Dexamethasone

DEXAMETHASONE

Overview:

It is a corticosteroid, related to a natural hormone made by your adrenal glands. It mainly is used to supplement this compound when your body doesn’t produce enough of it naturally. It decreases inflammation (swelling, warmth, redness and pain) and
Classification:
Synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid and a corticosteroid ester

Uses:
It is used to treat conditions such as some types of arthritis, skin, blood, kidney, eye, thyroid and gastrointestinal (i.e, colitis) diseases, severe allergies and asthma. Aside from COVID-19, dexamethasone is most frequently used to treat certain types of cancer.

How It Works:
It works by suppressing the migration of neutrophils and decreasing lymphocyte colony proliferation. The capillary membrane becomes less permeable, as well.

Dosage:
As prescribed by your doctor.
Side Effects:
Upset stomach
Stomach irritation
Vomiting
Headache
Dizziness
Insomnia
Restlessness
Depression
Anxiety
Acne
Increased hair growth
Easy bruising
Irregular or absent menstrual periods

Precautions:
Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dexamethasone, aspirin, tartrazine (a yellow dye in some processed foods and drugs), or any other drugs.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking dexamethasone. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
The following nonprescription products may interact with dexamethasone: ephedrine; aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve). Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking dexamethasone. Do not start any of these medications while taking dexamethasone without discussing with your healthcare provider.
If you have a fungal infection (other than on your skin), do not take dexamethasone without talking to your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver, kidney, intestinal, or heart disease; diabetes; an underactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; mental illness; myasthenia gravis; osteoporosis; herpes eye infection; seizures; tuberculosis (TB); or ulcers.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking dexamethasone, call your doctor.
If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking dexamethasone.
If you have a history of ulcers or take large doses of aspirin or other arthritis medication, limit your consumption of alcoholic beverages while taking this drug. Dexamethasone makes your stomach and intestines more susceptible to the irritating effects of alcohol, aspirin, and certain arthritis medications: this effect increases your risk of ulcer
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare provider for medical advice and proper dosage.

Gatifloxacin

Gatifloxacin

Gatifloxacin is a potent antibiotic that belongs to a group of medicines recognized as fluoroquinolones. It is used for treating bacterial infection. It inhibits the enzyme that bacteria need for making genetic-coded DNA. It was available previously in oral and injectable forms but is mainly employed now in the form of eye drops to treat external eye infections, such as bacterial conjunctivitis.

Key Takeaway Points

Target: A diverse range of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Major Uses: Bacterial conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers.

Mechanism of Action: Quick termination of bacterial DNA synthesis aiding the removal of infection.

Dosage

In order to get more out of treatments and avoid harmful side effects, continue through the following preparation guidelines in the usage of Gatifloxacin eye drops:

• Before touching the eye dropper, the hands should be washed properly.
• The patient should tilt their head backward and gaze up while holding open the lower eyelid to form a little bag.
• While holding the dropper directly over the eye, do not touch the tip to the eye or any other surface to prevent contamination.
• Instill one drop into the conjunctival sac and keep it closed for 1–2 minutes with light pressure on the inner corner (toward the nose) to prevent the medication from being extruded.
• It is advised that one should wait 5 minutes before instilling any other eye medication.

Side Effects

Common side effects are temporary and rapidly go away. In case they remain, discuss the effects with a healthcare provider.

• Blurry vision that goes away after a few hours is not uncommon.
• Stinging, tingling, redness, or burning are common symptoms.
• A general increase in sensitivity to sunlight has been observed.
• Unusual taste in the mouth.
• Allergy signs include face and/or throat swelling, severe dizziness, or breathing distress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use Gatifloxacin for a condition of a viral eye infection?

Gatifloxacin is not recommended, given the requirement for caution in most literature. Hydroxylamines such as moxifloxacin, though ideally avoided, would be marginally preferable.

5. Can I use Gatifloxacin if I am breastfeeding?

The drug reaches bloodstreams in significant amounts through intravitreal injection, but it is virtually nil through the eye, which was not highlighted by systemic monitoring.

6. What can you not mix with alcohol while taking Gatifloxacin?

Everything said strongly echoes the monograph, except I’d add even one explanation: The feel of an organism that has the hard-to-identify ill effects of drug.

7. Can one use Gatifloxacin while breastfeeding?

No, she cannot.

Talk about gatifloxacin ophthalmic use in pregnant women only if pregnancy is clinically refused by the mother.

5. What if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember but not preferably near your next scheduled dose. Skip the missed one if the next dose is within reach and continue with your regular dosage schedule. Do not attempt a double dose to make up for the missed one.