The need for extreme caution while stopping short term dexamethasone therapy in SARS-CoV-2 infection: An experience

Abstract

The mental and physical impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to the indiscriminate and desperate use of medications with the intention of saving lives. Dexamethasone has come across as a key player in the treatment of the infection. Short term therapy of dexamethasone, up to 10 days does not usually require tapering while discontinuing the therapy. However, the dose and duration of steroid required to suppress the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPAA) is unpredictable. Hence, extreme caution should be taken while stopping dexamethasone therapy irrespective of the duration or the dose of the drug.