Steroids dexamethasone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone Cancer information
Discuss this with your health professional if you’re concerned. Your doctor may advise you to take drugs called bisphosphonates, or calcium and vitamin D supplements, along with the steroids to help prevent this. Regular exercise, especially things that involve your bones carrying the weight of your body, such as walking, can also help to reduce the risk of getting osteoporosis. Taking steroid tablets for a long time can make you more likely to get infections.
- If a small proportion of the fibres of the structure being injected are damaged, then it is unlikely that any weakness will result.
- Let your healthcare team know if you notice any changes in your emotional or psychological wellbeing.
- You may be prescribed other medicines to protect the lining of your stomach (this is often omeprazole or ranitidine).
- You may also be given a low dosage of steroids if you’re having chemotherapy or radiotherapy and feeling sick.
It is important to make sure you know how long to take them for. Take them exactly as your doctor, nurse or pharmacist explains. Although it is best not to take steroids during pregnancy, it is safer than many drugs and the benefit of treatment may outweigh the risks.
Intravenous (IV) steroids
Sometimes these diseases can be severe in people who are taking steroids, and you might need to have other treatment before you start to get better. Steroids, also called corticosteroids, are anti-inflammatory medicines used to treat a range of conditions. High blood pressure has been reported in some cases of anabolic steroid use which further increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
You may be prescribed other medicines to protect the lining of your stomach (this is often omeprazole or ranitidine). Methylprednisolone can also cause difficulties with sleeping so taking the pills in the morning will help to minimise this. You might have blood tests during cancer treatment to check for this.
Steroids
Systemic prednisolone includes tablets, gastro-release tablets and liquid solutions. They can be very effective, however because they affect all of your body, they are more likely to cause unwanted side effects. Oral prednisolone is often prescribed as an eight week course of treatment, and your IBD team may ask you to reduce (taper) your dose gradually towards the end of your treatment. Remember it is important you don’t suddenly stop taking prednisolone, even if you feel better, as this could make you extremely unwell.
Other health sites
The side effects of methylprednisolone are usually mild and will go away quickly when you finish the treatment course. The most common side effects include a metallic taste, indigestion, difficulty sleeping, mood swings or altered mood and flushing of the face. Steroids (also where to buy injectable steroids online known as corticosteroids) may be used to treat relapses in multiple sclerosis. For children in particular, there may be conflicts of information between the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet (PIL) and guidance provided by GOSH and other healthcare providers.
If you’re already taking steroid tablets, ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice before taking any other medicines, remedies or supplements. If you need any medical or dental treatment, show your blue or red steroid card to the doctor, dentist or pharmacist so that they know you’re taking steroids. The side effects will usually pass once you finish the treatment, but do not stop taking your medicine without speaking to your doctor.
Is it safe to take steroids if I have other conditions or take other medicines?
In these cases, you may be more likely to develop troublesome side effects. A high dose of inhaled steroids can sometimes cause more serious side effects but this is rare. The recommended course of treatment largely depends on weighing up the benefits of corticosteroids against the side effects.
I’m worried about my child taking steroids
Since steroids are man-made versions of hormones, they work by interacting with their respective hormone receptors. This happens because as molecules, steroids are small and hydrophobic, allowing them to easily travel across plasma membranes and into cells, where they are able to bind to their receptors. There are hundreds of different natural steroid hormones that can be artificially synthesised.