Obtain medication/incident history before Dexamethasone administration to avoid error and the need to self-report.

Prescribed PO/IV/IM Steroid Medications​

• PREDNISONE – Potent anti-inflammatory steroid used to treat many conditions ie: inflammation in different parts of the body.  ​
• METHYLPREDNISOLONE  (Medrol) –Potent anti-inflammatory steroid used to treat many conditions ie: Arthritis, intestinal disorders etc. ​
• DEXAMETHASONE – Potent anti-inflammatory steroid used to treat severe allergies, asthma, COPD, croup etc.  ​

Dexamethasone administration may alter the intended dosing of already prescribed steroid medications. THEREFORE . . .

Patients actively taking these medications are CONTRAINDICATED for prehospital Dexamethasone administration

Other Commonly Prescribed Steroid Medications ​

• CORTISONE - Joint injections ​
• FLUCTICASONE (Advair), SYMBICORT- Inhalers commonly used in Asthma and COPD patients​
• ANADROL ( testosterone therapy) - Anabolic steroids​
• HYDRICORTISONE - Topical Steroid Cream  ​

Patients actively taking these kinds of steroids are NOT CONTRAINDICATED with Dexamethasone administration

​Croup Case ​

You are dispatched Code 4 to a residence for a 5 yr old SOB. Upon entering the residence, you hear a barking cough. Caregivers tell you the child was seen in the ER approx. 28 hours ago. They are concerned the patients SOB and cough have worsened and are requesting you treat their child with medicine like the DR did. They tell you  it seemed to help before. You perform a thorough assessment. ​

Medical History- Unwell for 2 days  fever, runny nose, seal like cough ​

Allergies- None​

Medications- None prescribed, Tylenol as needed for fever, Dexamethasone admin at ER approx. 28 hours ago ​

A- patent, audible stridor B- rapid & shallow, nasal flaring C- strong radial pulses​

VITALS: LOC – unaltered GCS- 15 RR- 36 SPO2 – 94% HR- 128 BP-108/64​

SKIN- cyanosis to lips, pink warm and dry TEMP- 38.0 PUPILS- 3 PEARL​

General- Patient sitting upright, in obvious distress​

H/N – barking cough, nasal flaring noted, cyanosis to lips​

Chest- inspiratory and expiratory stridor​

Abdomen- noted belly breathing, no nausea/ vomiting​

Extremities- unremarkable, cap refill normal

Does your patient qualify for Dexamethasone administration?

First line treatment for this patient will be nebulized Epi. NO this patient does not qualify for Dexamethasone administration. Even though they are less than 8 yrs, HR is <200  and stridor is present with a Hx of URTI and barking cough.  Through your medication/incident history taking you discovered this patient received steroids within the last 48 hours and therefore administration would be contraindicated.​

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