Fast facts about steroids UK Anti-Doping

The chance of unwanted side effects is greatest when very potent steroids are used on large areas of skin for long periods of time. Topical corticosteroids are used to suppress the inflammation in the skin that causes flare-ups of eczema. Corticosteroid medicines are derivatives of the natural corticosteroid hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands.

Your steroid preventer inhaler is unlikely to cause side effects, especially if you’re using your inhaler correctly. Research is ongoing into new treatments for all types of severe asthma. Use our severe asthma tool to find out if you need a referral to a severe asthma specialist.

Side effects of steroid inhalers

While your blood sugar levels are disrupted, avoid sugary foods and drinks. The type of infections you are more at risk of depends on the type and dose of steroid medication you take. For example, steroid tablets and steroids given intravenously (into a vein) can make you more prone to developing infections such as colds, chickenpox, shingles and measles.

• Increased toxicity if hypokalaemia occurs with corticosteroids.
• Some people feel low or flat for several days to weeks after they stop taking steroids, as it takes a while for your body to begin making its own steroids naturally again.
• Your dose will probably be reduced gradually as your symptoms improve, or your doctor might suggest a weaker medication.
• If you have periods, these may become irregular or stop during treatment.
• They also check how well your liver and kidneys are working.

Patients and/or carers should be warned that potentially severe psychiatric adverse reactions may occur with systemic steroids (see section 4.8). Symptoms typically emerge within a few days or weeks of starting the treatment. Risks may be higher with high doses/systemic exposure (see section 4.5), although dose levels do not allow prediction of the onset, type, severity or duration of reactions.

Tummy pain or indigestion

Most steroids are only available on prescription, but a few (such as some creams or nasal sprays) can be bought from pharmacies and shops. Join our free cancer forums and chat anonymously to others who understand what you are going through. Our community is available 24/7 and has dedicated forums where you can get advice and ask our experts. We need your help to improve our information to better support people with Crohn’s and Colitis.

Save these numbers in your phone or keep them somewhere safe. We explain the most common side effects of this treatment here. The dose you have and how long you have the treatment for depends on the reason you are taking steroids.

Signs and symptoms of steroid-induced diabetes

They should be provided with a steroid alert care to carry for the duration of steroid treatment[17]. Depending on your type of steroid medication and how long you are taking it for, you might be given a steroid treatment card or a steroid emergency card, or both. You should carry these with you for all the time you are on steroids and for some time after completing treatment with them – this is usually 12 months, but seek advice from your medical team.

If you normally wear contact lenses, you might need to avoid wearing these while having treatment with steroid eye drops. If you have epilepsy this could become worse when taking steroids. Steroids can increase the number of white blood cells in your blood.

MedicAlert

Below, we outline some of the most common side effects and some of the less common side effects of steroids. Most are heightened forms of the natural effects of your body’s own corticosteroid hormones. A steroid cheap uk steroids treatment card reminds you that you should not stop taking steroids suddenly, and what to do if you become unwell. It also tells health professionals the details of the steroids prescribed to you.