Reviewed: October 20, Medically Reviewed. These drugs mimic the way your body controls inflammation. Both naturally produced and synthetic glucocorticoids have two main functions: Regulation of sugar metabolism Anti-inflammatory effects Prescription glucocorticoids are used to treat inflammation caused by a wide variety of illnesses, including asthma, inflammatory bowel disease IBD , rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune diseases such as lupus , and cancer. Glucocorticoids can be used in cancer therapy to reduce some of the side effects of chemotherapy.
They may also be used to kill some cancer cells in some cancers, including:. Skin conditions ranging from eczema to poison ivy are treated with glucocorticoids. These include over-the-counter and prescription topical creams that you apply to your skin and medication that you take by mouth. Glucocorticoids may be used during sensitive neurosurgeries. They reduce inflammation in delicate tissues. They are also administered right after an organ transplant to help prevent the immune system from rejecting the donor organ.
Glucocorticoids may sound like miracle drugs, but they do have side effects. Some of these side effects can be very damaging. Long-term use of glucocorticoids can cause a loss of muscle tissue. If you have used glucocorticoids for more than a few weeks, your doctor will most likely taper your dosage slowly rather than have you stop taking it all at once. This helps to prevent withdrawal effects.
Your body naturally makes glucocorticoids, but when you start taking them as medication, your body reacts by making less of it on its own. When you stop taking glucocorticoids, your body needs time to start making more of its own at normal levels again. Glucocorticoids can be useful drugs for many different treatments.
However, it is important to balance the need for glucocorticoid therapy against the side effects. If your doctor prescribes glucocorticoid treatment for you, tell them about any side effects you have. Your doctor may wean you off of your medication slowly to prevent withdrawal. If you suffer from allergies, you may use corticosteroids to treat them. Learn more about corticosteroids, their side effects, and how they are used. Steroids are among the medications commonly prescribed to people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD.
Get the facts on steroids for COPD…. Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal cortex is damaged, and the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. If it is necessary to take a glucocorticoid during pregnancy, your provider should prescribe the lowest possible dose and for the shortest course that is needed for effective treatment. If you do need to take a glucocorticoid during pregnancy, Deltasone is the preferred steroid because lower amounts of this drug pass into the embryo compared to other glucocorticoids.
Topical versions of glucocorticoids may pose less risk during pregnancy because they are intended for local use rather than in vivo use. If you are using large quantities, make sure to double-check with your healthcare provider first. Because glucocorticoids pass into breast milk, it is not recommended to take a glucocorticoid if you are nursing.
You and your provider may discuss the decision to either discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the glucocorticoid. Some common serious side effects of glucocorticoids are listed below.
While these are generally less significant than other adverse effects, if any of these symptoms persist for longer than seven days, inform your provider. The most common side effects of glucocorticoids include:. Glucocorticoids are made in a variety of different formulations. The oral version is the most common way that doctors will prescribe glucocorticoids.
Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. Glucocorticoids: Uses, common brands, and safety information Glucocorticoids treat various inflammatory conditions. By Megan Huang, Pharm. Top Reads in Drug Info. Can you mix Trintellix and alcohol? Does hydroxyzine for anxiety work?
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