What should you know about oral dexamethasone for asthma?

Asthma symptoms can worsen when the breathing tubes become swollen and narrowed. Dexamethasone acts throughout the body to calm this inflammation; it is different from a reliever inhaler, which opens airways more quickly. It is generally used for a short course or a carefully selected dose, rather than as a routine replacement for an asthma preventer.

Your clinician may consider it when wheezing, cough, chest tightness, or breathlessness is not settling with your usual plan. The exact medicine, dose, and timing depend on your age, symptoms, other medicines, and medical history.

Take the medicine exactly as prescribed and do not share leftover tablets with another person. If it upsets your stomach, ask whether taking it with food is suitable. Tell the prescriber about diabetes, stomach problems, mood conditions, infections, pregnancy, and every medicine or supplement you use.

Continue your personalised inhaler plan unless a clinician changes it. Keep track of whether breathing, sleep, activity, and reliever use are improving. Dexamethasone can cause temporary indigestion, restlessness, sleep disruption, or mood changes; report troublesome effects rather than changing the course yourself.

Get emergency help if you are struggling to speak in full sentences, your breathing is rapidly worsening, your lips look blue or grey, you feel faint or confused, or your reliever is not helping as directed. Sit upright and follow your written asthma action plan while help is arranged.

Ask why dexamethasone is being used, when its effect should be reassessed, what to do if you vomit or miss a dose, and whether your preventer inhaler technique or action plan needs review.