MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Corticosteroids overdose

Skip navigation


Medical Encyclopedia
Other encyclopedia topics:	A-Ag Ah-Ap Aq-Az B-Bk Bl-Bz C-Cg Ch-Co Cp-Cz D-Di Dj-Dz E-Ep Eq-Ez F G H-Hf Hg-Hz I-In Io-Iz J K L-Ln Lo-Lz M-Mf Mg-Mz N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sh Si-Sp Sq-Sz T-Tn To-Tz U V W X Y Z 0-9

Corticosteroids overdose

Contents of this page:
Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms Home Treatment	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Definition

Poisoning from an overdose of corticosteroids.

Poisonous Ingredient

Alclometasone dipropionate
Amcinonide
Augmented betamethasone dipropionate
Beclomethasone dipropionate
Betamethasone
Betamethasone benzoate
Betamethasone dipropionate
Betamethasone sodium phosphate
Betamethasone valerate
Clobetasol propionate
Clocortolone pivalate
Cortisone
Desonide
Desoximetasone
Dexamethasone
Dexamethasone acetate
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate
Diflorasone acetonide
Diflorasone diacetate
Flunisolide
Fluocinolone acetonide
Fluocinonide
Fluocinolone acetonide
Flurandrenolide
Fluticasone propionate
Halcinonide
Halobetasol propionate
Hydrocortisone
Hydrocortisone acetate
Hydrocortisone butyrate
Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate
Hydrocortisone valerate
Methylprednisolone
Methylprednisolone acetate
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate
Mometasone furoate
Prednisolone acetate
Prednisolone sodium phosphate
Prednisolone tebutate
Prednisone
Triamcinolone
Triamcinolone acetonide
Triamcinolone diacetate
Triamcinolone hexacetonide

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

Alclometasone dipropionate (Delonal)
Augmented betamethasone dipropionate (Deprolene)
Beclomethasone dipropionate (Diprosone)
Betamethasone sodium phosphate (Celestone)
Betamethasone valerate (Valisone)
Clobetasol propionate (Temovate)
Clocortolone pivalate (Cloderm)
Desonide (DesOwen, Tridesilon)
Desoximetasone (Topicort)
Dexamethasone (Decadron)
Fluocinonide (Lidex)
Flunisolide (AeroBid)
Fluocinolone acetonide (Synalar)
Flurandrenolide (Cordran)
Fluticasone propionate (Cutivate)
Halcinonide (Halog)
Hydrocortisone (Cortef)
Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate (Solu-Cortef)
Hydrocortisone valerate (Westcort)
Methylprednisolone (Medrol)
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Solu-Medrol)
Mometasone furoate (Elocon)
Prednisolone sodium phosphate (Pred Fonte)
Prednisone (Deltasone)
Triamcinolone acetonide (Aristocort)

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Swelling in lower legs, ankles, or feet
Nervousness
Sleepiness
Depression
Discontinuation of the menstrual cycles
Weakness
Worsening of disease state such as ulcers, diabetes
Deafness
Itching skin
Burning skin
Dry skin
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Convulsions
Muscle weakness
Psychosis

Home Treatment

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING unless instructed to do so by Poison Control or by a physician.

If instructed to induce vomiting, proceed as follows or as otherwise instructed:

Give the appropriate dose of ipecac syrup: 15 milliliters (ml) or 1 TABLEspoonful for children and 30 ml (2 TABLEspoonsful) for an adult.
Follow with 1/2 glass or 4 ounces (oz.) of water for children or 8 to 12 oz. of water for adults.
Repeat 1 more time in 1/2 hour if vomiting has not occurred.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
When it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

If you are concerned about corticosteroid overdose, seek emergency medical care immediately at your nearest emergency room. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take any containers with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Treatment of symptoms
Pumping the stomach (gastric lavage)
Giving activated charcoal
Monitoring vital signs ( including blood pressure and pulse)

Expectations (prognosis)

One-time ingestion of a corticosteroid product is usually benign, requiring no therapy. Most symptoms are associated with long-term therapeutic use of these drugs.

Update Date: 5/12/2003

Updated by: Todd Severson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.