POM-V Prescription Required Companion Animal

Glucadex 2 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses, Cattle, Pigs, Dogs and Cats

Active ingredient: Dexamethasone

Form

Injection

Species

Cats Cattle Dogs Horses Pigs

Manufacturer

Alfasan Nederland B.V.

VMD MA No.

36408/5008

What it's used for

Horses: Treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis. Cattle: Treatment of primary ketosis (acetonemia). Induction of parturition. AN: 00828/2024Page...

Full indications, dosage and side effects ↓

View official SPC (PDF)

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Paying less for Dexamethasone

1

Ask your vet for a written prescription

They must provide one on request. Under the CMA Order the fee is capped at £21 from 2027.
2

Fill it at a registered online retailer

The CMA found online pharmacies 50–60% cheaper than practice dispensing on common medicines — typically £200–£300 a year.

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Prescription required

Your vet must provide a written prescription on request. You can then purchase from any licensed online retailer.

Clinical information

Glucadex 2 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Horses, Cattle, Pigs, Dogs and Cats — SPC Details

Source: VMD Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). Last updated 27 Mar 2026.

Horses:
Treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis.
Cattle:
Treatment of primary ketosis (acetonemia).
Induction of parturition.
AN: 00828/2024Page 2 of 7

Cattle, pigs, dogs and cats: intramuscular use.
For the treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions
The following average doses are advised. However, the actual dose used should be
determined by the severity of the signs and the length of time for which they have
been present.
Species Dosage
Horses, cattle, pigs 0.06 mg of dexamethasone/kg body weight,
(1.5 ml of product/50 kg body weight)
Dogs, cats 0.1 mg of dexamethasone/ kg body weight,
(0.5 ml of product/10 kg body weight)
For the treatment of primary ketosis (acetonemia) in cattle:
A dose of 0.02-0.04 mg of dexamethasone/kg body weight (cattle: 5-10 ml of product
per 500 kg body weight) given by single intramuscular injection is advocated
dependent on the size of the animal and the duration of the signs. Higher doses (i.e.
0.04 mg/kg) will be required if the signs have been present for some time or if
relapsed animals are being treated.
For the induction of parturition- to avoid foetal oversize and mammary oedema in
cattle.
A single intramuscular injection of 0.04 mg of dexamethasone/kg body weigth
(corresponding to 10 ml of product for a cow weighing 500 kg) after day 260 of
pregnancy.
Parturition will normally occur within 48-72 hours.
For the treatment of arthritis, bursitis or tenosynovitis by a single intra-articular,
intrabursal or local injection in the horse:
Dose 1 - 5 ml of product per treatment
These quantities are not specific and are quoted purely as a guide. Injections into
joint spaces or bursae should be preceded by the removal of an equivalent volume of
synovial fluid. In horses producing food intended for human consumption a total dose
of 0.06 mg dexamethasone/kg body weight should not be exceeded. Strict asepsis is
essential.

Except in emergency situations, do not use in animals suffering from diabetes
mellitus, renal insufficiency, cardiac insufficiency, hyperadrenocorticism or
osteoporosis.
Do not use in viral infections during the viraemic stage or in cases of systemic
mycotic infections.
Do not use in animals suffering from gastrointestinal or corneal ulcers, or
demodicosis.
Do not administer intra-articularly where there is evidence of fractures, bacterial joint
infections and aseptic bone necrosis.
Do not use in cases of known hypersensitivity to the active substance, to
corticosteroids or to any of the excipients.
See also section 3.7.

Horses, cattle, pigs, dogs and cats:
Very common
(>1 animal / 10 animals
treated):
Hypersensitivity reactionsUndetermined frequencyIatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s
disease)
, polyuria
, polydipsia
, polyphagia
,
sodium retention
, water retention
,
hypokalaemia
, cutaneous calcinosis, organ
atrophy (skin), delayed wound healing, weakened
resistance to or exacerbation of existing
infections
, gastrointestinal ulceration
,
hepatomegaly
, abnormal behaviour
, changes in
blood biochemical and haematological
parameters, hyperglycaemia (transient), reduced
viability of the calf
, retained placenta
, acute
pancreatitis
, laminitis, milk production decrease.
Involving significant alteration of fat, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism,
e.g. redistribution of body fat, muscle weakness and wastage and osteoporosis may
result.
After systemic administration and particularly during the early stages of therapy.
Upon long-term use.
In the presence of bacterial infection, antibacterial drug cover is usually required
when steroids are used. In the presence of viral infections, steroids may worsen or
hasten the progress of the disease.
May be exacerbated by steroids in patients given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) and in animals with spinal cord trauma.
Increased serum hepatic enzymes.
Occasional depression in cats and dogs, and aggressiveness in dogs.
When the product is used for induction for parturition in cattle.
Increased incidence and possible subsequent metritis and/or subfertility when the
product is used for induction for parturition in cattle.
Increased risk.
Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, such as dexamethasone, are known to exert a
wide range of side effects. Whilst single high doses are generally well tolerated, they
may induce severe side-effects in long term use and when esters possessing a long
AN: 00828/2024Page 4 of 7
duration of action are administered. Dosage in medium to long term use should
therefore generally be kept to the minimum necessary to control symptoms.
During therapy effective doses suppress the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Following cessation of treatment, symptoms of adrenal insufficiency extending to
adrenocortical atrophy can arise and this may render the animal unable to deal
adequately with stressful situations. Consideration should therefore be given to
means of minimising problems of adrenal insufficiency following the withdrawal of
treatment, e.g. dosing to coincide with the time of the endogenous cortisol peak (i.e.
in the morning with regard to dogs and the evening regarding cats) and a gradual
reduction of dosage.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a
veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to
either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national
competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for
respective contact details.

None.

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:
Response to long-term therapy should be monitored at regular intervals by a
veterinary surgeon. Use of corticosteroids in horses has been reported to induce
laminitis. Therefore, horses treated with such preparations should be monitored
frequently during the treatment period.
Because of the pharmacological properties of the active ingredient, special care
should be taken when the veterinary medicinal product is used in animals with a
weakened immune system.
Except in cases of ketosis and induction of parturition, the purpose of corticosteroid
administration is to induce an improvement in clinical signs rather than a cure. The
underlying disease should be further investigated.
Following intra-articular administration, use of the joint should be minimized for one
month and surgery on the joint should not be performed within eight weeks of use of
this route of administration.
Care should be taken not to overdose Channel Island breeds of cattle.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal
product to animals
This veterinary medicinal product contains dexamethasone which can cause allergic
reactions in some people. People with known hypersensitivity to dexamethasone
should avoid contact with the veterinary medicinal product.
Care should be taken to avoid accidental self-injection. In case of accidental self-
injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label
to the physician.
Dexamethasone may affect fertility or the unborn child. To avoid the risk from
accidental self-injection, the veterinary medicinal product should not be administered
by pregnant women.
This veterinary medicinal product is a skin and eye irritant. Avoid skin and eye
contact. In the case of accidental contact of the product with skin or eyes,
AN: 00828/2024Page 3 of 7
wash/irrigate with clean running water. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Wash hands after use.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment:
Not applicable.

Concurrent use with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may exacerbate
gastrointestinal tract ulceration.
Because corticosteroids can reduce the immune response to vaccination,
dexamethasone should not be used in combination with vaccines or within two weeks
after vaccination. Administration of dexamethasone may induce hypokalaemia and
hence increase the risk of toxicity from cardiac glycosides. The risk of hypokalaemia
may be increased if dexamethasone is administered together with potassium
depleting diuretics.
Concurrent use with anticholinesterase may lead to increased muscle weakness in
patients with myasthenia gravis.
Glucocorticoids antagonise the effects of insulin.
Concurrent use with phenobarbital, phenytoin and rifampicin can reduce the effects
of dexamethasone.
AN: 00828/2024Page 5 of 7

Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.

Cattle:
Meat and offal: 8 days
Milk: 72 hours
Pigs:
Meat and offal: 2 days
Horses:
Meat and offal: 8 days
Not authorised for use in horses producing milk for human consumption.

This information is sourced from the official Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your vet before administering any medication.