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Dexamethasone

Medication corticosteroid other
Aka: Decadron
Brands seen in Singapore: Dexasone, Decan, Dexamethasone Kalceks
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Inflammation, severe allergies, croup, immune conditions
When to take
NHS: usually once a day, in the morning with breakfast
Take with
Food · HealthHub: after food, to prevent stomach upset
Pros & cons
Pros
  • NHS: side effects are less likely below 6mg a day
  • NHS: for croup, usually a single one-off dose
  • HealthHub: also used to diagnose cushing's syndrome
Cons
  • NHS: sleep problems, mood changes and indigestion
  • HealthHub: lowers the body's natural immune response
  • NHS: stopping suddenly after a high dose is risky
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “All 22 dexamethasone rows read 'Prescription Only'. Systemic (H02AB02): DEXASONE TABLET 0.5 mg and INJECTION · DECAN TABLET 0.75 mg and INJECTION · DEXAMETHASONE TABLET 0.5/4 mg · DEXAMETHASONE KALCEKS 4 MG/ML”
  2. National Drug Formulary (SG, MOH) — DEXAMETHASONE TABLET 4 MG [SIN07155P], product information, last updated 28 Jul 2026 · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Forensic Classification: PRESCRIPTION ONLY MEDICINES … Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) code H02AB02 … Prescription-only Medicines with Exemptions for Supply without Prescription: NA”
  3. NHS Medicines A-Z — About dexamethasone tablets and liquid (UK brands Neofordex, Glensoludex, Martapan) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “used to treat a wide range of health conditions … severe skin conditions … severe allergies … sickness … croup … autoimmune conditions … available on prescription only … Common side effects include sleep problems, mood changes and indigestion”
  4. NHS Medicines A-Z — How and when to take dexamethasone tablets and liquid, dosage and stopping sections · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “You'll usually take between 0.5mg and 10mg of dexamethasone a day. For some conditions the dose can go up to 16mg a day … When used to treat croup in children, your doctor will give a single one-off dose”
  5. NHS Medicines A-Z — Side effects of dexamethasone tablets and liquid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Side effects are less likely if you're on a lower dose (less than 6mg a day) … Serious side effects are more likely with higher doses (6mg a day or more)”
  6. NHS Medicines A-Z — Who can and cannot take dexamethasone tablets and liquid · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “tell your doctor if you have: … recently been in contact with someone with shingles, chickenpox or measles … an infection or any unhealed wounds … ever had tuberculosis (TB) … diabetes … glaucoma … a stomach ulcer”
  7. NHS Medicines A-Z — Taking dexamethasone tablets and liquid with other medicines and herbal supplements · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “take medicine for heart or blood conditions, such as warfarin … antibiotics such as rifampicin or rifabutin … medicine for epilepsy, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbitone or primidone … non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)”
  8. HealthHub (MOH Singapore / Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore) — Dexamethasone medication leaflet, 'What is this medication for?' and how to take · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Dexamethasone belongs to a class of medications called corticosteroids … Reduce inflammation. Relieve allergies. Treat different diseases of the immune system. Diagnose Cushing's Syndrome … should be taken after food to prevent stomach upset”
  9. HealthHub — Dexamethasone leaflet: precautions, infection risk and vaccinations · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Dexamethasone decreases your body's natural immune response and you may be at higher risk of getting these diseases … Some vaccines may not be suitable for use in persons taking Dexamethasone”
  10. HealthHub — Dexamethasone leaflet: medicines to declare before starting · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Aspirin. Certain medications for pain such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Naproxen … Medications to thin your blood such as Warfarin … Medications used to reduce the activity of your body's immune system such as Cyclosporin or Tacrolimus”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.