Dexamethasone
Also called fluormethylprednisolone.
A potent corticosteroid used for inflammation, allergic reactions, brain swelling and severe COVID-19, where it was the first treatment shown to save lives.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf. Dexamethasone on the product labels we hold.
Medicines
Every product and list we hold
Sources and notes
- The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
- How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A C=O with a carbon on each side. Its oxygen accepts hydrogen bonds but has no hydrogen to give, and it resists oxidation better than an aldehyde.
From: standard chemistry.
An O-H on a carbon that is not part of an aromatic ring, the group that makes a molecule an alcohol. It both gives and accepts hydrogen bonds, which helps the molecule mix with water.
From: standard chemistry.
Fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine bonded to carbon. Each pulls electrons toward itself, and each is larger than the hydrogen the carbon would otherwise carry.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Compare a related molecule
Prednisone
Dexamethasone
Three differences: dexamethasone has a hydroxyl where prednisone has a ketone, plus a methyl and a fluorine.
Dexamethasone is several times more potent than prednisone, lasts far longer and needs no liver activation, while prednisone holds more sodium and water.
Prednisone vs Dexamethasone, side by sideAlso compared
Sources and notes
- The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitDrawn the same way round; the amber marks where the two differ.
- The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C22H29FO5
- Molecular weight
- 392.5 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 1.9
- Polar surface areatopological
- 94.8 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 3
- H-bond acceptors
- 6
- Rotatable bonds
- 2
- Complexity
- 805
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA via PubChem
Danger Irritant pictogram (GHS07), Health hazard pictogram (GHS08) and Environmental pictogram (GHS09); hazard statements H315, H317, H319, H334, H335, H360, H373, H410
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Dexamethasone for human use (NDA 013422, authorized June 20, 1962), as Maxidex. Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Corticosteroids
- Chemical groups
- Alcohols, Ketones, Halogenated
- Elements
- Fluorine
- Hazard classes
- Irritant, Health hazard, Environmental hazard, GHS Danger
C[C@@H]1C[C@H]2[C@@H]3CCC4=CC(=O)C=C[C@@]4([C@]3…86 charactersPubChem CID 5743 · Wikidata Q422252 · InChIKey UREBDLICKHMUKA-CXSFZGCWSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Dexamethasone?
- A potent corticosteroid used for inflammation, allergic reactions, brain swelling and severe COVID-19, where it was the first treatment shown to save lives.
- How toxic is Dexamethasone?
- Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictograms Irritant, Health hazard and Environmental. from source
- What kind of molecule is Dexamethasone?
- Dexamethasone has the formula C22H29FO5 and a molecular weight of 392.5 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under corticosteroids, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Dexamethasone called?
- Dexamethasone is also called fluormethylprednisolone. from source
- Who licenses Dexamethasone as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Dexamethasone for human use (NDA 013422, authorized June 20, 1962), as Maxidex. from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
More related molecules
- Clobetasol propionate Also a corticosteroid
- Mometasone Also a corticosteroid
- Fluticasone propionate Also a corticosteroid
- Prednisolone Also a corticosteroid
- Methylprednisolone Also a corticosteroid
- Budesonide Also a corticosteroid
Sources and notes
- A group apartfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison captions
- The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit