Drug interactions
Dexamethasone + Ketoprofen
Severity: Moderate
Dexamethasone and Ketoprofen: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Dexamethasone given with an NSAID increases the likelihood of gastric ulceration and gastrointestinal bleeding.
What this interaction means in plain words
Dexamethasone and Ketoprofen can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Dexamethasone belongs to Endocrine; Ketoprofen belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Additive gastrointestinal mucosal damage: NSAIDs reduce protective prostaglandins while corticosteroids impair mucosal healing.
What to do
Minimize dose and duration and add a proton pump inhibitor in patients at risk. Watch for GI bleeding symptoms.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Dexamethasone and Ketoprofen, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Ketoprofen
- Ketoprofen + Ketorolac Contraindicated
- Ketoprofen + Ketorolac intranasal Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Ketoprofen Major
- Acemetacin + Ketoprofen Major
- Acetylsalicylic acid + Ketoprofen Major
- Alteplase + Ketoprofen Major
Other interactions of Dexamethasone
- Bcg vaccine live + Dexamethasone Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Mifepristone Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Rilpivirine Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Varicella virus vaccine live Contraindicated
- Dexamethasone + Yellow fever vaccine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Dexamethasone with Ketoprofen?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Dexamethasone and Ketoprofen can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Dexamethasone given with an NSAID increases the likelihood of gastric ulceration and gastrointestinal bleeding.
How serious is the interaction between Dexamethasone and Ketoprofen?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Minimize dose and duration and add a proton pump inhibitor in patients at risk. Watch for GI bleeding symptoms.
What other medicines interact with Ketoprofen?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ketoprofen with, for example, Ketorolac, Ketorolac intranasal, Aceclofenac. The full list is on the Ketoprofen page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
