What is dexamethasone?

Why is it in News?
  • WHO Recovery trial reported that dexamethasone reduces death rates in certain covid-19 patients
More on News?
  • It is anti-inflammatory drug – used to reduce activity of immune systems
  • falls in a category called corticosteroids
  • used in treatment for rheumatological inflammatory conditions: inflammations of muscles, inflammation of blood vessels, chronic arthritis, and lupus
  • used in lung diseases, kidney inflammation and eye inflammation, and to reduce swelling associated with tumours of the brain and spine
  • In cancer patients, it is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy drugs.
  • Drug - found to have reduced deaths by one-third in ventilated patients and by one-fifth in patients receiving only oxygen
  • clinical management protocol for Covid-19 released by the Health Ministry of India allows the use of the corticosteroid methylprednisolone.
  • Health Ministry protocol says a larger dose of glucocorticoid will delay the removal of coronavirus due to immunosuppressive effects





Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 19th Jun 2020