HiDex 6-Day Taper Package

There are many brands and forms of dexamethasone available. Not all brands are listed on this leaflet.

HiDex 6-Day Taper Package is a steroid that stops the body from releasing substances that cause inflammation.

HiDex 6-Day Taper Package is used to treat various conditions such as allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders.

HiDex 6-Day Taper Package may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Your dose may change because of surgery, illness, stress, or a medical emergency. Inform your doctor about any such situations that affect you.

This medicine can influence the results of certain medical tests. Inform any doctor treating you that you are using HiDex 6-Day Taper Package.

Do not stop using HiDex 6-Day Taper Package suddenly, or you could experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine.

In case of emergency, wear or carry medical identification to inform others that you use HiDex 6-Day Taper Package.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

You must not use this medicine if you have a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Inform your doctor about all your medical conditions and all the medicines you are taking. There are many other diseases that can be influenced by steroid use, and many other medicines that can interact with steroids.

You should not use HiDex 6-Day Taper Package if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• a fungal infection anywhere in your body.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease (such as cirrhosis);
• kidney disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• malaria;
• tuberculosis;
• osteoporosis;
• a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis;
• diabetes (steroid medicine may increase glucose levels in your blood or urine);
• glaucoma or cataracts;
• herpes infection of the eyes;
• stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease;
• depression or mental illness;
• congestive heart failure; or
• high blood pressure.

Steroid medication affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily. Steroids can also worsen or reactivate an infection you've already had. Tell your doctor about any illness or infection you have had within the past several weeks.

It is not known whether HiDex 6-Day Taper Package will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using HiDex 6-Day Taper Package.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

HiDex 6-Day Taper Package may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you experience:

• muscle tightness, weakness, or feeling limp;
• blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights;
• shortness of breath (even with mild activity), swelling, rapid weight gain;
• severe depression, unusual thoughts or behavior;
• a seizure (convulsions);
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood;
• fast or slow heart rate, weak pulse;
• pancreatitis--severe pain in your upper stomach that spreads to your back, nausea and vomiting;
• low potassium level--leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling; or
• increased blood pressure--severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.

HiDex 6-Day Taper Package can affect growth in children. Inform your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using HiDex 6-Day Taper Package.

Common side effects of HiDex 6-Day Taper Package may include:

• fluid retention (swelling in your hands or ankles);
• increased appetite;
• mood changes, trouble sleeping;
• skin rash, bruising or discoloration;
• acne, increased sweating, increased hair growth;
• headache, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting, upset stomach;
• changes in your menstrual periods; or
• changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Call your doctor for guidance if you miss a dose of HiDex 6-Day Taper Package.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

An overdose of dexamethasone is not expected to cause life-threatening symptoms. Long-term use of high doses can result in thinning skin, easy bruising, changes in body fat (especially in your face, neck, back, and waist), increased acne or facial hair, menstrual issues, impotence, or loss of interest in sex.

Avoid being close to people who are sick or have infections. Call your doctor for preventive treatment if you are exposed to chickenpox or measles. These conditions can be serious or even fatal for people using steroid medicine.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking HiDex 6-Day Taper Package.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using HiDex 6-Day Taper Package. The vaccine may not work as well during this time and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, and varicella (chickenpox).

Sometimes, it is not safe to take certain medications together. Some drugs can change the levels of other drugs in your blood, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking. Many drugs can affect HiDex 6-Day Taper Package, especially:

• an antibiotic or antifungal medicine;
• birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy;
• insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;
• medicine to treat dementia or Parkinson's disease;
• a blood thinner--warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete, and many other drugs may affect HiDex 6-Day Taper Package. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.