The prescribed dosage for dexamethasone may vary depending on a person’s individual treatment plan. Factors such as your medical history and body weight may also affect your dosage of dexamethasone.

Dexamethasone is used in adults and certain children to treat inflammation and conditions that cause it, conditions related to immune system activity, and hormone deficiency. These conditions include:

Dexamethasone may also be used as a pretreatment for chemotherapy to reduce inflammation and side effects.

Dexamethasone belongs to a drug class called corticosteroids, or steroids. Dexamethasone is available in several brand-name versions, including Hemady, Dexabliss, and TaperDex.

This article describes the dosages of dexamethasone, its strengths, and how to take it. For a detailed overview of this drug, check out this in-depth dexamethasone article.

Your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for dexamethasone. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage from those mentioned here.

Dexamethasone forms

Dexamethasone comes in two oral forms:

  • oral tablet
  • oral elixir

Dexamethasone comes in other forms that are not covered in this article. It comes as eye drops and three additional forms that would only be given by a healthcare professional:

  • injectable solution
  • intraocular (inside the eye) implant
  • intraocular solution given after surgery

Dexamethasone strengths

Dexamethasone oral tablet comes in the following strengths, expressed in milligrams (mg):

  • 0.5 mg
  • 0.75 mg
  • 1 mg
  • 1.5 mg
  • 2 mg
  • 4 mg
  • 6 mg

Dexamethasone oral elixir comes in one strength of 0.5 mg per 5 milliliters (mL). The brand-name version, Hemady, comes as a 20 mg oral tablet.

Dexamethasone is approved to treat many different conditions that involve an overactive immune system and inflammation.

More specifically, dexamethasone is approved to treat:

  • allergic reactions
  • rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, including:
    • ankylosing spondylitis
    • psoriatic arthritis
    • juvenile idiopathic arthritis (also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
    • lupus
    • gout
  • skin conditions, such as:
    • atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema)
    • pemphigus
    • Stevens-Johnson syndrome
    • exfoliative dermatitis
    • bullous dermatitis herpetiformis
    • severe seborrheic dermatitis
    • severe psoriasis
    • mycosis fungoides
  • flare-ups of intestinal diseases, such as ulcerative colitis
  • flare-ups of nervous system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis
  • certain leukemias and lymphomas, which are blood cancers
  • adrenal insufficiency, a condition where the adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones
  • COVID-19

The prescribed dexamethasone dosage may vary depending on the condition it’s used to treat. Always follow your doctor’s instructions. Notify them if you experience any side effects that may prevent you from taking your medication.

Dosage for treating inflammation

The typical starting dosage of dexamethasone for adults with inflammation due to various conditions is 0.75 to 9 mg per day, depending on the specific condition causing the inflammation.

Your doctor will likely increase your dosage over time until you reach your maintenance (regular daily) dosage.

For some conditions, you may receive dexamethasone as an injection into your muscle or vein on the first day of treatment. After this, you’ll take dexamethasone tablets as prescribed by your doctor.

Dosage for multiple sclerosis flare-ups

The typical starting dosage of dexamethasone for adults experiencing a multiple sclerosis flare-up is 30 mg per day taken for 1 week.

Then, your doctor will likely decrease your dosage to 4 to 12 mg taken every other day for 1 month.

Dosage for severe allergic reactions

If your doctor prescribes dexamethasone to help treat a severe allergic reaction, you may receive the drug as an injection into your muscle or vein on the first day of treatment. After this, you’ll take dexamethasone tablets as prescribed by your doctor.

The drug’s manufacturer suggests the following dosing schedule for severe allergic conditions:

  • Day 1: 4 to 8 mg by intramuscular injection
  • Days 2 and 3: four 0.75 mg tablets, taken as two divided doses
  • Day 4: two 0.75 mg tablets, taken as two divided doses
  • Days 5 and 6: one 0.75 mg tablet
  • Day 7: no tablets
  • Day 8: follow-up visit with your doctor

Dosage for severe COVID-19

The typical dexamethasone dosage for adults with severe COVID-19 is 6 mg, taken as a single dose once per day for 10 days.

You should not use dexamethasone to treat COVID-19 unless your doctor recommends that you do so. If you have questions about the use of dexamethasone for COVID-19, talk with your doctor.

Other conditions

Dexamethasone is also prescribed to treat these conditions:

  • adrenal insufficiency
  • cerebral edema
  • circulatory shock
  • certain blood cancers

If your doctor is prescribing dexamethasone to treat any of these conditions, they’ll discuss the dosages for your individual treatment plan.

Dexamethasone oral tablet is used to help treat many different conditions that involve an overactive immune system and inflammation in children. It’s typically used in children ages 1 month and older, but this may vary depending on the specific condition it’s being used to treat.

The dosage for children is based on the child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). The dexamethasone dose per kg is measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and will be calculated by the child’s doctor.

The starting dosage ranges from 0.02 to 0.3 mg/kg of body weight per day, taken as three or four divided doses.

For more information about dexamethasone’s dosage for children, talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist.

Your doctor or pharmacist will give you specific instructions for taking dexamethasone.

You can take dexamethasone with or without food. For some treatment plans, you’ll take your dose as two or more divided doses. Your doctor will explain how much to take and the best time(s) of day to take it.

How long do you take dexamethasone?

Your doctor may prescribe dexamethasone short or long term, depending on the condition you’re taking the drug to treat. They will determine your treatment plan, including how long you’ll take the medication.

Do not take more dexamethasone than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of dexamethasone overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose of dexamethasone can include:

What to do in case you take too much dexamethasone

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much dexamethasone. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.