Dexamethasone is now one of the most-searched drugs and in the news for its potential to lower the mortality in Covid-19 patients.
What
This is a type of corticosteroid medication used in the treatment of many conditions, including rheumatic problems, a number of skin diseases, severe allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease, croup, brain swelling, eye pain following eye surgery, and along with antibiotics in tuberculosis. The effects of dexamethasone are frequently seen within a day and last for about three days.
History
Dexamethasone was first made in 1957 and was approved for medical use in 1961. It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. Dexamethasone is not expensive. In the United States, a month of medication typically costs less than US$25. In 2016, it was the 259th most prescribed medication in the United States, with more than a million prescriptions.[8]
India and Dexamethasone
India has at least 20 established brands selling the drug and the country exports the drug to over 107 countries. Dexamethasone worth $15.34 million was exported last fiscal.
At least 20 established brands sell Dexamethasone as tablets in India. Companies like Zydus Cadila, Wockhardt, Cadila Pharmaceuticals, GLS Pharma and Wyeth Ltd have this drug in the market. The drug is cheap and costs less than Rs 3 for a strip of 10 tables.
