Dexavit
Dexavit is a steroid medicine that helps reduce inflammation in your body, especially when other steroid medicines taken by mouth are not an option.
Form
injektio-/infuusioneste, liuos
Strength
4 mg/ml
Active Ingredient
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate
Manufacturer
XGX Pharma ApS
How to Use
Dosage
For injections into a vein or muscle, the typical daily dose is between 0.8 mg and 60 mg, depending on your condition. For injections into a joint or tissue, the usual dose is between 0.4 mg and 6 mg.
Method
A doctor or nurse will give you this injection. It can be given into a vein, a muscle, directly into a joint or tissue, or slowly as a drip into a vein.
Important
The maximum daily dose is 60 mg.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Your adrenal glands may not work as well, causing symptoms like fever, joint and muscle pain, and a general feeling of being unwell.
- •Red, round 'moon face,' increased thirst due to high blood sugar, headaches from high blood pressure, less muscle, unusual fat deposits (face, neck, body), and skin reactions like acne (Cushing's syndrome, with high doses/long-term use).
- •Problems with how your nerves work.
- •Swelling (fluid buildup) in your fingers, hands, feet, or legs.
- •Higher chance of getting infections because your immune system is weaker.
- •Fungal infection in the mouth (oral thrush).
- •Needing to urinate often, feeling thirsty, and being tired due to high blood sugar.
- •Feeling hungrier than usual.
- •Clouding of the eye's lens (cataracts).
- •Wounds may take longer to heal.
- •Pain, redness, and swelling where the injection was given.
- •Upper stomach pain, heartburn, and possibly vomiting due to stomach ulcers (with high doses).
- •Sudden feelings of warmth (hot flashes, with high doses).
- •More or unusual hair growth (with high doses).
- •Skin may become darker (increased pigmentation, with high doses).
- •Skin and the tissues under it may become harder and thicker (with high doses).
- •Increased risk of bone fractures due to weak bones (osteoporosis, with long-term treatment).
- •Muscles may get smaller and weaker (muscle wasting, with long-term treatment).
RARE
- •Severe stomach pain and fever from sudden inflammation of the pancreas.
- •Headaches, nausea, vomiting, pain behind the eyes, and vision problems due to increased pressure inside the skull.
- •Shortness of breath, tiredness, weakness, swelling in legs, fast or irregular heartbeat, cough, loss of appetite, and nausea due to heart failure.
- •Severe allergic reaction with rash, difficulty breathing, and fainting.
- •Sudden uncontrolled body movements (seizures).
- •Acute severe mental health issues like false beliefs, paranoia, seeing or hearing things that aren't there, or feeling confused.
- •Feeling generally unwell and being more prone to infections (e.g., sore throat and fever) due to changes in white blood cells.
- •Weakness and muscle weakness due to low potassium in the blood, which can rarely cause paralysis and irregular heartbeats.
- •Heart beating too fast, too slow, or unevenly (irregular heartbeat or palpitations).
- •Weakness in your muscles.
- •Women may miss their periods.
- •Increased sweating.
- •Hiccups.
- •Formation of blood clots.
- •High blood pressure.
- •Problems with vision or loss of eyesight.
- •Thickening of the heart muscle in premature babies, which usually gets better after stopping the medicine.
Important Warnings
- Do not use Dexavit if you are allergic to dexamethasone or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not use if you have a widespread infection that is not being treated.
- Do not use if you are receiving vaccines that contain live viruses.
- Dexavit should not be injected directly into a joint or tissue if there is an infection at or near the injection site.
- Long-term or high-dose use can cause your adrenal glands to stop working properly. Tell your doctor if you feel very tired, weak, have no appetite, lose weight, or have stomach pain.
Show 3 more warnings
- This medicine can hide the signs of an infection. Tell your doctor if you are being treated for an infection or develop new symptoms.
- This medicine can cause serious mental health problems, including feeling depressed or having suicidal thoughts. Talk to your doctor if you experience any changes in mood or behavior.
- If you have used Dexavit for several days, you should stop treatment gradually under your doctor's guidance to avoid withdrawal symptoms like fever, tiredness, and muscle/joint pain.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Consider the risk of adverse effects of cortisone treatment. (updated 10.11.2025)