Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Dexamethasone is a potent, long-acting corticosteroid, about 25 times stronger than cortisol, with almost no salt-retaining effect. It is used for severe inflammation and allergic reactions, brain swelling, nausea during chemotherapy, as part of treatment for leukaemia, myeloma and lymphoma, for severe COVID-19, and to help the lungs of premature babies mature before birth. It is sold as Decadron, among other names.
Dexamethasone is broken down mainly by CYP3A4 and pumped out of cells by ABCB1. Studies have looked at NR3C1, the gene for the glucocorticoid receptor it acts on, at ABCB1, and, in children with leukaemia, at genes linked to side effects such as bone damage (osteonecrosis). The findings come from single or a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Dexamethasone. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
ABCB1 rs1045642: Level 3. Efficacy: Multiple Myeloma. 1.
ABCB1 rs2032582: Level 3. Efficacy: Multiple Myeloma. 1.
CTLA4 rs4553808: Level 3. Toxicity. 1.
ABCB1 rs2229109: Level 3. Efficacy: Multiple Myeloma, Progression-free survival. 1.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Corticosteroids (class) (Corticosteroids)
Glucocorticoids (class) (Corticosteroids)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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