The required dexamethasone dosage is affected by factors such as the condition it is being used to treat, the patient’s reaction to the treatment, the method of administration of the drug, and the age and weight of the patient being treated. If the drug is being used to treat asthma in an adult, the recommended dosage for oral and intravenous (IV) administration is between 0.75 and 9 milligrams (mg) per day. If the dexamethasone dosage is administered intra-articularly for the same condition in an adult, the recommended dose drops to between 0.4 and 6 mg per day. In a child, 0.6 mg per every kilogram in weight should be given.
Dexamethosone is a synthetic form of steroid, which can be used to treat many different conditions. Dexamethosone can be used for asthma, multiple sclerosis, croup, Cushing’s syndrome and various forms of meningitis in children. The drug works quickly, and its effects continue for a long time. Dexamethosone is 25 to 30 times more potent than hydrocortisone, a similar drug. It can be administered into the affected area, orally, or through an IV.
When administered orally or through an IV for anti-inflammatory purposes in adults, the recommended dexamethasone dosage is between 0.75 and 9 mg per day. This dosage should be divided into several smaller doses, administered every six to 12 hours. If the drug is being taken by an adult for multiple sclerosis, 30 mg per day should be taken for one week, and then the recommended dosage drops to between 4 to 12 mg per day for a month.
The dexamethasone dosage when used for anti-inflammatory purposes in children is determined by the weight of the child. The child should be given 0.08 to 0.3 mg per kilogram in weight each day. The specific dose should be decided by a doctor, and is likely to be based on the child’s receptiveness to the drug. Dexamethosone should only be given to children for acute onsets of asthma, and the dosage is also determined by weight. Children should take 0.6 mg per kilogram in weight, but no more than 16 mg.
The drug can also be used to treat meningococcal, listeriosis, haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcal meningitis in children. The recommended dexamethasone dosage is 0.15 mg per kilogram in weight. The drug should be started around 15 minutes before antibiotic treatment, and can be given every six hours during the first four days of treatment.