• A drug known for decades is being hailed as a wonder cure for Covid-19 after the study group conducting a clinical trial in United Kingdom said Dexamethasone “reduces death by up to one third in hospitalised patientswith severe respiratory complications”.

What is Dexamethasone?

• It is a synthetic hormone.
• Natural corticosteroids (commonly called as steroids) are hormones secreted by the adrenal glands situated right above the kidneys.
• They are required for sustaining many vital functions of the body. Babies born without adrenal glands don’t survive beyond half an hour without hormone supplementation.
• Dexamethasone is a long acting potent synthetic steroid available in oral (tablet), topical (ointment) and intravenous (injection) forms.
• It has been around for decades. Some of the indications to use it include cancer (tumor compressing spine, Multiple myeloma), tuberculosis (some specific forms), mountain sickness (to decrease brain swelling) and severe asthma.
• It is also a potent drug for highly vomiting inducing chemotherapy.