Table of contents:
- Benefits of corticosteroid drugs for various health conditions
- Side effects that may arise from corticosteroid drugs if used excessively
Have you heard of corticosteroid drugs? Or, you are more familiar with these names: dexamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, betamethasone, triamcinolone, and may have used them for some reason. All of these drugs fall into the category of corticosteroid drugs that can treat many health problems. But behind its multi-functional properties, corticosteroids hide some side effects that need to be watched out for. What are the pros and cons of this million people medicine? Read more here.
Benefits of corticosteroid drugs for various health conditions
Corticosteroids themselves are actually a group of hormones produced by the human body in the adrenal glands which are located above the kidneys. This hormone functions in regulating carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, body fluid regulation, the body's defense system, and bone formation.
Meanwhile, corticosteroid drugs are usually used for disruption of hormone production by the adrenal glands which results in the body being deficient in steroid hormones. Other conditions that are often treated with corticosteroids include complaints such as swollen skin, itching, redness from allergic reactions, flu, aches, allergic asthma, red eyes (allergic conjunctivitis), autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic inflammation such as lupus, transplants, brain swelling, and many more. They come in various forms, from tablets, syrups, inhalers, nasal sprays, injections to creams, lotions and gels.
If you are asked by your doctor to use corticosteroid drugs in the long term, you will be asked to adjust your diet as follows.
- Reducing the amount of salt and sodium
- Count the number of calories so as not to gain weight
- Increase protein intake
This is done as a preventive measure from the possibility of dangerous side effects.
Side effects that may arise from corticosteroid drugs if used excessively
The use of corticosteroids in patients must be considered and well dosed. The reason is, this drug has a fairly long list of side effects if used carelessly. Regular use of the drug for more than 2 weeks can cause serious side effects. Therefore, most of these types of drugs must be redeemed through a doctor's prescription and rarely are they sold freely.
According to the NHS, common side effects after using corticosteroid drugs are increased appetite, mood changes, and difficulty sleeping. If the use of the drug is continued with increasing doses, the effects range from feeling weak, low blood pressure (hypotension), to low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). If left untreated, this group of symptoms can lead to death.
The side effects that arise will depend on what type of drug you are using. Usually, systemic use (in the form of tablets or injections) causes bigger side effects. The side effects of systemic corticosteroids include hypertension, increased blood sugar, diabetes, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, long healing wounds, potassium deficiency, osteoporosis, glaucoma, muscle weakness, and skin thinning.
Meanwhile, the side effects of local corticosteroids also vary depending on the method of use (inhalation or ointment). The side effects of local corticosteroids include a variety of the above symptoms, including mouth sores, nosebleeds, coughing, yeast infection in the mouth, pale skin color, hoarseness, and increased risk of skin infections. In more severe cases, the use of high doses of corticosteroids can cause Cushing's syndrome and an increased risk of pneumonia infection in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
