Interactions

When used with Dexamethasone, drugs that interact with it may either lessen its impact, shorten its duration of action, amplify side effects, or have no effect at all. Even while it is not always necessary to cease taking one of the drugs, sometimes there is an interaction between two drugs. Consult your doctor to learn how to handle drug interactions.

Dexamethasone may raise blood glucose levels in diabetics, necessitating dosage modifications for diabetes medications (such as insulin, glyburide, etc.). Use in combination with fluoroquinolone medications (such ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin) may increase the risk of tendon rupture. Alcohol can also raise the risk of dexamethasone's gastrointestinal adverse effects, as well as possible liver and renal damage. The inflammatory response to skin testing may be suppressed by dexamethasone.

Typical drugs with which Dexamethasone may interact are:

• antacids
• antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, rifabutin, rifampin, or troleandomycin
• anticholinesterases, such as neostigmine, or pyridostigmine
• anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as apixaban, dabigatran, fondaparinux, heparin, or warfarin
• antidepressants, such as desipramine, fluoxetine, sertraline, or St. John's Wort
• antifungal medications, such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, or voriconazole
• antinausea medications, such as aprepitant
• aspirin
• clozapine
• cobicistat
• CYP3A4 inducers, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin, St. John's Wort, or glucocorticoids
• CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, diltiazem, itraconazole, ketoconazole, ritonavir, verapamil, goldenseal, or grapefruit
• echinacea
• epilepsy medications, such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, or primidone
• estrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives (includes birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections)
• heart medications, such as amiodarone, diltiazem, or verapamil
• HIV medications (eg, atazanavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, indinavir, etravirine, ritonavir, nevirapine, saquinavir, or tipranavir)
• immunosuppressants, such a cyclosporine
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as celecoxib, diclofenac, etodolac, ibuprofen, ketorolac, meloxicam, nabumetone, or naproxen
• other corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• potassium-depleting agents, such as amphotericin B Injection and diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide)
• some asthma medications, such as zafirlukast
• vaccines (may inhibit the immune response)
• others, such as aminoglutethimide, bupropion, cholestyramine, cyclosporine, digoxin, isoniazid, quetiapine, or thalidomide.