Side effects that may occur during corticosteroid treatment are common and may be mild and reversible, disappearing when you need to use the medicine, can also be irreversible, as these effects will depend on the duration of treatment and how often it occurs. are administered.
These drugs are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs, which can be used in chronic diseases such as asthma, allergies and lupus, for example, and can cause side effects, poor conditions that can occur during treatment:
- During corticosteroid treatment.
- Some people may gain weight because this medicine causes a redistribution of body fat.
- Such as Cushing syndrome.
- With the greatest accumulation of fat in the skin.
- Face and supraclavicular area.
- With loss of fatty tissue in the arms and legs.
In addition to this, there may also be an increase in appetite and fluid retention, which can keep the person dry, contributing to weight gain. Learn how to treat cushing syndrome.
The use of excess corticosteroids inhibits fibroblasts and reduces collagen formation, causing firmness and maintenance of the skin, which can cause the formation of red veins on the skin, very marked and wide in the abdomen, muscles, muscles and arms.
In addition, the most delicate and fragile falls, telangiectasias, bruises and herd scars could occur.
The use of corticosteroids increases the chances of diabetes in people predisposed to this disease, resulting in a reduction in glucose capture. Diabetes usually goes away with medication use and only persists when individuals have a genetic predisposition to the disease.
In addition, there may also be an increase in blood pressure, which is associated with sodium retention in the body and also with an increase in cholesterol and triglycerides.
Prolonged use of corticosteroids can lead to the number of osteoblasts and increased osteoclasts, reduced calcium absorption and urinary excretion, resulting in a weakening and increased sensitivity of people to osteoporosis and recurrent fractures.
Using corticosteroids can cause symptoms such as heartburn, reflux, and abdominal pain and can occur when using these medications for a few days with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, for example, in addition to this, it can lead to ulcers. in the stomach.
People who take at least 20 mg/day of prednisone have the highest risk of developing infections, as treatment with these drugs weakens the immune system because the body is more susceptible to infections by atypical microorganisms and opportunistic infections caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites, which can cause serious and widespread infections.
The use of corticosteroids can cause eye disorders, such as the development of cataracts and glaucoma, increasing the difficulty of concentrating, especially in the elderly, so those who have had a history of glaucoma in the family should pass the test to periodically evaluate eye pressure while taking corticosteroids.
There may be moments of euphoria, including moments of irritability, taking a flower, difficulty sleeping and, in some cases, depression, as well as memory loss and dissolution of concentration.
Corticosteroids may be used during transport as long as they are prescribed by the obstetrician, once the risk of changes in the baby’s development is reduced.
However, during the first 3 months of pregnancy, there is little chance of changes in the mouth, such as broken taste, preterm birth, low baby weight. High doses can reduce your baby’s growth in the womb and increase the chances. premature birth.
The use of corticosteroids in infants and children can cause stunting, resulting in children of short stature and weight, due to the reduction of calcium absorption at the intestinal level and the anti-anabolic and catabolic effect that occurs in them peripheral tissue proteins. .