Corticosteroids are a class of powerful drugs, mainly anti-inflammatory that are used to reduce inflammation and allergic responses. Most of these drugs are come as the synthetic form of cortisone, a class of steroid hormones that naturally made in the adrenal cortex of human body. Though these drugs are highly useful for the patients who are suffering with these types of complains but can have serious side effects as well. Long term use of this drug can prolong the effects and Corticosteroid side effects can be minimized by relevant suggestions of physicians
Side effects:
There is a series of possible side effects from corticosteroid use. Most of them normally go away after the course of the treatment finishes. These side effects likely depend on how the drug is administered; for example, inhaled corticosteroids may cause coughing and a dry throat whereas a dose of corticosteroid through an injection or through corticosteroids cream may cause a side effect like thin skin and red sores in that particular part of your skin.
On the other hand, as oral doses go through the entire body so they can cause more side effects than other methods of taking the drugs.
The most known side effects that can be seen with the long term use of these drugs are; hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, cataract, anxiety, depression, amenorrhea, and retinopathy etc. As it was said earlier, with the end of the treatment most of these side effects go away and people fill much better.
As your adrenal glands may not react as they should normally while taking corticosteroids in the regular basis so you may find some sort of physical disabilities as disability to respond to physical stress. This is normally called “adrenal insufficiency”. But in general, after one year of the steroid dose this problem normally goes away.
Other than that, quick withdrawal of these drugs, particularly if that have been taken for more than two weeks, may bring a physical condition that produce fatigue, joint pain, muscle stiffness, muscle tenderness, or fever.
So these drugs are useful but must be taken under the careful observation of trained physicians.