Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, cortisone) are drugs used to treat inflammatory types of arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and other conditions. Corticosteroids where once thought to be almost miraculous. In 1948, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota a group of arthritis patients were given daily injections of a corticosteroid. The results were so striking and the improvement so dramatic that it was thought that the "cure" for arthritis had been discovered. However, as the use of corticosteroids expanded over the years, it was realized that high doses given over prolonged periods can cause serious side effects. To maximize benefits, but minimize potential side effects, corticosteroids are usually prescribed in low doses or for short durations.
Corticosteroids are versatile in their mode of application. Corticosteroids can be given orally, injected into the vein or muscle, applied locally to the skin, and injected directly into inflamed joints. Corticosteroids are used to control inflammation of the joints and organs in conditions such as:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- systemic lupus erythematosus
- ankylosing spondylitis
- juvenile arthritis
- inflammatory bowel disease
- dermatomyositis
- polymyositis
- mixed connective tissue disease
- behçet's disease
- polymyalgia rheumatica
- scleroderma
- temporal arteritis
- vasculitis
Safety warnings about corticosteroids should be respected. Corticosteroids must be taken according to directions. Knowing how to use corticosteroids safely decreases the chance for unwanted side effects. Find out more about corticosteroids and how they work. View Our Video: How Corticosteroids Work.
Related Resources:
- The Facts of Corticosteroids
- The Prednisone Quiz: Is it True or False?
- 10 Things You Should Know About Prednisone
- Why Corticosteroids Must Not Be Stopped Suddenly
- Differences Between Anabolic Steroids and Corticosteroids
- What You Need to Know About Corticosteroid-Induced Osteoporosis
Photo by Valeriu Rus (iStockphoto)
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