these drugs were been use in naija by many peoples especially ladies and body builders without knowing the side effects.

What is Dexamethasone?[b][/b]
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation and is also used to suppress the actions of the immune system. It is used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as lupus or pemphigus, autoimmune hemolytic anemias, allergic bronchitis, some spinal cord diseases, brain swelling and other diseases.

Who is it for?
Dexamethasone is for dogs and cats.

What are the benefits?
* Used to treat inflammation and autoimmune diseases
* Long-lasting
* Oral dosage regimen can be effectively individualized for your pet by your veterinarian

What is it used for?

Returning hormone levels to normal in a disorder of the adrenal glands called congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Testing to determine the underlying cause of Cushing's syndrome (dexamethasone suppression test).
Reducing swelling in the brain or raised pressure inside the skull associated with brain tumours.
Preventing nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy for cancer.

Dexamethasone can also be used to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions that require either reduction of inflammation or suppression of the immune system. These include those listed below.

Severe allergic reactions, eg anaphylaxis.
Rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica.
Inflammatory muscle disorders, eg polymyositis.
Flare-ups of multiple sclerosis.
Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
Inflammatory disorders of the kidney, such as nephrotic syndrome.
Inflammatory disorders of the lungs, eg asthma, COPD, aspiration pneumonitis, allergic lung disease such as farmer's and pigeon breeder's lung, Löffler's syndrome, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis.
Sarcoidosis.
Inflammatory disease called systemic lupus erythematosus, which can affect many organs throughout the body and is caused by the immune system attacking connective tissue in the body.
Inflammatory skin disorders, including pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid and erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
Inflammatory eye disorders, eg uveitis, optic neuritis, chorioretinitis, iridocyclitis, temporal arteritis.
Rare condition involving inflammation in the walls of arteries (polyarteritis nodosa).
Anaemia caused by the immune system attacking red blood cells (autoimmune haemolytic anaemia).
Cancer of the bone marrow (multiple myeloma).
Leukaemia.
Cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma).
Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura.
Breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Helping to prevent the immune system attacking a transplanted organ, eg heart, liver, kidney etc.

Warning!

Corticosteroids should preferably be taken in the morning to mimic the natural production of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands. However, you should follow the instructions given by your doctor, as this is not appropriate for all uses of dexamethasone. Corticosteroids should be taken after food to minimise irritation to the stomach.
You must not stop taking this medicine suddenly if you have been taking it for more than three weeks. This is because long-term use of corticosteroids can suppress the natural production of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands, which means that the body becomes temporarily reliant on the medicine. When it is time to stop treatment the dose should be tapered down gradually, to allow the adrenal glands to start producing adequate amounts of natural steroids again. Follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may also want you to stop treatment gradually if you have been taking high doses (more than 6mg dexamethasone daily) even if only for three weeks or less; if you have been treated with corticosteroid tablets or injections in the last year; if you had problems with your adrenal glands before treatment was started; or if you have been repeatedly taking doses in the evening.
You will be given a steroid card with this medicine that you should carry with you at all times. Show it to anyone who treats you (eg doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, anaesthetist). The card contains details of your prescriber, type of steroid, dose taken and the duration of treatment. It's purpose is to act as a reminder that your medicine should not be stopped suddenly, and to provide information of your treatment to other people treating you. This is important because the effects that corticosteroids have on the body may affect other medical treatment you may be given. If you have an accident the card contains information that could save your life. You should also show your steroid card to anyone who treats you for three months after you stop treatment with steroids.
During times of physical stress, for example illnesses, trauma or surgery, your adrenal glands would normally produce more steroid hormones to cope. However, during long-term treatment with this medicine the action of your adrenal glands will be suppressed, so this increase in hormones won't happen naturally. As a result your steroid dose will normally need to be increased temporarily during these kind of events. Discuss this with your doctor.
Corticosteroids decrease the body's natural immune and inflammatory responses. They may increase your susceptibility to infections and can also mask the symptoms of infections, making you think they are less serious than they are. For this reason, it is important to consult your doctor if you get any signs of infection during treatment.
If you have never had chickenpox you could be at risk of severe chickenpox while having treatment with this medicine and should avoid close personal contact with people who have chickenpox or shingles (herpes zoster). You should also avoid contact with people who have measles. If you are exposed to people with these diseases either during treatment, or in the three months after stopping treatment, you should consult your doctor urgently, as you will need an injection of immunoglobulin to help you stop getting the diseases. This is very important as these diseases can be life-threatening in people treated with long-term corticosteroids.
Corticosteroid treatment, especially with high doses, can alter mood and behaviour early in treatment. People may experience confusion, irritability, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, mood changes and depression, and suffer from delusions and suicidal thoughts. In a few cases these effects have also occured when corticosteroid treatment is being withdrawn. For this reason, it is important to let your doctor know if you notice any change in your mood or behaviour during treatment or when stopping treatment, particularly if you begin to feel depressed, or have any disturbing thoughts or feelings. Most of these problems go away if the dose is lowered or the medicine is stopped. However if problems do happen they might need treatment.
Children and adolescents having long-term treatment with this medicine should have their growth regularly monitored.

Use with caution in

Children and adolescents.
Elderly people.
Decreased kidney function.
Liver failure or cirrhosis.
Inflammation of the bowel and back passage (ulcerative colitis).
Painful inflammation of small sacs or pouches in the wall of the gut (diverticulitis).
People who have recently had a surgical procedure called intestinal anastomosis, which involves the joining together of ends of the intestine after a section has been removed.
Peptic ulcer.
People with a history of blood clots in the blood vessels (thromboembolism).
Heart failure.
People who have recently had a heart attack.
High blood pressure (hypertension).
Diabetes, or a family history of diabetes.
Underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
Epilepsy.
Migraine.
Glaucoma, or a family history of glaucoma.
Current severe psychiatric illness, or a personal or family history of psychiatric illness, including depression, manic depression or schizophrenia.
History of psychiatric illness caused by the use of a corticosteroid.
Osteoporosis.
Women who have passed the menopause.
Abnormal muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis).
People who have previously experienced muscle disorders (myopathy) caused by steroids.
People with a history of tuberculosis (TB).
Herpes simplex, eg cold sores or genital herpes.
Herpes simplex virus infection of the eye.
Fungal infections of the eye.
People with parasitic infections, eg amoebiasis.
Malaria affecting the brain (cerebral malaria).
History of allergies.

Not to be used in

People with widespread infection, unless this is being treated with specific anti-infectives.
Corticosteroids should not be used for the management of head injury or stroke because they are unlikely to be of benefit and may even be harmful.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the developing baby. When administered for long periods or repeatedly during pregnancy, corticosteroids may increase the risk of slowed growth in the developing baby. They may also cause the baby to make less of its own steroid hormones after birth, although this usually resolves on its own and rarely causes any problems. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.
If you think you could have fallen pregnant while you are taking this medicine you should consult your doctor for advice. It is important that you do not suddenly stop taking the medicine unless your doctor tells you to - see the warnings above.
This medicine passes into breast milk. It should be used with caution in mothers who are breastfeeding and only if the benefits to the mother outweigh any risks to the nursing infant. Lower doses taken by the mother are unlikely to significantly affect the baby, but if the mother is taking high doses for long periods of time, the medicine could cause the baby's adrenal glands to make less of their own steroid hormones. Seek medical advice from your doctor.


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How does Dexamethasone work?
Dexamethasone has an effect on virtually every organ system in the body. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that blocks the production of substances that trigger allergic and inflammatory actions. Dexamethasone is used to modify the body's immune response. At lower doses it helps to reduce inflammation by decreasing the activity of certain cells and chemicals produced by the body that cause inflammation. At higher doses, it can suppress the immune system by decreasing the number of cells necessary for a proper immune response.

Is there a generic equivalent available?
This medication is a generic medication.

How is it given?
Dexamethasone is an oral tablet, given by mouth. It may be given with food to avoid stomach upset. Always follow the dosage instructions provided by your veterinarian. If you have difficulties giving the medication, contact your veterinarian. Dosage depends on the product used. Your veterinarian may recommend starting at a higher dose and then reducing the dose every few days to a week. If on long-term therapy, do not discontinue the drug abruptly. The dose needs to be tapered off over several days to weeks to allow the body to start making its own cortisol again. This medication should only be given to the pet for which it was prescribed.

Always follow the dosage instructions provided by your veterinarian. If you have difficulty giving the medication, contact your veterinarian.

This medication should only be given to the pet for whom it was prescribed.

What results can I expect?
When used to treat inflammatory conditions, the success rate is very good and improvements can be seen in several days. If the Dexamethasone is stopped, signs of the disease may reappear. Autoimmune diseases and cancers are more difficult to treat and the success rate will depend on the type and severity of the condition.

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Very good and educating.

please where can I get a good confirmed mawu mawu drug and what's the name in English. thanks