Comparing Decadron vs Prednisone

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Decadron (dexamethasone)	Prednisone	Enter another drug to compare

Decadron (dexamethasone)

Prednisone

Prescription only

Prescribed for Adrenal Insufficiency, Addison's Disease, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Adrenocortical Insufficiency, Allergic Rhinitis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Aspiration Pneumonia, Asthma, Asthma... View more

Prescription only

Prednisone effectively controls inflammation and an overactive immune system but may not be suitable for everybody. Long-term use is limited by potentially severe side effects such as adrenal... View more

More about Decadron (dexamethasone)

More about Prednisone

Ratings & Reviews

Decadron has an average rating of 3.9 out of 10 from a total of 29 ratings on Drugs.com. 28% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 59% reported a negative effect.

Prednisone has an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 from a total of 869 ratings on Drugs.com. 68% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 17% reported a negative effect.

View all 29 reviews

View all 869 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

View all Decadron side effects

Insomnia (8.6%)
Weight gain (7.0%)
Swelling (6.2%)
Anxiety (5.9%)
Itching (5.5%)
Pain (4.8%)
Rash (3.7%)

View all Prednisone side effects

Drug Class

Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids

Generic Availability

N/A

Lower cost generic

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

We could not find an exact match for this medicine. Try searching the Price Guide directly.

Quantity	5 tablet
Strength	20 mg
Per unit^*	$2.07
Cost^*	$10.35

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Dosage Forms

Oral liquid

Oral solution
Oral tablet

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

N/A

4 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

Excluding First Trimester

Category D Positive evidence of risk

First Trimester

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 820 drugs are known to interact with Decadron:

166 major drug interactions (452 brand and generic names)
598 moderate drug interactions (2257 brand and generic names)
56 minor drug interactions (278 brand and generic names)

A total of 625 drugs are known to interact with Prednisone:

79 major drug interactions (218 brand and generic names)
503 moderate drug interactions (1916 brand and generic names)
43 minor drug interactions (232 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

October 30, 1958

February 21, 1955

WADA Class View classifications

S9 - Glucocorticoids

S9 - Glucocorticoids

More Information

Patient Resources

Decadron uses

Prednisone uses

Professional Resources

Prescribing information

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Comparing Decadron vs Prednisone

See also:

Benlysta

Carvykti

Entyvio

Abecma

Nplate

Otezla

Skyrizi

Tecvayli

Dupixent

Kesimpta

Further information

Comparing Decadron vs Prednisone

See also:

Further information

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