Corticosteroids Glucocorticoid Effects: Before Using

Corticosteroids Glucocorticoid Effects - Systemic

Corticosteroids Glucocorticoid Effects *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For corticosteroids, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to corticosteroids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet If you will be using this drug for a long time, your family doctor may want you to:

Follow a low-salt diet anda potassium-rich diet.
Watch your calories to prevent weight gain.
Add extra protein to your diet.

Make certain your health care professional knows if you are already on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.

Pregnancy care

Studies on birth defects with corticosteroids have not been done. However, studies in pets have shown that corticosteroids cause birth defects.

Breast-feeding problem

Corticosteroids pass into breast milk and may cause problems with growth or other unwanted effects in nursing babies. Depending on the amount of drug you are taking every day, it may be necessary for you to take another drug or to stop breast-feeding during treat.

Use for Children

Corticosteroids may cause infections such as chickenpox or measles to be more serious in child who catch them. These medication can also slow or stop growth in child and in growing teenagers, especially when they are using for a long time. Before this drug is given to children or teenagers, you must discuss its use with your child's family doctor and then carefully follow the family doctor's instructions.

Elderly care

Older diseaseds may be more likely to develop high blood pressure or osteoporosis - bone disease from corticosteroids. Women are especially at risk of developing bone disease.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking corticosteroids, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Aminoglutethimide - Cytadren
Antacids - in large amounts
Barbiturates, except butalbital,
Carbamazepine - Tegretol
Griseofulvin - Fulvicin
Mitotane - Lysodren
Phenylbutazone - Butazolidin
Phenytoin - Dilantin
Primidone - Mysoline
Rifampin - Rifadin Use of these medication may make certain corticosteroids less effective

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone Using corticosteroids with this drug may decrease the amount of potassium in the blood. Serious side effects could occur if the level of potassium gets too low

Antidiabetic agents, oral - diabetes drug taken by mouth
Insulin Corticosteroids may increase blood glucose - sugar levels

Cyclosporine - Sandimmune Use of this drug with high doses of methylprednisolone may cause convulsions - seizures

Digitalis glycosides - heart drug Corticosteroids decrease the amount of potassium in the blood. Digitalis can increase the risk of having an irregular heartbeat or other problems if the amount of potassium in the blood gets too low

Diuretics - water pills
Medicine containing potassium Using corticosteroids with diuretics may cause the diuretic to be less effective. Always corticosteroids may increase the risk of low blood potassium, which is also a problem with certain diuretics. Potassium supplements or a various type of diuretic is using in treating high blood pressure in those people who have problems keeping their blood potassium at a normal level. Corticosteroids may make these medication less able to do this

Immunizations - vaccinations While you are being treated with this drug and even after you stop taking it, do not have any immunizations without your family doctor's approval. Always other people living in your home must not receive the oral polio vaccine, since there is a risk they could pass the polio virus on to you. In addition, you must avoid close contact with other people at school or work who have recently taken the oral polio vaccine

Ritodrine - Yutopar Serious side effects could occur

Skin test injections Corticosteroids may cause false results in skin tests

Sodium-containing drug Corticosteroids cause the body to retain - keep more sodium - salt and water. Too much sodium may cause high blood sodium, high blood pressure and excess body water

Somatrem - Protropin
Somatropin - Humatrope Corticosteroids can interfere with the side effects of medication

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of corticosteroids. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - AIDS
Fungus infection
Herpes simplex infection of the eye
Human immunodeficiency virus - HIV infection
Infection at the place of treat
Other infection
Recent surgery or serious injury
Strongyloides - worm infestation
Tuberculosis - active TB, nonactive TB, or past history of Corticosteroids can cause slower healing, worsen existing infections, or cause new infections

Chickenpox - including recent exposure
Measles - including recent exposure chance of severe disease effecting other parts of the body

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes Corticosteroids may cause a loss of control of diabetes by increasing blood glucose - sugar

Diverticulitis
Stomach ulcer or other stomach or intestine problems
Ulcerative colitis, severe Corticosteroids may cover up symptoms of a worsening stomach or intestinal condition. A patient would not know if his or her condition was getting worse and would not get medical help when needed

Glaucoma Corticosteroids may cause the pressure within the eye to increase

Heart disease
High blood pressure
Kidney disease - especially if you are receiving dialysis
Kidney stones Corticosteroids cause the body to retain - keep more salt and water. These conditions may be made worse by this extra body water

High cholesterol levels Corticosteroids may increase blood cholesterol levels

Liver disease
Overactive thyroid
Underactive thyroid With these conditions, the body may not eliminate the corticosteroid at the usual rate, which may change the drug's effect

Myasthenia gravis When you first start taking corticosteroids, muscle weakness may occur. Your family doctor may want to take special precautions because this could cause problems with breathing

Osteoporosis - bone disease Corticosteroids may worsen bone disease because they cause the body to lose more calcium

Psychosis This condition may be made worse

Systemic lupus erythematosus - SLE This condition may cause certain side effects of corticosteroids to occur more easily