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Short answer Side effects of dexamethasone injection: what to do Common questions Related questions SourcesMost side effects of a dexamethasone injection are short term, including facial flushing, trouble sleeping, mood or energy changes, increased appetite, fluid retention, and a temporary rise in blood sugar.
How much you notice depends on the dose, how many doses you get, and where the shot goes. A single dose for an allergic reaction, croup, or a flare usually causes a few days of jitteriness and poor sleep, while weeks of repeated dosing adds risks like infection, bone thinning, cataracts, and adrenal suppression. A shot into a joint or tendon can cause a brief pain flare in the first day or two, plus skin lightening or thinning at the site. Taking your dose earlier in the day, eating regular protein-containing meals, and checking your glucose more often if you have diabetes make the first week easier. Tell the clinician about any recent infection, live vaccine, or blood thinner before the injection.
Side effects of dexamethasone injection: what to do
Common questions
What are the side effects of Dexamethasone Injection?
A dexamethasone injection often causes a warm flushed face, restlessness or trouble sleeping for a night or two, mood swings, increased appetite, stomach upset, and a temporary rise in blood sugar that matters most if you have diabetes. Fluid retention, headache, and a metallic taste right after an IV dose are also common. A joint injection can flare pain for a day or two before relief starts. Longer or repeated courses raise the risk of infection, bone thinning, cataracts, and adrenal suppression. Call your care team for fever or other signs of infection, black or bloody stools, severe belly pain, vision changes, or glucose readings well above your usual range.