Dexamethasone, Explained
Here’s what to know about the president’s steroid treatment for Covid-19
White House physician Sean Conley, DO, said on Sunday that President Donald Trump is now taking the steroid dexamethasone as part of his treatment for Covid-19. Here’s what’s known about the drug.
How does it work?
Dexamethasone is a cheap and widely available steroid that’s given orally or intravenously to treat diseases such as arthritis, allergies, and asthma. It helps the body quell inflammation, Shin Jie Yong reports. It’s thought to be helpful for the Covid-19 by stopping the immune system from going into overdrive and attacking the body. Since it is a long-acting drug and has systemic effects, it is considered about 25 times more potent than other synthetic corticosteroids.
When is it recommended?
Dexamethasone has shown promise for treating severe forms of Covid-19.
In June, early results from a clinical trial of the drug showed it lowered the risk of death from 40% to 28% for people with Covid-19 on ventilators and from 25% to 20% for people requiring supplemental oxygen over 28 days. It did not appear to benefit people with milder cases of the disease.
