Steroids
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For You
Summary
You may have heard of anabolic steroids, which can have harmful effects. But there's another type of steroid - sometimes called a corticosteroid - that treats a variety of problems. These steroids are similar to hormones that your adrenal glands make to fight stress associated with illnesses and injuries. They reduce inflammation and affect the immune system.
You may need to take corticosteroids to treat
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis
- Skin conditions such as eczema and rashes
- Some kinds of cancer
Steroids are strong medicines, and they can have side effects, including weakened bones and cataracts. Because of this, you usually take them for as short a time as possible.
Related Issues
- Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis (American College of Rheumatology) Also in Spanish
- How to Stop Steroid Medicines Safely (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Anti-Inflammatories and Corticosteroids (American Association for Respiratory Care)
- Corticosteroids (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America)
- Epidural Steroid Injections (North American Spine Society)
- Inhaled Steroids (National Jewish Health)
- Oral Steroids (Steroid Pills and Syrups) (National Jewish Health)
- Steroids for Treating Cancer (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Treating Asthma with Inhaled Steroids (Consumers Union of U.S.) - PDF
- What You Can Expect with a Cortisone Shot (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Images
- Prednisone (Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Adrenal Cortex Hormones
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Glucocorticoids
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Prednisone
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Children
- Corticosteroids (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Women
- Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICSs) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Steroid injections - tendon, bursa, joint (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish