What is injected for the development of lungs in the fetus. Dexamethasone for preserving pregnancy and saving premature babies. Prescribing injections, tablets and drops
The drug Dexamethasone is an artificial analogue of hormones produced by the adrenal glands. The purpose of this substance is to maintain the normal functioning of the human body.
Dexamethasone is often used during pregnancy, to prevent miscarriage, to maintain a woman's condition in other diseases, and in premature birth to open the baby's lungs. Despite the fact that this drug causes debate among doctors, it has been used in gynecology for half a century.
The appointment of dexamethasone during pregnancy is carried out by a doctor.Instructions for use of the drug Dexamethasone provides for the following indications for use:
- rheumatic diseases;
- ulcerative colitis;
- oncological diseases;
- respiratory disease (tuberculosis);
- hematological ailments;
- diseases of the visual organs;
- severe neurological conditions.
Dexamethasone is prescribed in tablets during pregnancy, but if the situation is critical, then injections are used, which are administered intramuscularly or intravenously. If the patient's position is difficult, associated with rheumatic ailments, then the substance is injected into the joints to relieve pain. The use of this drug is quite wide in medicine.
The use of this drug is unauthorizedly unacceptable, since the dose and frequency of administration are calculated only by the doctor individually for each case. Therefore, there is no single admission scheme for women in a position. As a rule, Dexamethasone injections are prescribed in the first 3-4 days of treatment, then the patient is transferred to the tablet form of the drug. Side effects may also be present, namely: nausea, increased blood pressure, arrhythmia, allergic reactions.
Dexamethasone during pregnancy for the lungs
Dexamethasone is prescribed during pregnancy to open the baby's lungs. If the patient has a premature birth, then, in order to prevent the birth of a premature baby, the contractions are stopped. For this, agents are introduced that are capable of suppressing. And for the maturation of the respiratory organs of the child, the mother is injected with Dexamethasone. This is the main case why Dexamethasone is prescribed during pregnancy.
Dexamethasone injections during pregnancy. A small organism perceives this substance as a signal of preparation for childbirth and prepares for birth. This is how his lungs mature and when he is born he will be able to breathe on his own. The medicine is also prescribed in the case when the child does not have enough adrenal cortex hormones, but this is a very rare disease.
Dexamethasone instructions indicate that during pregnancy it is prescribed to reduce the amount of androgens. And although the instruction prohibits the use of this remedy for pregnant women, it is widespread in gynecology. If you lower the production of male sex hormones with this substance, then it passes.
Dexamethasone during pregnancy at 33 weeks or earlier is used to prevent respiratory diseases of the child, and miscarriage is also prevented. The course of prevention or treatment, as well as the dosage, can only be determined and prescribed by the attending physician, since successful treatment is possible with an individual approach.
Dexamethasone tablets. This substance lowers blood pressure and, if used regularly, will weaken the heart muscle. It increases pressure inside the skull and inside the eyes, triggering migraines and other disorders. The patient needs more carbohydrates, the amount of fat rises, so if a woman is sick or obese, she is not allowed to take this substance. It is not used for venous thrombosis either. But in a critical situation that threatens the life of the patient or her child, this substance must be used.
Pregnancy does not always go smoothly. Often there is a threat of premature birth or late miscarriage. The doctor, having compared all the facts, having weighed all the pros and cons, can prescribe rather strong drugs aimed at preparing the fetus for premature birth and increasing its chances of survival. One of these drugs is Dexamethasone. Why is such a strong hormonal drug prescribed, and what consequences to expect from it?
It has already been said above that the main indication for the use of Dexamethasone injections is the threat of premature birth. If such a problem is found, this drug will help to speed up the opening of the child's lungs. After the baby is born, he has every chance to breathe on his own, because the respiratory system will be developed and ready. Otherwise, there are risks that the baby will not be able to breathe on his own, he may have respiratory arrest, and his death. Dexamethasone injections cause general stress in the mother's body. The baby feels this, and already in the womb prepares for the fact that he may have to be born early.
Also, the drug is prescribed for increased testosterone production. By the way, if it is known that a woman is expecting a boy, the drug can be prescribed until the end of pregnancy in order to preserve her: when carrying a boy, testosterone can be additionally produced. Sometimes there are situations when the mother's body is trying to reject the fetus. Dexamethasone slightly suppresses the mother's immune system so that she stops trying to reject the fetus. Thus, it is also possible in many cases to avoid miscarriage, to inform and give birth to a child.
The drug is very strong and the instructions say that it cannot be used during pregnancy. However, it is often prescribed when there is a serious threat. First of all, the drug is difficult for the woman herself, because there are a huge number of side effects. But, it also has an effect on the child, because the placenta does not block it. Therefore, no doctor "just like that" will prescribe such a drug. We need serious reasons.
Instructions for the use of ampoules intramuscularly
The average daily dose ranges from 0.5-0.9 mg. On the first day, the maximum dose is introduced (4-20 mg), and on the following day, it gradually decreases. The exact dosage is prescribed by the doctor. Injections are made intramuscularly both in a medical facility and at home, if a woman can definitely do it.
Detailed instructions for the use of injections Dexamethasone intramuscularly does not imply self-administration of the drug without consulting a doctor and for good reason.
Side effects and contraindications
The drug has a lot of contraindications:
A complete list of contraindications can be found in the instructions. When prescribing these injections, the doctor must take them into account. Dexamethasone also has a lot of side effects. Therefore, it is considered very difficult:
- disruption of the endocrine system;
- metabolic disorders;
- problems with the cardiovascular system;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- disruption of the central nervous system.
You must definitely inform your doctor about side effects, especially if they are pronounced.
How much is Dexamethasone in ampoules
The drug is relatively inexpensive. The price of a package of Dexamethasone with 25 ampoules of 4 mg is on average 130-200 rubles, depending on the city and the pharmacy network where it is purchased.
Every woman during pregnancy is afraid by her action or inaction to harm the baby. Even with full confidence in the doctor, the appointment of hormonal drugs during this period is questionable. One of these medications is Dexamethasone. It helps to maintain pregnancy with an excess of male hormones, but has the potential for serious side effects.
Why do doctors prescribe Dexamethasone during pregnancy
Dexamethasone is a hormonal drug belonging to the group of glucocorticosteroids. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-exudative (decongestant) effects. It is used when you need quick and effective help:
- eye diseases (including non-purulent and allergic conjunctivitis);
- systemic connective tissue diseases;
- acute and chronic allergic reactions to food and drugs;
- allergic rhinitis;
- diseases of the skin, kidneys, lungs, hematopoietic organs;
- endocrine disorders.
Newborns whose mothers took Dexamethasone during pregnancy are under the special supervision of doctors due to the risk of developing adrenal insufficiency
During pregnancy, the drug is prescribed to women in order to prevent the threat of miscarriage in case of hyperandrogenism. This is the name of a condition that is accompanied by the production of an increased amount of male hormones. They interfere with getting pregnant, carrying or giving birth to a child. With a strong activity of the immune system, the body produces antibodies that seek to get rid of the fetus, and Dexamethasone blocks their activity.
A male fetus produces hormones, which are already abundant in a woman's body during hyperandrogenism. Therefore, the likelihood of atrophy of the adrenal cortex (a side effect of Dexamethasone) in newborn boys is higher than in girls.
Hyperandrogenism in women - video
The use of Dexamethasone to open the baby's lungs
With the threat of premature birth, the drug may not be necessary for the woman herself, but for the child. It helps open the lungs and helps the newborn to breathe on its own. Without injections of Dexametozone, there is a high risk that artificial ventilation of the respiratory system is required. For this purpose, a glucocorticosteroid is prescribed in the third trimester.
In the first and second trimesters, the drug can be taken as indicated if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Forms of release and instructions for use
Dexamethasone is available in several dosage forms:
- injection;
- pills;
- eye drops.
Prescribing injections, tablets and drops
Injections are administered intravenously, less often intramuscularly and intraarticularly. They can be done no more often than one course every 3-4 months. Exceptions to this rule depend on the individual course of pregnancy and the doctor's prescription. The daily dose of Dexamethasone is administered 3-4 times, and the duration of treatment is 3-4 days. Usually, injections are used for emergency therapy, when it is important to get the result as soon as possible.
The daily dose of medication in tablets is taken at one time in the morning (if the dose recommended by the physician is large, you can divide it by 2-3 times). The drug in this form is prescribed during prolonged therapy or after a course of injections, when the severity of the condition has been eliminated and the result must be consolidated.
Drops are used topically for inflammatory eye diseases.
Dexamethasone tablets are used when planning pregnancy to suppress the activity of male hormones. Depending on the indication, this treatment can take several months.
Contraindications and side effects
Like any medicine, Dexamethasone has contraindications. In addition to individual intolerance to the components of the composition, these include:
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (ulcers and gastritis);
- severe disorders of the cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems;
- active form of tuberculosis;
- hepatic or renal failure.
A woman after taking Dexamethasone may experience:
- weakness;
- irritability;
- decreased appetite or, conversely, weight gain;
- convulsions;
- hallucinations;
- signs of arrhythmia;
- allergic reactions.
While taking Dexamethasone, you need to eat more foods rich in vitamins, proteins, potassium. This will help reduce the negative effects of the drug on the body. It is also better to limit the intake of fatty foods, carbohydrates.
Potential consequences for women and children
The likelihood of side effects of Dexamethasone increases with prolonged use (as a rule, a long course of therapy is required during pregnancy). The fetus is at risk of disrupting the adrenal cortex. The most dangerous condition in this case is an adrenal crisis, which can lead to death.
Drug analogues and hormonal agents prescribed during pregnancy
The need to prescribe hormonal agents is decided individually. Their use is justified only in cases where it is about maintaining pregnancy.
Dexamethasone analogs for the active substance are:
- Dexamed (solution for injection, tablets);
- Decadron (injection, tablets);
- Dexazon (injection, tablets);
- Dexamethasone sodium phosphate (solution for injection);
- Maxidex (drops);
- Dexaven (solution for injection);
- Fortecortin (tablets).
In case of intolerance to the components of the composition or the presence of contraindications, Dexamethasone and its analogs can be replaced by other agents with a similar therapeutic effect.
Hormonal drugs prescribed during pregnancy - table
| Name | Release form | Active substance | Contraindications | Application during pregnancy |
| Prednisone |
| prednisone | sensitivity to the components of the composition (with short-term use for health reasons) | Perhaps if the intended benefit to the mother outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. In the first trimester, it is prescribed only for health reasons. |
| Metipred |
| methylprednisolone | ||
| Utrozhestan | capsules that can be taken orally and intravaginally | natural micronized progesterone | severe liver dysfunctions (when taken orally) | It is possible, but if it is necessary to use it after the third month of pregnancy, it is necessary to control the functional state of the liver. |
The hormonal drug Dekasamethasone is used for a number of different diseases, since its pharmacological characteristics are based on improving the condition of a person as a whole. This drug should be used with extreme caution and only as directed by a specialist.
Indications for the use of Dexamethasone for pregnant women
Dexamethasone is widely used in the field of gynecology and is often prescribed for women planning a pregnancy and carrying a child.Features of the use of Dexamethasone when planning pregnancy
As you know, Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid, which is a synthetically created analogue of adrenal cortex hormones. Since it is the adrenal glands that especially significantly affect the reproductive function of the female body, problems on their part often cause difficulties in conception.Most often, the problem is in hyperandrogenism, that is, in an increase in the content of male sex hormones. Hyperandrogenism has the following symptomatic manifestations: 
- irregular menstrual cycle;
- lack of ovulation;
- increased body hair growth.
Practice shows that the effectiveness of the drug is very high. Gynecologists recall a lot of cases in their practice, when pregnancy after Dexamethasone occurred almost instantly. Usually, in order to restore ovulation, a minimum dosage of the drug is enough, respectively, its negative effect on the body will be minimal.
Features of taking Dexamethasone during pregnancy
Deximethasone during pregnancy is prescribed only under the condition that the therapeutic effect that it has remains significantly higher than the risk of negative effects that the drug may have on the fetus. As a rule, we are talking about rather serious cases in which the use of other drugs is useless.Answering the question of why Dexamethasone is prescribed during pregnancy, it should be noted that at an early stage, often only this drug is able to avoid miscarriage against the background of hormonal disruption. The drug normalizes the testosterone content in the female body and the risk of miscarriage disappears.
In some cases, hormonal imbalances cause the body's immune system to malfunction. As a result, the woman's body begins to perceive pregnancy as something alien. The immune process is activated and there is a serious threat of miscarriage. In this case, Dexamethasone also comes to the rescue during pregnancy.
Another reason a hormonal drug is prescribed to a pregnant woman is life threatening. It can be Quincke's edema or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases.
Dexamethasone during pregnancy to open up the baby's lungs
Dexamethasone in the third trimester of pregnancy is prescribed by a doctor to accelerate the opening of the lungs of a developing fetus. Usually we are talking about situations where there is a serious threat of premature birth. As a rule, two to three days of taking the drug by the expectant mother is enough for the child born prematurely to be able to breathe on its own. A short-term intake of a drug such as Dexamethasone for opening the lungs has no particular negative consequences. In the rarest cases and with prolonged use of the drug, the child may begin to develop atrophy of the adrenal cortex, but with special treatment this condition can be corrected without problems.Application of Dexamethasone
Dexametachone is available in two versions:- the form of tablets;
- in the form of a solution for injection.
The tablets are taken in accordance with the recommendations of the doctor who made the appointment.
Dexamethasone dosage
Since Dexamethasone during pregnancy must be prescribed by a doctor leading a pregnancy, the dosage of Dexamethasone is prescribed individually, and the instructions for use of Dexamethasone must be strictly followed. The amount of the drug in each specific case depends on the following parameters:- features of the disease;
- the duration of the treatment process;
- the patient's body response to therapy.
During pregnancy, the drug is most often taken in the morning or before bedtime, half a tablet. Initially, higher doses are prescribed, which are gradually reduced to maintenance.
Dexamethasone during pregnancy is used for a long time or in high doses, it is better to drink it with meals, and use antacids between meals.
A single case of an overdose of the drug does not cause any serious consequences, but it is possible that the side effects of Dexamethasone may increase, which depend on the amount of drugs administered orally. In any case, it is better not to overdo it with dosages. In the case of Dexamethasone, more does not mean better. The patient, no matter how well he tolerates the medicine, worsens his health and begins to show side effects. Moreover, the side effects begin to emerge at an incredible speed. In this regard, the drug is usually prescribed in short courses, the total duration of which does not exceed two weeks. If we talk about Dexamethasone during pregnancy, its use remains relatively safe only for several days ..
The main side effects of Dexamethasone
Both the development and the severity of side effects when taking Dexamethasone during pregnancy depends on the dosage of the drug used and the duration of its use. It should be noted that in some cases, the side effects of Dexamethasone can be quite serious and tangible. Most often, we are talking about a sharp increase in blood pressure, impaired secretion of the hormone testosterone, as well as the risk of developing diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. In addition, the medication can cause stretch marks, acne, severe swelling, and muscle weakness.Like any other drugs of the glucocorticosteroid group, Dexamethasone can reduce the content of thyroid hormones in plasma.
Another unpleasant side effect of taking Dexamethasone during pregnancy is a significant decrease in immunity and the rate of wound healing. However, the indicated "side effects" occur most often when using the drug intravenously.
But if a pregnant woman has a tendency to a disease such as diabetes mellitus or suffers from this disease, the appointment of Dexamethasone to her is unacceptable in principle. This is due to the fact that the drug significantly increases insulin resistance.
The drug should be used with great care in patients with duodenal and gastric ulcers. In case of infection with infectious diseases, the use of Dexamethasone should also be discontinued.
Dexamethasone analogs
According to its active substance, the drug has a number of analogues. First of all, we are talking about the following drugs.Structural analogues of Dexamethasone by active ingredient:
- Decadron;
- Dexaven;
- Dexazon;
- Dexamed;
- Dexafar;
- Dexon;
- Maxidex;
- Oftan Dexamethasone;
- Fortecortin.
As for the effect of Dexamethasone on the fetus, with short-term use, the unborn child should not develop any defects. But in the event that treatment continues for a sufficiently long period of time, some abnormalities in the development of the fetus may be observed. It is especially dangerous to use the drug at the very end of pregnancy. If the situation is such that it is impossible not to do without a drug under any circumstances, it is very important that from the moment it begins to take it until the end of pregnancy, everything happens under the supervision of an experienced and qualified specialist. Only in this case, a pregnant woman taking Dexamethasone will not be able to worry that her treatment may lead to certain difficulties.