Is dexamethasone an anti inflammatory?

If you have been living under a rock, or in some remote forest in the middle of nowhere for the past year or so, then you may not know what dexamethasone is. But fear not! This article will take you through all that you need to know about whether dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory drug.

Introduction

Dexamethasone (DEX) is a drug that belongs to corticosteroid class and has many uses such as treating allergic conditions like asthma and skin problems like eczema. Furthermore, it can be used with other medications for managing cancer especially blood cancers.

But how does this wonder-drug work? To answer this question, we should first look at why inflammation happens!

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation occurs when your body recognizes something as harmful (like infection), and tries to get rid of it by calling on white blood cells which fight against them. These same white blood cells release substances known as cytokines which make the area redder, hotter, more painful and swollen than usual due to excess fluid accumulation there.

Sometimes though things go wrong with our immune system causing unwanted inflammation leading to diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and allergies where medication becomes necessary unless one loves popping antihistamines every day; I mean people love drugs right?

We digress…

So what is an Anti-inflammatory Agent?

An agent that fights against inflammation- well done super reader! When it comes down however to mechanisms behind their action definition gets hazy. Many factors lead contribution towards decreasing levels of inflammatory process thus termed broad-spectrum actions rather than specific agonists of single pathways.^1

Accordingly several agents exist from natural compounds found in plants e.g gingerol/ginsenoside Rg3/curcumin for those looking organic options^2 … just forget about side effects.

Others recommended for daily intake include high doses of coffee and chilis whilst others like ibuprofen, aspirin or diclofenac can provide symptomatic relief although prolonged /weekly administration poses serious issues on health.^3

If our ancient ancestors knew that chili would cure their inflamed appendages before the advent of conventional medicine maybe we didn’t need to spend all that cash in healthcare. However as universe may have it some inflammations require larger more complex interventions i.e a combination medication approach which brings us back to Dex’s role in managing inflammation.

The Role of Dexamethasone

Dex is a corticosteroid drug prescribed mainly for reducing symptoms caused by inflammation due to its potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive capabilities; two birds with one stone eh?

Its Mechanism of action

As previously mentioned above little is known about precise mechanisms responsible for reducing inflammatory responses ^1, however its ability to mimic cortisol (which your own body naturally produces) allows it bind glucocorticoid receptors found throughout several cell types including lung,liver & immune cells such as T-cells hence affecting multiple downstream pathways involved in regulation inflammatory signals/proteins ^4- don’t you just love proteins?

The gist here is – this drug slows down white blood cell production which reduces overall injury/damage seen during certain conditions e.g asthma thus promoting repair process due lowered cytokine burden.

How Effective Is It?

Like most things in life effectiveness varies from person-to-person plus we must also consider extent/severity disease being treated albeit response time relatively quick upmost 24 hours^5.

A recent example from sarcasm infested Twitter celebrates dexamethasone’s rescue mission not so much because science says so but more due media frenzy.We’ll take anything these days because the news cycle is brutal.

But on a serious note other modes of inflammation management might have been tried before and proved futile, hence when issued under supervision as short-term treatment its utilization can result favorable outcomes.^6

Its Side Effects

All drugs to varying effects have some form side-effect profiles with DEX included. Most common ones experienced include insomnia, immunosuppression (yes it’s double edged), mood changes and weight gain but remarkably for one drug classified in highest category potential harm during pregnancy^7 , DEX seems to be safer than most others-silver lining perhaps?

How Can It Be Administered?

Like all drugs both target area and condition determine administration route e.g skin creams are for dermatitis whereas oral tablets more suited conditions such as osteoarthritis or autoimmune diseases

Conclusion

So there we have it folks; dexamethasone has good enough evidence showing that it effective in decreasing inflammation however like any medication must first consult physician nevertheless history shows DX use given certain circumstances proves itself worthy.

Well.. in this era where healthcare doesn’t come cheap wouldn’t you pay anything so long as those pesky symptoms remain at bay?

Disclaimer: The information contained herein does not substitute a medical practitioner’s opinion/ advice. Always adhere health guidelines from your licensed professional despite inherent dangers posed against eating NSAIDs plus chilis on daily basis!

1-Whicher J.T., & Evans L.M.(1985). A review of literature comparative anti-inflammatory property pharmacochemistry-coleophoma/cardioprotective compounds.amjmed.

2-Kim M.J et al.(2019)A systematic Review Anti-Inflammatory agents cancer patients.Qmj

3-Coxib O.S et.al.(2004) Selective inhibitors relative risk benefit ration.NEJM

4-Righi E.S et al.(2021) Systemic corticosteroids for treatment of COVID-19.clinmicrobiol

5-Martin N.B Grouse M.E and Goulding R.P(1996). Evidence Based Medicine In-Patient Management.


6-Catari F.A,Tabujara E.D.,&Maunsell FP.V(2007). Cyclical Versus Daily Corticosteroid treatment asthma.CRCVmedsciences


7-Garg J.P.,&Gnanakumar S.(2013) Anesthetic Considerations DEX User.AnaesthesiaEssay.

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