Dexamethasone acetate |
![]() Last updated: 14/09/2025 |
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(Also known as: decadron) |
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An anti-inflammatory corticosteroid veterinary drug | |
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Used, for example, for the control of CNS inflammation in dogs and cats and for the treatment of primary bovine ketosis. | |
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Cattle; Horses; Lamas; Elephants; Pigs; Dogs; Cats |
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Approved - usually available as a prescription only medicine to be authorised by a veterinarian (POM-V) | |
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Approved |
Chemical structure |
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Dexamethasone acetate exhibits chiral isomerism, due to multiple asymmetric carbon atoms in its steroid backbone. As a synthetic glucocorticoid ester, it retains the stereochemistry of dexamethasone, which includes defined configurations at positions such as 11beta, 16alpha, and 17alpha. The acetate esterification at the 21-hydroxyl group does not alter the core stereochemistry but adds a functional group that can influence pharmacokinetics. The marketed form is a single stereoisomer (11beta,16alpha). | |
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C₂₄H₃₁FO₆ | |
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CC1CC2C3CCC4=CC(=O)C=CC4(C3(C(CC2(C1(C(=O)COC(=O)C)O)C)O)F)C | |
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C[C@@H]1C[C@H]2[C@@H]3CCC4=CC(=O)C=C[C@@]4([C@]3([C@H](C[C@@]2([C@]1(C(=O)COC(=O)C)O)C)O)F)C | |
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AKUJBENLRBOFTD-RPRRAYFGSA-N | |
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InChI=1S/C24H31FO6/c1-13-9-18-17-6-5-15-10-16(27)7-8-21(15,3)23(17,25)19(28)11-22(18,4)24(13,30)20(29)12-31-14(2)26/h7-8,10,13,17-19,28,30H,5-6,9,11-12H2,1-4H3/t13-,17+,18+,19+,21+,22+,23+,24+/m1/s1 | |
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Yes |
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Common Name | Relationship | Link |
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dexamethasone | Parent | ![]() |
General status |
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Anti-inflammatory | |
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Corticosteroid hormone | |
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Synthetic | |
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Unbound dexamethasone crosses cell membranes and binds to specific cytoplasmic receptors leading to a reduction in inflammation | |
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[Glucocorticoid receptor, Agonist], [Nuclear receptor 0B1, stimulator], [Annexin A1, stimulator], [Nitric oxide synthase, inducible, Negative modulator] | |
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1177-87-3 | |
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214-646-8 | |
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236702 | |
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Alimentary tract & metabolism; Cardiovascular system; Dematologicals; Systemic hormone preparations excluding sex hormones & insulins; Respiratory system; Sensory organs | |
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QA01AC02; QC05AA09; QD07AB19; QH02AB02; QR01AD03; QS01BA01; QS02BA06; QS03BA01 | |
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No | |
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Allowed substance (Table 1 Bovine, Caprine, Porcine, Equidae) | |
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434.5 | |
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[2-[(8S,9R,10S,11S,13S,14S,16R,17R)-9-fluoro-11,17-dihydroxy-10,13,16-trimethyl-3-oxo-6,7,8,11,12,14,15,16-octahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]-2-oxoethyl] acetate | |
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Commercial |
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Current | |||
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1957, developed | |||
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Available in a variety of formulations including injections, creams, sprays and aerosols | |||
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The production of dexamethasone acetate involves a straightforward esterification of dexamethasone at its 21-hydroxyl group using acetic anhydride as the acetylating agent. The process typically begins by dissolving dexamethasone in an appropriate solvent, often pyridine or dichloromethane, followed by the slow addition of acetic anhydride under mild, room-temperature conditions. A Lewis acid catalyst may be introduced to enhance reaction efficiency. After the reaction is complete, water is added to precipitate the product, which is then crystallised and purified to yield dexamethasone acetate with high purity and consistent stereochemistry. | |||
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Published GHG data is not available for most pharmaceuticals. However, according to industry, global averages suggest producing 1 kg of a typical active pharmaceutical ingredient can range from 10 to 100 kg CO₂e for small molecule drugs and potentially up to 1000 kg CO₂e for complex biologicals such as vaccines, depending on the drug type, its formulation, complexity of synthesis, solvent recovery, and energy sources used. |
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As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. | ||||||||||
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Fate indices |
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Known metabolites |
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Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
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General |
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Metablised and around 30% excreted in the urine within 4 days. Also excreted in human breast milk. | Q3 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
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Health issues |
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May cause hypertension May cause retinal toxicity, glaucoma & subcapsular cataract May cause delayed wound healing, atrophy & skin fragility |
Handling issues |
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Emits toxic fumes of hydrogen fluoride when heated to decomposition | |||
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Not listed (Not listed) | |||
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dexamethasone acetate | ||
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Record last updated: | 14/09/2025 |
Contact: | aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: | Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |