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Class
Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid
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Mechanism of action
Synthetic corticosteroid that suppresses acute and chronic inflammation; potentiates vascular smooth muscle relaxation by beta-adrenergic agonists.
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Indications
Acute spinal cord trauma, anaphylaxis, bronchodilator for unreponsive asthma.
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Contraindications
Premature infants, systemic fungal infections, use with caution in pts. with gastrointestinal bleeding.
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Adverse reactions
Headache, hypertension, sodium and water retention, CHF, Hypokalemia, alkalosis, peptic ulcer disease, nausea, vomiting.
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Drug interactions
Hypoglycemic responses to insulin and hypoglycemic agents may be blunted. Potassium-depleting agents may exacerbate hypokalemia effects.
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How supplied
40, 125, 500, and 1,000 mg vials
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Dosage and Administration
- Adult: acute spinal cord injury-30 mg/kg IV over 30 minutes followed by infusion: 5.4 mg/kg/h. Asthma, COPD: 1-2 mg/kg IV.
- Pediatric: acute spinal cord trauma: 30 mg/kg IV over 30 minutes; infusion: 5.4 mg/kg/h. Asthma: 1-2 mg/kg/dose IV.
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Duration of action
- Onset of action: 1-2 hours.
- Peak effects: variable
- Duration of action: 8-24 hours
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Special considerations
Pregnancy safety: not established. Not effective if spinal cord injury greater than 8 hours. Crosses the placenta and may cause fetal harm.
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