Skin Channel
Topics
Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Decadron Side Effects
Although most people do not experience any problems while using Decadron, side effects are possible. Some of these potential reactions may include dizziness, headaches, or nervousness. In some cases, these common reactions can be potentially dangerous. Report any signs of swelling, hallucinations, mood changes, or other potentially serious problems to your healthcare provider right away.
Just like any medicine, Decadron® (dexamethasone) can cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses the medication will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are treated easily by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Decadron. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
For many medications, the prescribing information carefully explains the exact percentage of side effects that were seen in clinical trials. However, the prescribing information for almost all older medications, including Decadron, includes only vague information on potential side effects, without any statistics on how frequently the side effects occur. Therefore, it can be difficult to know exactly how common the side effects of such medications may be.
Some of the possible side effects of Decadron include but are not limited to:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Nervousness or restlessness
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Increased sweating
- A spinning sensation (vertigo)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Increased appetite
- General feelings of discomfort (malaise)
- Hiccups
- Changes in menstruation
- Eye irritation (burning, stinging, redness) with the eye drops.
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD