dexamethasone sodium phosphate at a glance
Medicine class
Long-acting synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid
Available forms
Oral solutions, soluble tablets, injections and preservative-free eye drops
Important safety point
Systemic treatment may suppress natural steroid production. Do not stop it suddenly without prescriber advice.
Eye-drop supervision
Do not use steroid eye drops for an undiagnosed red eye. Eye pressure and the cornea may need checking.
What is dexamethasone sodium phosphate used for?
Licensed uses vary by formulation and product. Selected products cover:
Systemic inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune disorders affecting many organs.
Cerebral oedema associated with tumours and selected blood or malignant conditions, including supportive control of treatment-related nausea and vomiting.
Croup and COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen where covered by the oral product licence.
Diagnostic testing of adrenal function.
Injection when oral therapy is unsuitable, and selected local injections into inflamed joints, soft tissues or skin lesions.
Preservative-free eye drops for non-infectious inflammation at the front of the eye.
How does dexamethasone sodium phosphate work?
It binds to glucocorticoid receptors inside cells and changes gene activity, reducing inflammatory signals and immune responses. The water-soluble sodium phosphate form is converted to active dexamethasone after administration.
dexamethasone sodium phosphate preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 1 mg/mL, 0.1% w/v
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2 mg/5 mL, 10 mg/5 mL, 20 mg/5 mL
How to take dexamethasone sodium phosphate
Use the prescribed formulation and check its leaflet because administration differs between products.
Take oral dexamethasone with or just after food.
Dissolve soluble tablets fully in a glass of water and drink all the contents.
Measure oral liquid with the supplied oral syringe or medicine spoon, not a kitchen teaspoon.
Only some oral solutions are suitable for specified feeding tubes; follow the exact product instructions.
For eye drops, wash your hands, avoid touching the eye with the nozzle and gently press the inner corner of the closed eye after use.
Discard the remainder of a single-dose eye-drop container immediately. Avoid contact lenses unless your eye specialist advises otherwise.
Injectable forms are administered by healthcare professionals.
dexamethasone sodium phosphate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Systemic forms: indigestion, increased appetite or weight, sleep disturbance and mild mood changes.
- Systemic forms can increase blood glucose, particularly in people with diabetes.
- Eye drops: brief burning, stinging, itching, irritation, blurred vision or an unpleasant taste.
- Eye drops may raise pressure inside the eye without obvious symptoms.
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe, worsening or difficult-to-recognise infection.
- Severe mood or behavioural changes, hallucinations, confusion or suicidal thoughts.
- Adrenal insufficiency, particularly after abrupt withdrawal: profound weakness, vomiting, dizziness, fainting or low blood pressure.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding, pancreatitis, severe hyperglycaemia or significant electrolyte disturbance.
- Persistent or worsening blurred vision, eye pain, glaucoma, cataract, delayed healing, corneal ulceration or perforation.
- Serious allergic reaction with facial or throat swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse.
dexamethasone sodium phosphate in pregnancy
Systemic dexamethasone can be used during pregnancy when recommended by a doctor, but specialist review is important because it crosses the placenta and another corticosteroid may sometimes be preferred. Do not stop established systemic treatment without advice. Eye-drop advice is product-specific; selected information recommends avoiding one formulation unless clinically justified.
dexamethasone sodium phosphate while breastfeeding
Systemic dexamethasone may be used cautiously while breastfeeding, although alternatives have more published experience. Greater or longer exposure may require monitoring of infant feeding, growth and adrenal function; milk production can occasionally fall. A selected multidose eye-drop product permits use because total exposure is low.
dexamethasone sodium phosphate interactions
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about all medicines, vaccines and supplements. Important examples include:
Rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin and other enzyme inducers
May accelerate dexamethasone metabolism and reduce its effect.
Ritonavir, cobicistat, ketoconazole and other CYP3A inhibitors
May increase systemic exposure and the risk of adrenal suppression or Cushing's syndrome.
Common questions about dexamethasone sodium phosphate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dexamethasone sodium phosphate the same as dexamethasone?
It is a water-soluble ester converted after administration to active dexamethasone. Labels may express content as dexamethasone or as the sodium-phosphate salt, so formulations should not be compared by volume alone.
Can it be stopped suddenly?
Not always. Systemic treatment can suppress natural cortisol production, and abrupt withdrawal may cause adrenal insufficiency or a flare of the treated illness. Follow the prescriber's stopping plan.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.