What is a Decadron taper?
What is a Decadron taper?
Dexamethasone should be tapered in a manner individualized to the patient. One of these taper schedules is recommended: Slow taper: Start with 4 mg twice daily for 7 days, then 2 mg twice daily for 7 days, then 1 mg twice daily for 7 days, then 1 mg once daily for 7 days.
What are the directions for Dexpak 10 Day?
Dosing
- Adults—At first, 0.75 to 9 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
- Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, 0.02 to 0.3 mg per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day, divided and taken 3 or 4 times a day.
How long should Decadron be taken?
For some conditions you may only need to take dexamethasone for a few days or weeks. However, for other conditions you may need to take it for longer, sometimes for several months. Can I take dexamethasone for a long time? Taking dexamethasone for several months can increase the risk of some other side effects.
How long do Decadron withdrawal symptoms last?
It’s normal to feel some mild symptoms for about a week or two as you taper off prednisone. Don’t take any OTC pain medicine or prescription drugs without asking your doctor first. Psychological withdrawal symptoms could last for 2 to 8 weeks.
How do I wean off Decadron?
In clinical practice, dexamethasone tapering schedules are often prescribed for short-term therapy, and usually consists of an empiric reduction in dose of 2-4 mg every 1-3 days, by either reducing the dose and/or the interval.
How do you taper off prednisone?
There are no set rules for tapering off of prednisone….Example of Prednisone Tapering Strategy
- Decrease dose by 5-milligrams (mg) at a time if the dosage is less than 40 mg per day.
- Decrease in 2.5-mg increments once a 20-mg dose is reached.
- Decrease in 1-mg increments once a 10-mg dose is reached.
What are the withdrawal symptoms of dexamethasone?
Symptoms of corticosteroid withdrawal include:
- Intense fatigue.
- Physical weakness.
- Muscle aches.
- Joint pain.
- Appetite and weight loss.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Abdominal pain.
