Steroid medication
Corticosteroids are powerful medications that can sometimes have a wide range of side effects.
They will only be used if the potential benefits are thought to outweigh this risk.
The risk ofexperiencing side effects largely depends on:
Some of the main side effects are listed below, but this is not a complete list. Tolearn about all thepossible side effects of your medication,read the patient information leaflet that comes with it.
Inhaled steroids usually have few or no side effects if used at normal doses. However, they can sometimes cause:
Rinsing your mouth out with water after using your medication can help to prevent oral thrush, and using a device called a spacer with your medication can help to prevent many of the other problems.
There is also some evidence that steroid inhalers used by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can increase the risk of chest infections such as pneumonia . Discuss this with your health professional if youre concerned.
Inhaled steroids at high dosescan sometimes cause some of the more serious side effects that are more often linked with steroid tablets (see below), but this is rare.
Steroids that areinjected into muscles and joints may cause some pain and swelling at the site of the injection. However, this should pass within a few days.
Steroid injections can also cause muscle or tendon weakness, so you may be advised to rest the treated area for a few days after the injection. Other possible side effects can include infections, blushing ,and thinning and lightening of the skin in the area where the injection is given.
Because of the risk of side effects, steroid injections are often only given at intervals of at least six weeks anda maximum of three injections into one area is usually recommended.
Steroids that are injected into a blood vessel (intravenous steroids) may sometimes cause some of the more widespread side effects described below.
Short, occasional courses of steroid tablets taken for no longer than three weeks are very unlikely to cause troublesome side effects.
Its sometimes necessary, however, for them to be taken for longer periods. In these cases, youre more likely to develop troublesome side effects, although this is not inevitable.
Steroid tablets taken for longer than three weeks can potentially cause:
Most side effects should improve if you're able to reduce your dosage or eventually stop taking the medication.
Youmay have regular checks and tests for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and glaucoma if you need to take steroid tablets on a long-term basis.
Corticosteroids, more often known as steroids, are an anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for a wide range of conditions.
For most people, steroid inhalers and steroid injections should not cause any troublesome side effects. Steroid tablets are generally prescribed with more caution, as these can potentially cause more problems.
Corticosteroids can interact with other medicines, and the effects of either medicine can be altered as a result.
Corticosteroids are powerful medications that can sometimes have a wide range of side effects.