucose levels of the patient. (Maryjo Osowski RN)

With the last side effect of the list there is specific care needing to be taken with patients who are diabetic and receiving Dexamethasone treatment. These patients may need to have alterations in their diet and/or insulin while participating in treatment.

After treatment is completed

When treatment is complete and the mass or tumor has been decreased to the desired size patients as weaned from Dexamethasone as with any other steroid medication. This weaning happens at a rate of a 1/3 decrease in normal does every three to four day until the patient is completely weaned from the medication. During this time if the patient does not respond well to the weaning process Neurologic Deterioration can occur. In this instance a Doctor may find it necessary to administer a escalated trial dose of Dexamethasone to the patient and then begin the weaning process again with 1/3 the escalated dosing and working down to total elimination of Dexamethasone.

Works Cited

Maryjo Osowski RN, M. A. (n.d.). Spinal Cord Compression: An Obstructive Oncologic Emerngency. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/442735_6

“How dexamethasone can help patients undergoing radiation therapy“

How dexamethasone can help patients undergoing radiation therapy

In terms of the havoc it can wage on a person’s life, from their physical to their emotional well-being, cancer is as destructive a disease as any. Whether Stage 1 or 4, there’s a host of options patients choose to combat the invader, from chemotherapy and radiation treatments to even holistic therapies. However, regardless of how one chooses to attack it, side effects are bound to occur, and they can be as debilitating as anything.

When going the more traditional route of radiation therapy, there are two types of delivery method used to try and reduce the side effects radiation can have on the body. The first is to split the radiation into a number of doses instead of just one big dose.

That way, the body can absorb it more slowly and there may be less of a physical impact on the patient. Dose fractionation usually means the radiation will be administered daily, five days out of the week. In between treatments, there can be a recovery of normal tissues while cancer cells will generally have less capability of recovery.

The other method of administering radiation therapy to lessen side effects is through Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), which delivers varying intensity of radiation with a rotating device. By specifically targeting the areas most affected by the cancer, it spares the normal tissue from the damage caused by radiation.

Still, no matter what route is taken with radiation therapy, side effects are still practically inevitable, and depending on the patient’s constitution, they can be brutal. Steroids, which are naturally occurring hormones produced by the adrenal glands, can be used as a part of the radiation therapy treatments to lessen the adverse reaction the body may have to it. Dexamethasone is one of the most common steroids prescribed by physicians. It helps decrease the swelling in body tissues, which can cause a patient to be in a great deal of pain, by preventing the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. As many as one-third of patients receiving palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases suffer from pain flares and a single dose of dexamethasone can decrease the incidence of such flares within a day or two after radiation therapy is administered. Overall it can seriously improve the quality of life for patients with serious or life-threatening cancers (and other diseases).

As well, using dexamethasone can prevent radiation-induced vomiting, particularly for those patients in treatment for cancers occurring in the abdomen. The benefits of using a steroid like dexamethasone far out-weigh the negative impact radiation therapy can have on the body without it. Regardless of the treatment route an individual patient opts for, dexamethasone can spare them from unnecessary pain and suffering.

“Is it safe to use Dexamethasone for root canal?“

Dexamethasone steroid use in dental procedures

For most people going to the dentist from the minute the appointment is made causes the individual to feel stress and fear. However they go to the appointment. After x-rays and talking to the dentist he tells you that you have to have a root canal. Your stress level just jumped and your fear has tripled. The dentist explains that he uses a steroid dexamethasone for pain management after a root canal, that by using the dexamethasone he can reduce pain and inflammation after the procedure. That sounded good to you, but you have heard bad things about steroids.

Dexamethasone is a steroid and steroids due help the body heal faster and have been known to reduce inflammation. Such as use in treating the lungs. Recommended use for treatment is a dose of dexamethasone in the morning before the procedure and on following the procedure and a final dose the day after the procedure. This along with Motrin and antibiotics, this will allow the healing without a narcotic such as Percocet or oxicodone.

The use of dexamethasone before root canal is reduce the swelling during the procedure along with an anti-inflammatory paste during the procedure can stop infection.

What are the risks or side effects if any is your question?

The dentist explains that there are some risks but he feels that they are minor. The one problem that you don’t have to worry about is the risk of being pregnant or breast feeding, the dexamethasone is not for use with a pregnant women or a woman who is breast feeding the steroids can ‘transfer to the baby and suppress growth and retard the body’s own production of steroids.” (2014). the dexamethasone can also hide an infection if it should develop after the root canal. This may lead to the patient suffering added pain from the infection.

Some patients may experience psychological problems such as insomnia; this will disappear after the steroid use is ended. The dentist will administer the back down of steroids so that the body does not experience withdraw. The results of the study are published in the “International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2014.” Downloaded 11/2014

The benefits of using dexamethasone as a treatment for pain and inflammation in root canal according to the article outweigh the risks. By lessening the pain and suffering individuals can suffer after root canal will help alleviate pain. The patients who experience less pain and suffering will pass the word around to friends. Word of mouth advertising is free and can also help people choose root canal rather than insisting on extraction to avoid the fear and pain associated with root canal. Talk to your dentist about using steroids on your next visit.

“Is it safe to use Dexamethasone for rheumatoid arthritis?“

How to benefit from dexamethasone for rheumatoid arthritis

When you have rheumatoid arthritis, it can be very painful. Not only do you experience pain, but it can also be emotionally damaging and you may not have full physical function. This means you have to look at a way of reducing the swelling within your joints and ligaments.

Dexamethasone has been used for inflammation. While it is commonly associated with dermatology issues, such as dry and irritated skin, it can be used for rheumatoid arthritis and other musculoskeletal issues as well.

Since you are dealing with an internal pain as opposed to a surface pain, the cream or gel that the dexamethasone normal comes in is not going to apply.

If your doctor agrees to dexamethasone for rheumatoid arthritis, you will get injections. These injections are going to be given as the doctor sees fit. It can be daily, weekly, or less frequently. The goal is to reduce the amount of swelling, which will reduce the pain and improve the physical functions. You may be able to do more once you begin getting the injections because the rheumatoid arthritis will be managed more effectively.

Iontophoresis is a method of application that may be used for the dexamethasone for rheumatoid arthritis. It uses low level electrical currents to push the corticosteroids deeper into the skin tissue so you can benefit more. It helps for everything to work faster and can eliminate some of the intrusiveness of an injection. It is not widely used yet and doctors are still testing the efficacy.

When you are getting the injections, you want to make sure you follow all doctor orders. This may include not taking certain medications or herbal remedies while you are getting the medication injected into your body. The reason is to avoid any kind of adverse reactions.

You have to be careful as to what you do and what you use the medication for. Just because you are able to use it for one health problem does not mean you can use it for all of them. Dexamethasone is an immunotherapy drug and is highly potent.

If you have a history of medical problems, then your doctor needs to know about all of them. Dexamethasone is not given to everyone and if you have certain conditions, there may be a different drug given to you instead.

If you are given dexamethasone for rheumatoid arthritis, then make sure you follow doctor instructions and look for any negative side effects. If you notice a change in your skin or in your hair, it’s important that you notify your doctor because it could mean you are having an allergic reaction.

While dexamethasone is not the most common medication used for rheumatoid arthritis, the injections have been known to help many people.

“Using dexamethasone for pink eye”

Can you use dexamethasone for pink eye?

Pink eye is not only painful, but highly contagious. As soon as you are showing symptoms, which can include a crusty covering over the eye as well as a pink hue to the area around the eye, you will want to go seek the help of a doctor.

Dexamethasone for pink eye has been prescribed for years. It is a corticosteroid that is capable of reducing inflammation, which is essentially what pink eye is. The medicine is a synthetic version of the chemical that is produced by your adrenal glands and can suppress the immune system. Essentially, this means it is going to block the inflammation so the situation doesn’t get any worse.

In many instances, it’s not just dexamethasone that your doctor is going to prescribe. Often, it will be another medicine that also includes an antibiotic. This will allow the inflammation to improve faster and clear up the conjunctivitis.

Pink eye can be very painful and last a while if you don’t take care of it with medication. If you don’t get the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine in your system quickly, it is likely that the pink eye will spread from one eye to the other – and pink eye in both eyes at the same time is not something you want to experience.

When dexamethasone for pink eye is prescribed, with or without an antibiotic, it can take different forms. This includes:

– Ophthalmic drops

– Ointment

The drops would be one or two drops in the affected eye directly into the conjunctval sac. This will take place every four to six hours – and it is likely to continue for two to three days. The ointment would require spreading it onto the sac and you can use a q-tip to do this.

When using a dropper, you want to make sure the dropper does not touch the eye or the eyelid. The reason is because the infection can transfer to the dropper. The next time you go to apply the medication, you could be spreading the infection again.

There are not a lot of drug interactions to worry about with dexamethasone for pink eye, so it is likely something that your doctor is going to prescribe without much concern. However, it is not known as to whether the medication can make its way into breast milk, so if you are breast feeding, it could pose a danger.

There are not many side effects associated with the drops or ointment, either. There may be swelling or itching. More severe side events include delayed healing of the wound or optical nerve damage, though these are in a very small number of cases.

Overall, dexamethasone is a popular medication for dealing with pink eye.

“Dexamethasone for body building?”

Will dexamethasone for muscle growth work?

Dexamethasone is widely known in the medical community as a steroid. However, it is important to note that it is not an anabolic steroid, so it’s not going to help with muscle growth or body building. Instead, it is used as an immunosuppressant as well as an anti-inflammatory.

Dexamethasone for muscle growth is a myth. It is a corticosteroid and can be used to treat allergic reactions, endocrine problems, rheumatic disorders, and much more. It has been used within certain cancers and comes in various forms.

It is available in such forms as:

–                 Cream

–                 Ointment

–                 Gel

–                 Injection

–                 Tablet

–                 Drops

–                 Liquid elixir/rinse

The drug is only obtainable by prescription and you must use it exactly as it is prescribed for. You should also make sure to taper off the usage because a sudden stop of the medication could result in withdrawal symptoms for not having the corticosteroid in the body.

A side effect of taking dexamethasone for some people is actually muscle weakness and even loss of muscle mass. This is why it is often not prescribed for children because dexamethasone can be counter-productive. It could impact their muscle growth in the long term.

The side effects vary from patient to patient. Some people will only experience some itching and possibly a rash. Other people are going to experience headaches and nausea. Other people may experience some loss in muscle mass, especially men.

The effects of dexamethasone on skeletal muscle cells have been studied. While it can enhance the insulin-like growth factor, it does nothing to alter the IGF secretion by the muscle cells. This means that it is not going to help with the muscle growth on the average patient.

It is important to understand the difference in steroids so you know about the damage that could be caused by taking dexamethasone for muscle growth. It is a different kind of steroid and therefore you wouldn’t experience any kind of muscle growth. Instead, you could suffer from muscle loss, which is exactly what you were trying to avoid.

Dexamethasone is one of the strongest corticosteroids on the market and therefore you need to obtain it by way of a prescription. A doctor is not going to give it to you until you have gone through a physical exam and had your medical history reviewed. Even then, if it is given to you, it is likely being done so to reduce an inflammation topically or elsewhere on the body. You need to follow doctor instructions for its use and not try to use it for any other purposes. Dexamethasone is not going to work for muscle growth because it is not an anabolic steroid.

“Dexamethasone for mountain sickness, nausea and vomiting“

Dexamethasone for mountain sickness, nausea and vomiting

Mountain sickness is also known as altitude sickness. It is caused because of a reduction of air pressure and lower oxygen levels, which happens at higher altitudes, such as when you’re climbing a mountain. There is no way to determine who will and will not get it. It’s not based upon gender or fitness level.

The symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people will experience throbbing headaches while other people will experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and a lack of appetite. It may also be accompanies by feeling week and tired, sometimes to the level of not having the energy to get dressed or eat.

The Mountain sickness can affect the brain and the lungs.

Depending on the symptoms that you exhibit, dexamethasone for mountain sickness may be prescribed. This medication is available by prescription medication and is capable of helping to reduce any kind of inflammation in the body as well as helping with the immune system.

Research has shown that dexamethasone is more effective than acetazolamide, especially when the symptoms are developing rapidly. The dexamethasone can be provided in various forms, including injection or by tablet. Some doctors will even recommend using the drug prior to reaching the summit so that it can help to prevent an abrupt onset of the symptoms when climbing into high altitudes.

Since mountain sickness affects the lungs, the dexamethasone for mountain sickness is helpful because it is a steroid. It can strengthen the body ahead of time and reduce the possibility of chest tightness and breathlessness – which can then eliminate lethargy and confusion. It can also prevent cerebral edema, which is a swelling of the brain.

There are plenty of things that you may be able to do on your own in order to prevent the onset of the sickness, including gradually ascending, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding overexerting yourself.

If you begin to experience nausea and/or vomiting, dexamethasone may be used to help control the immune system and strengthen the body.

The medication can be used to help prevent the sickness as well as after you have been diagnosed to help reduce the symptoms and improve your condition overall. Since it is based upon a prescription, you will need to talk to your doctor. It may require a physical exam or it may require proof of your itinerary that you will be hiking so you can receive the tablets to take as a precautionary measure.

In many instances, if you have experienced mountain sickness in the past, you will experience it again. This is when you want to be prepared so the symptoms do hot hit you as much and so you can know what needs to be done – including using dexamethasone.

“Dexamethasone corticosteroids for multiple sclerosis”