Many different factors can affect a sufficient Decadron® dosage, including the condition the drug is being used to treat, the patient’s response to the treatment, and the age of the person being treated. Usual adult dosages for Decadron® are between 0.75 milligrams (mg) and 9 mg per day, and the specific dosage within the range depends on the patient’s response to the treatment. If the drug is being given for chemotherapy-induced nausea, the recommended Decadron® dosage is 10 to 20 mg administered 15 to 30 minutes before chemotherapy. Children’s dosages are based on weight and are usually between 0.02 and 0.3 mg per kilogram (kg) in weight.
The biggest factor in determining a sufficient Decadron® dosage is the patient’s response to the treatment. Most dosages are expressed as a range rather than a set amount, and the specific dose given within that range depends on how well the patient responds. For example, a patient taking the drug for asthma may be given an initial dosage of as little as 0.75 mg, but if the acute asthma doesn’t respond, this can be raised up to a maximum of 9 mg. A doctor should be the only person to alter the dosage of the drug based on the patient’s response.
Different conditions require a different Decadron® dosage, and this can cause wide variations in the size of the dosage. When the drug is being used to treat a condition such as asthma or for its anti-inflammatory properties, the usual dosage of 0.75 to 9 mg per day applies. If the drug is being used to treat another condition, such as shock, the recommended dosage is between 4 and 10 mg, administered intravenously. Patients taking the drug for multiple sclerosis may require a 30 mg per day dosage for the first week, reducing thereafter.
A child taking a Decadron® dosage generally requires a smaller amount to produce the same effect. For example, a child taking the drug for its anti-inflammatory properties only requires 0.08 to 0.3 mg per kg in weight each day. When a child takes the drug for acute asthma, the recommended Decadron® dosage is 0.6 mg per kg in a single dosage. This can be calculated up to a maximum of 16 mg.
The weight of the patient being given the treatment can also affect the recommended Decadron® dosage. Children’s dosages are expressed per kg in weight in order to ensure that smaller children aren’t given the same dosage as larger children. If this were to happen, the small child would be much more likely to experience serious adverse effects with the treatment. Generally, weight-based dosages still have a maximum limit.
