Dexamethasone is a fluorinated steroid that is 9-fluoropregna-1,4-diene substituted by hydroxy groups at positions 11, 17 and 21, a methyl group at position 16 and oxo groups at positions 3 and 20. It is a synthetic member of the class of glucocorticoids. It has a role as an anti-inflammatory drug, an antineoplastic agent, a xenobiotic, an immunosuppressive agent, an adrenergic agent, an antiemetic and an environmental contaminant. It is a glucocorticoid, a 17alpha-hydroxy steroid, a 21-hydroxy steroid, an 11beta-hydroxy steroid, a 20-oxo steroid, a fluorinated steroid and a 3-oxo-Delta(1),Delta(4)-steroid. It derives from a hydride of a pregnane.