Dexamethasone

[fatar760]

hey,

I was given dexamethasone 2 weeks ago to help get rid of a scratch following a DALK i had 5 weeks ago.

My vision hasn't really been improving and I think I haven't been taking the medication properly.

Really i should have been told exactly how to use it from the start rather than stumbling across it 13 days after been given it.

Basically, when I've opened a unit (which contains quite a few drops) I have then kept the same unit for the next time I've had to apply the drops.

I now think that I have to use a new unit EVERY drop.

Am I right about this? And, if so, how much damage could I have done to my graft?

It's rubbish coming to these conclusions so late at night - I'll now lie in bed worrying about it all night

[longhoc]

Hi there fatar -- just a quick clarification on something if I can ask -- does the form factor of what you've been dispensed resemble a small plastic phial holding appx. 3-5ml ? And does it have a marketing name which says something like "minims" ? If so then while the manufacturer does say that a new phial should be opened for each dose, I've been advised that this is a little cautious and in fact you can re-use the same phial for a couple of "shots".

Let me know if you're not sure what format the medication has been supplied in -- happy to send pics of the various types of container my Dexamethasone "stash" has been supplied in by various pharmacies.

The main thing to be sure to follow to the letter is to ensure that the "unpreserved" larger bottles of Dexamethasone which are dispensed by some pharmacies are refrigerated once opened. That's really important to adhere to. But I'd not worry at all if you've stretched one of the "minims" applications to a couple of doses. I've had it on good authority that it's perfectly safe to do so (although I being an ultra cautious sort do tend to always open a new one each time!)

Finally, I know what it's like just sitting there waiting for time to pass and hope that some setback you've had with your graft will be resolved. I'll say the predictable "try not to worry" -- but since I know that that's pretty much impossible ( ) take it easy and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Cheers

Chris

[fatar760]

Thanks for your reply Chris,

Yeh it's the minims you mentioned.

Since posting this I have been told by the surgeon that I can use one phial for the day. So, I open it in the morning and use the same one 4 times that day. Each time I put the lid back on and keep it in it's plastic sachet...thing :p