Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are a group of drugs that contain synthetic steroid hormones. This drug can inhibit the production of substances that cause inflammation in the body , and can work as an immunosuppressant in reducing the activity and work of the immune system.

Corticosteroids are often used to relieve inflammation in several conditions, such as allergies, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis , and pemphigus vulgaris, as well as treat nasal polyps without surgery . In addition, this drug can also be used to treat autoimmune diseases and prevent rejection reactions in patients' bodies after undergoing organ transplant surgery.

Warning Before Using Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids should not be used carelessly. There are several things that you should pay attention to before using it, including:

Do not use corticosteroids if you are allergic to these drugs. Tell your doctor about any history of allergies you have.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
Consult your doctor before using topical corticosteroids if you have a skin infection, acne, rosacea , or open sores on your skin.
Tell your doctor if you have any infections , including fungal infections, bacterial infections, or viral infections, such as herpes .
Tell your doctor if you have glaucoma, uncontrolled hypertension , diabetes or osteoporosis .
Tell your doctor if you have had or currently have stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, congestive heart failure , cataracts, liver disease, or mental disorders, such as depression .
Tell your doctor if you plan to get vaccinated in the near future, because corticosteroids can affect the effectiveness of vaccines, especially live vaccines.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications, supplements, or herbal products.
Immediately see a doctor if you experience a drug allergic reaction or serious side effects after using corticosteroids.

Side Effects and Dangers of Corticosteroids

In general, side effects that can occur after using corticosteroids are:

Weight gain
Swollen foot
High blood pressure
hypokalemia
Headache
Weak muscles
Buffalo hump , which is a swelling like a hump on the upper back
Moon face , which is swelling of the face so that the face looks rounder
Facial hair appears
thinning of the skin
Easy bruising
Wounds are hard to heal
Glaucoma
Cataract
Gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer
Irregular menstrual cycles

Consult your doctor if these side effects do not improve or get worse. Immediately see a doctor if you experience an allergic drug reaction after using corticosteroids.

You also need to know that long-term use of corticosteroids can cause side effects in the form of obesity, developmental disorders, seizures, osteoporosis, or mental disorders, including depression, or insomnia .

Types, Trademarks, and Dosage of Corticosteroids

The following are the types of drugs that are included in the corticosteroid class along with their dosage forms and trademarks:

1. Betamethasone

Forms: Tablets, syrup, injection, cream

Trademarks: Benoson, Betamethasone Valerate, Betam-Opthal, Cortamine, Fusidasol, Morvale, Polacel

To find out the dosage and further information about this drug, please open the betamethasone drug page .

2. Dexamethasone

Forms: Tablets, syrup, eye ointment, eye drops, injection

Trademarks: Bidaxtam, Cendo Xitrol, Cortidex, Dexaton, Dextaco, Dextamine Dextaf, Dexamethasone, Dexaharsen, Exitrol, Tobroson

To find out the dosage and further information about this drug, please open the dexamethasone drug page .

3. Budesonide

Forms: Inhaler, nebulizer liquid, nasal spray, capsules

Trademarks: Budesonide, Budesma, Budenofalk, Cortiment, Obucort, Pulmicort, Sonide, Symbicort

To find out the dosage and further information about this drug, please open the budesonide drug page .

4. Methylprednisolone

Forms: Tablets, injections and cream

Trademarks: Carmeson, Comedrol, Cormetison, Cortesa, Depo Medrol, Hexilon, Intidrol, Lameson, Lexcomet, Medixon, Methylprednisolone, Methylon, Metrison, Meticon, Novestrol, Phadilon, Prednox, Thimelon, Urbason, Vadrol, Yalon

To find out the dosage and further information about this drug, please open the methylprednisolone drug page .

5. Prednisolone

Forms: Tablets, cream, ointment, eye drops, ear drops, eye ointment and suppositories

Trademarks: Borraginol-S, Cendo Cetapred, Chloramfecort-H, Colipred, Chlorpheson, Lupred 5, P-Pred, Polypred

To find out the dosage and further information about this drug, please open the prednisolone drug page .

6. Prednisone

Forms: Tablets, caplets

Trademarks: Eltazon, Flites, Inflason, Lexacort, Prednisone, Pehacort, Remacort, Trifacort

To find out the dosage and further information about this drug, please open the prednisone drug page .

7. Triamcinolone

Forms: Tablets, cream, injection, nasal spray, oral ointment

Trademarks: Amtocort, Bufacomb, Cincort, Econazine, Etacinolone, Flamicort, Genalog, Kenacort, Kenalog in Orabase, Ketricin, Pi Kang Shuang Cream, Konicort, Lonacort, Nasacort AQ, Opicort, Omenacort, Tremacort, Triamcort-A, Triamcort, Triamcinolone , Triamcinolone Acetonide, Triacilon, Trilac, Trinolon, Rafacort, Sinocort, Ziloven

To find out the dosage and further information about this drug, please open the triamcinolone drug page .