Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection: 4 mg/mL vs. 10 mg/mL, Single-Dose vs. Multiple-Dose, and What to Check Before You Order

Dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection comes in two strengths, 4 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL. Each strength comes as a single-dose vial and as a multiple-dose vial. In one manufacturer's line, the 10 mg/mL multiple-dose vial contains benzyl alcohol as a preservative, and the 10 mg/mL single-dose vial is labeled preservative-free.

The ordering risk is simple: a 1 mL vial of 4 mg/mL and a 1 mL vial of 10 mg/mL are the same size, from the same manufacturer, and say "dexamethasone" in the same place. One holds 2.5 times as much drug as the other.

What strengths and vials are there?

Here's Fresenius Kabi's lineup, from its package labels (4 mg/mL labels; 10 mg/mL labels):

Other manufacturers sell different sizes, including larger multiple-dose vials, with their own NDCs and labels. Check the one you buy.

4 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL: what's the difference?

Mainly concentration. It's the same drug and the same salt, and the 10 mg/mL vial holds 2.5 times as much per mL. Preservatives can differ from vial to vial, so check the label. Your clinicians choose the strength based on the volume they want to give. Purchasing's job is to make sure the vial that lands in the bin is the one they chose.

How to keep them apart:

• Separate, labeled bins for each strength. Not one "dex" bin.
• Different shelf heights, if your space allows.
• Order and receive by NDC. Strength is in the product code. Here's how NDCs work.

Single-dose or multiple-dose?

Fresenius's labels say it directly. For single-dose vials, discard any unused portion. Multiple-dose vials are kept in the container until the contents are used (10 mg/mL labels). Once a multiple-dose vial is opened, CDC's rule applies: date it and discard it within 28 days unless the manufacturer states otherwise. And if it goes into a patient treatment area, it belongs to that patient (CDC).

Two things to settle with your clinicians before you stock up:

• Do they need preservative-free? The 10 mg/mL multiple-dose vial contains benzyl alcohol (10 mg per mL). The 1 mL 10 mg/mL single-dose vial is labeled preservative-free. If a procedure calls for preservative-free, stock that separately.
• How much do you use in 28 days? A multiple-dose vial that's half-used on day 29 is half waste. The full breakdown is in single-dose vs. multiple-dose vials.

How should it be stored?

From the Fresenius 10 mg/mL labeling (labels):

• 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F), USP controlled room temperature.
• Sensitive to heat. "Do not autoclave."
• "Protect from freezing."
• "PROTECT FROM LIGHT." Keep it in the carton or tray until use.

Ordering checklist

• Order by NDC, never "dexamethasone 1 mL."
• Separate bins for 4 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL, with the strength in big print.
• Separate preservative-free stock if your clinicians use it.
• Pick multiple-dose vial size from 28-day use.
• Ask before a substitute ships. A different manufacturer can mean a different fill size, or a preservative where you didn't have one.

Order dexamethasone from Premier

Premier Pharma supplies licensed urgent care centers, physician offices, surgery centers, and pharmacies, and every invoice lists the lot number and expiration date for each item. We carry dexamethasone sodium phosphate 10 mg/mL in 1 mL vials, 25 per carton (Hikma) and 10 mL vials, 10 per carton (Mylan). For more procedure-area stocking, see our anesthesia supplies purchasing guide. Open a free account. Credential review typically takes 1–2 business days.

Sources

• Fresenius Kabi USA. Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, USP, 4 mg/mL: package labels. Revised February 2026. Reproduced from FDA structured product labeling.
• Fresenius Kabi USA. Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection, USP, 10 mg/mL: package labels. Revised 2026. Reproduced from FDA structured product labeling.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Unsafe Injection Practices.