What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Arsenic trioxide and dexamethasone
Arsenic trioxide's FDA label of July 23, 2021 names dexamethasone in its warnings and precautions section; the dexamethasone labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name arsenic trioxide. The arsenic trioxide label: “If differentiation syndrome is suspected, temporarily withhold TRISENOX and immediately initiate dexamethasone 10 mg intravenously every 12 hours and hemodynamic monitoring until resolution of signs and symptoms for a …”
Check it at the source: the arsenic trioxide FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 23, 2021, Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC); the dexamethasone FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the arsenic trioxide label say about dexamethasone?
Arsenic trioxide label, warnings and precautionsIf differentiation syndrome is suspected, temporarily withhold arsenic trioxide and immediately initiate dexamethasone 10 mg intravenously every 12 hours and hemodynamic monitoring until resolution of signs and symptoms for a minimum of 3 days [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ].
Source: FDA drug label (Trisenox, NDA021248), Cephalon, LLC, effective October 28, 2025 (SPL set 101fc347-d0ad-4aee-8b06-9feb187fd741), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Arsenic Trioxide), Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, effective July 23, 2021 (SPL set 5845022e-8c01-451b-ae49-a28e58c5f845), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the dexamethasone label say about arsenic trioxide?
Dexamethasone's label (effective June 6, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name arsenic trioxide in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Dexamethasone Intensol), Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set b15200fb-1826-472b-a907-e677a272513b), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Arsenic trioxide | Dexamethasone | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma | Asthma, Eczema (atopic dermatitis), Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Herpes and shingles, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Multiple sclerosis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Allergies, Anemia, Pain |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | $0.193 per tablet 4 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | In shortage |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once