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

Patient plan: look up a medication list

DEXAMETHASONE 21-PHOSPHATE

All injection strengths: 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 00213624 · 4mg/mL · injection solution

Listed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2001-08-01 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.Discontinued 2001-08-01 · checked 2026-09-19
StatusListed, not a benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2001-08-01 — 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 2001-08-01 — 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 00213624 Manufacturer: Merck Sharp & Dohme Canada, Division of Merck Frosst Canada; listing date 1996-10-01 Health Canada: Cancelled post market since 2001-08-01 · brand DECADRON PHOSPHATE INJ 4MG/ML · ATC H02AB02 DEXAMETHASONE · form Liquid · route Intramuscular, Intravenous · ingredients DEXAMETHASONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE 4 MG/ML · 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=1369 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 00213624)

Source record
DIN 00213624: Decadron Raw flags: notABenefit=Y, sec3=Y Item: 680400005; group id 708; item number 1748; lccId None; manufacturer id MSD Source form: Inj Sol; strength: 4mg/mL 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=00213624 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=1369
Interchangeable products
Dexamethasone Sodium · DIN 00664227 · $1.6900 Dexamethasone Sodium · DIN 01977547 · $1.6900
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2001-08-01 — 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, HYDROCORTISONE, PREDNISOLONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE, PREDNISONE 68:04 Corticosteroids

DEXAMETHASONE

· 6 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (4) · strengths: 0.5mg, 4mg · Tab

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
INDICATIONS AND CLINICAL USE Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection USP may be given by IV or IM injection when oral therapy is not feasible in the following conditions: Endocrine Disorders: Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; synthetic glucocorticoids may be used in conjunction with a mineralocorticoid where applicable; in infancy, mineralocorticoid supplementation is of particular importance). Acute adrenocortical insufficiency (hydrocortisone or cortisone is the drug of choice; mineralocorticoid supplementation may be necessary, particularly when synthetic glucocorticoids are used). Preoperatively and in the event of serious trauma or illness, in patients with known adrenal insufficiency or when adrenocortical reserve is doubtful. Shock unresponsive to conventional therapy if adrenocortical insufficiency exists or is suspected. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Nonsuppurative thyroiditis. Rheumatic Disorders: As adjunctive therapy for short term administration (to support the patient during an acute period of exacerbation) in post-traumatic osteoarthritis, synovitis of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,… https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00083916.PDF PM date: March 17, 2026 Source product: DEXAMETHASONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE INJ USP 4MG/ML; DIN 00664227; 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