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Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

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DEXAMETHASONE

All products: not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (H02AB) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Dexamethasone (Decadron): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Hydrocortisone (Cortef): general benefit, Listing status unconfirmed
  • Methylprednisolone (Medrol): general benefit
  • Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol): general benefit
  • Prednisolone (Pediapred Oral Liquid): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Prednisone (Winpred): general benefit, Not a benefit

3 more in the class list below

Decadron · DIN 00016462 · 0.5mg · tablet

Listed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2002-07-29 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.Discontinued 2002-07-29 · checked 2026-09-02
StatusListed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2002-07-29 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2002-07-29 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
1 brand, same coverage
Decadron · DIN 00016462 Manufacturer: Merck Sharp & Dohme Canada, Division of Merck Frosst Canada; listing date 1996-10-01 Health Canada: Cancelled post market since 2002-07-29 · brand DECADRON TAB 0.5MG · ATC H02AB02 DEXAMETHASONE · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients DEXAMETHASONE .5 MG · company Merck frosst canada & cie, merck frosst canada & co. · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Decadron: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=286 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 00016462)

Source record
DIN 00016462: Decadron Raw flags: notABenefit=Y, sec3=Y Item: 680400022; group id 707; item number 1746; lccId None; manufacturer id MSD Source form: Tab; strength: 0.5mg Recorded listing: Listed, not a benefit; ODB pays only for the benefit products in this interchangeable category Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=00016462 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=286
Interchangeable products
Apo-Dexamethasone · DIN 02261081 · $0.1564 PMS-Dexamethasone · DIN 01964976 · $0.1564
Shortage status: no shortage or discontinuation reported (checked 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00); reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=00016462
Shortage record checked 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00
Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2002-07-29 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Other drugs in the same formulary class (68:04 Corticosteroids) and how they are covered

Matched class: 68:04 Corticosteroids

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE, CICLESONIDE, FLUDROCORTISONE ACETATE, FLUTICASONE FUROATE, FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE, METHYLPREDNISOLONE, METHYLPREDNISOLONE ACETATE, MOMETASONE FUROATE, TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): BUDESONIDE, DEXAMETHASONE 21-PHOSPHATE, HYDROCORTISONE, PREDNISOLONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE, PREDNISONE 68:04 Corticosteroids

DEXAMETHASONE 21-PHOSPHATE

· 3 products · Listed, not a benefit (1), General benefit (2) · strengths: 4mg/mL · Inj Sol

HYDROCORTISONE

· 5 products · General benefit (4), Temporary benefit (1) · strengths: 10mg, 20mg · Tab

METHYLPREDNISOLONE

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 4mg · Tab

METHYLPREDNISOLONE ACETATE

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 40mg/mL, 80mg/mL, 100mg/5mL · Inj Susp-1mL Pk, Inj Susp-5mL Pk

PREDNISOLONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE

· 2 products · Listed, not a benefit (1), General benefit (1) · strengths: 6.7mg/5mL · O/L

PREDNISONE

· 7 products · General benefit (5), Listed, not a benefit (2) · strengths: 1mg, 5mg, 50mg · Tab

TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 40mg/mL, 50mg/5mL, 200mg/5mL · Inj Susp-1mL Pk, Inj Susp-5mL Pk

TRIAMCINOLONE HEXACETONIDE

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 580 · strengths: 20mg/mL · 1mL-Amp Pk

FLUDROCORTISONE ACETATE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 0.1mg · Tab

BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 50mcg/Metered Dose, 100mcg/Metered Dose · Aero Inh-200 Dose Pk

BUDESONIDE

· 12 products · Limited Use, codes 260, 261, 262, 263, 264 (9), General benefit (3) · strengths: 0.125mg/mL, 0.25mg/mL, 0.5mg/mL, 100mcg/Metered Dose, 200mcg/Metered Dose, 400mcg/Metered Dose · Inh Susp, Pd Inh-200 Dose Pk

CICLESONIDE

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 100mcg/Actuation, 200mcg/Actuation, 50mcg/Actuation · Inh-120 Dose Pk, Metered Dose Nas Sp-120 Dose Pk Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 68:04 and 5 more
Full class listing Related classes: 68:08 Androgens, 68:12 Contraceptives, 68:16 Estrogens, 68:20 Anti-Diabetic Agents, 68:24 Parathyroid Agents, 68:28 Pituitary Agents, 68:32 Progestogens and Oral Contraceptives, 68:36 Thyroids, 68:38 Anti-Thyroids Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1 INDICATIONS MAXIDEX® (dexamethasone ophthalmic ointment, USP and dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension, BP) is indicated for: • Steroid responsive inflammatory conditions of the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea and anterior segment of the globe, such as allergic conjunctivitis, acne rosacea, superficial punctate keratitis, iritis, cyclitis, and selected infective conjunctivitis when the inherit hazard of steroid use is acceptable to obtain an advisable diminution in edema and inflammation. • Corneal injury from chemical, radiation or thermal burns, or penetration of foreign bodies. 1.1 Pediatrics Pediatrics (< 18 years of age): The safety and efficacy of MAXIDEX in children have not been established. 1.2 Geriatrics Geriatrics (> 60 years of age): No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00072175.PDF PM date: April 01, 2001 Source product: MAXIDEX; DIN 00042560; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Other review policies

For Decadron: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026