Oral Versus Intravenous Dexamethasone
Oral Versus Intravenous Dexamethasone
The purpose of this study is to assess bioequivalence for dexamethasone administered orally
 versus intravenously in patients admitted to hospital for pneumonia.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Aged 18 years and older

 -  Presenting to the emergency room with suspected pneumonia (to be confirmed within 24
 hours from admission) Pneumonia is defined as a new or progressive infiltrate on a
 chest X-ray plus at least two of the following criteria: cough, sputum production,
 temperature >38°C or <35°C, auscultatory findings consistent with pneumonia,
 leucocytosis or leucopenia (>10 g/l, <4 g/l or >10% rods in leucocyte
 differentiation), C-reactive protein >3 times the upper normal limit Corticosteroid
 naive at time of presentation

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients needing corticosteroid treatment above study medication

 -  Failure to obtain written consent to participate

 -  Patients using medication drugs that interact with dexamethasone (i.e. phenytoin,
 barbiturates, rifampicin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, aprepitant, colchicine,
 everolimus, itraconazole, ketoconazole, pazopanib, tipranavir, and vinorelbine)

 -  Moribund patients (defined as expected to die within 24 hours)

 -  Patients with proven or suspected allergy to dexamethasone

 -  Patients not capable of taking tablets orally