Steroids Side-effects, uses, time to work

This means you should avoid any live vaccine until at least 3 months after your course of corticosteroids has finished. Steroids that are injected into muscles and joints may cause some pain and swelling at the site of the injection. meizitanghealthslim.com The recommended course of treatment largely depends on weighing up the benefits of corticosteroids against the side effects. There’s generally no reason why someone shouldn’t be able to use a steroid inhaler or steroid spray.

• It can range from mild to severe and is usually characterised by rapid speech, increased energy levels and insomnia (for 4 nights or more).
• The vaccine against the most common cause of pneumonia and yearly flu vaccines don’t interact with steroid tablets, as they’re not live vaccines.
• Corticosteroids are mainly used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.
• Some people feel low or flat for several days to weeks after they stop taking steroids, as it takes a while for your body to begin making its own steroids naturally again.
• This is known as adrenal crisis, or secondary adrenal insufficiency.

In general, you shouldn’t have live vaccines while you are on steroid medication and for 6 months afterwards. This is likely to be longer (at least 24 months) if you have had a stem cell transplant. If you take steroids for a long time, you might be at risk of osteoporosis, where your bones become thin and weak.

Types of steroids

Once you have recovered from the cold or treated the infection, your symptoms should start to improve. Checking for an infection is also important because steroids can make infections worse. ● Decrease in the production of natural steroids by the adrenal glands (adrenal suppression). If you’ve been taking prednisolone for more than three weeks it’s vital that you don’t suddenly stop taking it and that you carry your blue steroid card with you at all times.

Side effects are also much less likely with joint injections, because the prednisolone stays in the joint and is very slowly absorbed into rest of the body. Because steroids can cause you to put on weight or have an increased appetite, it’s important to keep an eye on your weight while taking them. Making sensible food choices and including some physical activity in your daily routine should help you avoid putting on weight. If you’ve taken steroid tablets for more than a few days, they can cause side effects known as withdrawal symptoms if you stop suddenly.

Side effects of steroids

Your doctor might also give you a steroid warning card in other situations. For example, this could include if you have four or more short courses of oral steroids a year. Other types of steroids are sex steroids (oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone) and anabolic steroids.

Short-term steroid treatment

You may 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. 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 you’re concerned. One of the side effects of oral corticosteroids is that they can increase blood glucose levels and increase insulin resistance , which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Irritation to stomach lining

The most common side effects include a metallic taste, indigestion, difficulty sleeping, mood swings or altered mood and flushing of the face. If you have just had any injections or vaccinations, tell your doctor before you take prednisolone. If you are going to have any injections or vaccinations, tell your doctor or nurse you are taking prednisolone. Try not to worry too much about the possible side effects of taking prednisolone – remember that your doctor will only prescribe it if the benefits of taking it outweigh the risks.

It is important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about something. This leaflet is about the use of these medicines in the UK, and may not apply to other countries. If your blood glucose levels rise significantly, you may need to increase or change your diabetes medication.

Recommended reading

You may be able to have the live shingles vaccination (Zostavax) if you’re on a low dose of steroids. Alternatively, there is a non-live shingles vaccine (Shingrix) that you may be able to have instead. If you’re taking high doses of steroids, or if you’re on them for more than three weeks, you’ll need to carry a steroid card.

Protecting your bones

If this happens, you will be given a different type of topical steroid treatment. Any side effects of steroids are usually short-term and gradually improve once you stop taking them. Skin thinning is an uncommon, temporary side-effect of steroids, but when combined with weight gain, it can result in stretchmarks. Increased eye infections and delayed healing of the surface of the eye are also common side-effects of steroids.