Dexamethasone
Say it: dex-a-METH-a-sone · Brand names: Hemady
Dexamethasone is a strong steroid medicine that kills myeloma cells and helps prevent nausea and allergic reactions during cancer treatment.
What it is
Dexamethasone is a man-made version of a hormone your body makes called cortisol. In high doses it causes myeloma and some other blood cancer cells to die. It also calms swelling and the immune system, which helps prevent nausea and allergic reactions from some cancer medicines.
Often used for
- multiple myeloma, along with other myeloma medicines
- preventing nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
- preventing allergic reactions to some cancer medicines
- lowering swelling around tumors in the brain or spine
- some lymphomas and leukemias
How you get it
Dexamethasone can be a pill you take by mouth or given into a vein (IV) at the clinic. For myeloma, it is often taken once a week or on certain days of each cycle. To prevent nausea or reactions, it is often given on the day of treatment and sometimes for a few days after. Your schedule may be different.
Common side effects and what helps
- Trouble sleeping. Take it in the morning if your team agrees, and avoid caffeine later in the day.
- Feeling hungry, restless or moody. These feelings usually pass. Tell your team if they are hard to handle.
- High blood sugar. Your team may check your sugar, especially if you have diabetes.
- Upset stomach or heartburn. Take it with food or milk.
- Swelling or weight gain from holding fluid. Limit salty foods.
- Higher blood pressure. Your team will check it.
- Muscle weakness, especially in the legs, with long-term use. Gentle exercise can help.
Call your care team right away if you have
- A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher, or chills
- Very high thirst, urinating a lot, or blood sugar higher than your team told you to expect
- Black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, or severe stomach pain
- Big mood changes, confusion, or thoughts of hurting yourself
- Blurry vision or eye pain
- Feeling very weak, dizzy, sick to your stomach or faint if a dose was missed or you are sick
Before you start, tell your team
- If you have diabetes or high blood pressure
- If you have stomach ulcers, heart problems or glaucoma
- If you have ever had depression, anxiety or other mental health problems
- If you have an infection, including tuberculosis or hepatitis B
- If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- All the medicines you take, including vitamins, herbs and supplements
Good to know
- Dexamethasone lowers your body's ability to fight infections. Your team may give medicines to prevent certain infections.
- Do not stop it suddenly unless your team tells you to, especially after long use. Your team will tell you how to taper it.
- Long-term use can thin your bones and cause eye problems such as cataracts. Your team may check your bones and eyes.
- Ask your team before getting any live vaccine.
At home
- Take pills with food or milk to protect your stomach. Morning doses can help with sleep.
- Take it exactly on the days your team tells you. Myeloma schedules and anti-nausea schedules are different.
- If you miss a dose, ask your care team what to do. Do not take two doses to make up for it.
- Store at room temperature, away from children and pets.
Questions to ask
- Which days and what time of day should I take it?
- Should I check my blood sugar at home?
- What can I do to sleep better on the days I take it?
- Do I need medicine to protect my stomach, bones or prevent infection?
Part of these treatment plans
- C10403 (CALGB 10403)
- Carboplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab
- CyBorD
- DPd
- DRd
- DVd
- ERd
- Hyper-CVAD
- IRd
- Isa-Pd
- KRd (CRD)
- PBD
- R-DHAP
- RVd (VRd)
- Vd
- VTd
Side effect guides
Sources
Quick answers
- What is Dexamethasone?
- Dexamethasone is a strong steroid medicine that kills myeloma cells and helps prevent nausea and allergic reactions during cancer treatment. Brand names: Hemady.
- What is Dexamethasone used for?
- multiple myeloma, along with other myeloma medicines; preventing nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy; preventing allergic reactions to some cancer medicines; lowering swelling around tumors in the brain or spine; some lymphomas and leukemias.
- How is Dexamethasone given?
- Dexamethasone can be a pill you take by mouth or given into a vein (IV) at the clinic. For myeloma, it is often taken once a week or on certain days of each cycle. To prevent nausea or reactions, it is often given on the day of treatment and sometimes for a few days after. Your schedule may be different.
- What are the common side effects of Dexamethasone?
- Trouble sleeping. Feeling hungry, restless or moody. High blood sugar. Upset stomach or heartburn. Swelling or weight gain from holding fluid. Higher blood pressure. Muscle weakness, especially in the legs, with long-term use.
- When should I call my care team while taking Dexamethasone?
- A fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher, or chills; Very high thirst, urinating a lot, or blood sugar higher than your team told you to expect; Black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, or severe stomach pain; Big mood changes, confusion, or thoughts of hurting yourself; Blurry vision or eye pain; Feeling very weak, dizzy, sick to your stomach or faint if a dose was missed or you are sick.
- Which chemotherapy plans include Dexamethasone?
- C10403 (CALGB 10403), Carboplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab, CyBorD, DPd, DRd, DVd, ERd, Hyper-CVAD, IRd, Isa-Pd, KRd (CRD), PBD, R-DHAP, RVd (VRd), Vd, VTd.
Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.