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Corticosteroids  Glucocorticoid Effects (Systemic)

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Contents of this page:

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

  • Acetocot9
  • A-hydroCort5
  • Amcort9
  • A-MethaPred6
  • Aristocort9
  • Aristocort Forte9
  • Aristopak9
  • Aristospan 9
  • Articulose-507
  • Articulose-L.A.9
  • Celestone1
  • Celestone Phosphate1
  • Celestone Soluspan1
  • Cinalone 409
  • Cinonide 409
  • Clinacort9
  • Clinalog9
  • Cordrol8
  • Cortastat4
  • Cortastat 104
  • Cortastat LA4
  • Cortef5
  • Cortone Acetate3
  • Cotolone7
  • Dalalone4
  • Dalalone D.P.4
  • Dalalone L.A.4
  • Decadrol4
  • Decadron4
  • Decadron Elixir4
  • Decadron-LA4
  • Decadron Phosphate4
  • Decaject4
  • Decaject-LA4
  • Delta-Cortef7
  • Deltasone8
  • Depo-Medrol6
  • Dexacorten4
  • Dexacorten-LA4
  • Dexamethasone Intensol4
  • Dexasone4
  • Dexasone L.A.4
  • Dexone4
  • Dexone 0.754
  • Dexone 1.54
  • Dexone 44
  • Dexone LA4
  • Hexadrol4
  • Hexadrol Phosphate4
  • Hydrocortone5
  • Hydrocortone Acetate5
  • Hydrocortone Phosphate5
  • Kenacort9
  • Kenacort Diacetate9
  • Kenaject-409
  • Kenalog-109
  • Kenalog-409
  • Ken-Jec 409
  • Key-Pred 7
  • Key-Pred SP7
  • Liquid Pred8
  • Medrol6
  • Meprolone6
  • Meticorten8
  • Mymethasone4
  • Nor-Pred T.B.A.7
  • Orasone 18
  • Orasone 58
  • Orasone 108
  • Orasone 208
  • Orasone 508
  • Pediapred7
  • Predacort 507
  • Predalone 507
  • Predalone T.B.A.7
  • Predate-507
  • Predate S7
  • Predate TBA7
  • Predcor-257
  • Predcor-507
  • Predcor-TBA7
  • Predicort-RP7
  • Pred-Ject-507
  • Prednicot8
  • Prednisone Intensol8
  • Pred-Pak 458
  • Pred-Pak 798
  • Prelone7
  • Primethasone4
  • Robalog9
  • Selestoject1
  • Solu-Cortef5
  • Solu-Medrol6
  • Solurex4
  • Solurex LA4
  • Sterapred8
  • Sterapred DS8
  • Tac-39
  • Tramacort-D9
  • Triam-A9
  • Triam-Forte9
  • Triamolone 409
  • Triamonide 409
  • Tri-Kort9
  • Trilog9
  • Trilone9
  • Tristoject9

In Canada—

  • A-Hydrocort5
  • Apo-Prednisone8
  • Aristocort9
  • Aristocort Forte9
  • Aristocort Intralesional9
  • Aristospan 9
  • Betnesol1
  • Celestone Soluspan1
  • Cortef5
  • Cortisone Acetate-ICN3
  • Cortone3
  • Decadron4
  • Decadron Phosphate4
  • Deltasone8
  • Depo-Medrol6
  • Deronil4
  • Dexasone4
  • Entocort2
  • Hexadrol Phosphate4
  • Kenacort9
  • Kenalog-109
  • Kenalog-409
  • Medrol6
  • Oradexon4
  • Pediapred7
  • Scheinpharm Triamcine-A9
  • Solu-Cortef5
  • Solu-Medrol6
  • Winpred8

Note:

For quick reference, the following corticosteroids are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.

Another commonly used name for hydrocortisone is cortisol

This information applies to the following medicines:
1.  Betamethasone (bay-ta-METH-a-sone)
2.  Budesonide (byoo-DES-oh-nide)*
3.  Cortisone (KOR-ti-sone)
4.  Dexamethasone (dex-a-METH-a-sone)
5.  Hydrocortisone (hye-droe-KOR-ti-sone)
6.  Methylprednisolone (meth-il-pred-NIS-oh-lone)
7.  Prednisolone (pred-NISS-oh-lone)
8.  Prednisone (PRED-ni-sone)
9.  Triamcinolone (trye-am-SIN-oh-lone)
‡  Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
§  Generic name product may be available in Canada
*  Not commercially available in the U.S.
†  Not commercially available in Canada

Category


Description

Corticosteroids (kor-ti-koe-STER-oyds) (cortisone-like medicines) are used to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body. They lessen swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. They are often used as part of the treatment for a number of different diseases, such as severe allergies or skin problems, asthma, or arthritis. Corticosteroids may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Your body naturally produces certain cortisone-like hormones that are necessary to maintain good health. If your body does not produce enough, your doctor may have prescribed this medicine to help make up the difference.

Corticosteroids are very strong medicines. In addition to their helpful effects in treating your medical problem, they have side effects that can be very serious. If your adrenal glands are not producing enough cortisone-like hormones, taking this medicine is not likely to cause problems unless you take too much of it. If you are taking this medicine to treat another medical problem, be sure that you discuss the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.

These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:



Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For corticosteroids, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to corticosteroids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet—If you will be using this medicine for a long time, your doctor may want you to:

Make certain your health care professional knows if you are already on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.

Pregnancy—Studies on birth defects with corticosteroids have not been done in humans. However, studies in animals have shown that corticosteroids cause birth defects.

Breast-feeding—Corticosteroids pass into breast milk and may cause problems with growth or other unwanted effects in nursing babies. Depending on the amount of medicine you are taking every day, it may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment.

Children—Corticosteroids may cause infections such as chickenpox or measles to be more serious in children who catch them. These medicines can also slow or stop growth in children and in growing teenagers, especially when they are used for a long time. Before this medicine is given to children or teenagers, you should discuss its use with your child's doctor and then carefully follow the doctor's instructions.

Older adults—Older patients may be more likely to develop high blood pressure or osteoporosis (bone disease) from corticosteroids. Women are especially at risk of developing bone disease.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking corticosteroids, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of corticosteroids. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:


Proper Use of This Medicine

For patients taking this medicine by mouth:

For patients taking budesonide extended-release capsules :

Use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more or less of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Dosing—

The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information gives the range of doses of these medicines for all uses, which can vary widely. The dose that you are receiving may be very different. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules, tablets, teaspoonfuls of liquid or amount of injection that you use depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking the corticosteroid. In addition, your doctor may need to change the dose from time to time.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:

If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Storage—

To store this medicine:


Precautions While Using This Medicine

Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Also, your progress may have to be checked after you have stopped using this medicine, since some of the effects may continue.

Do not stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are using before stopping the medicine completely.

Check with your doctor if your condition reappears or worsens after the dose has been reduced or treatment with this medicine is stopped.

If you will be using corticosteroids for a long time:

Tell the doctor in charge that you are using this medicine:

Avoid close contact with anyone who has chickenpox or measles. This is especially important for children. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have been exposed to chickenpox or measles.

While you are being treated with this medicine, and after you stop taking it, do not have any immunizations without your doctor's approval. Also, other people living in your home should not receive the oral polio vaccine, since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. In addition, you should avoid close contact with other people at school or work who have recently taken the oral polio vaccine.

For patients with diabetes:

For patients having this medicine injected into their joints:


Side Effects of This Medicine

Side Effects of This Medicine

Corticosteroids may lower your resistance to infections. Also, any infection you get may be harder to treat. Always check with your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any signs of a possible infection, such as sore throat, fever, sneezing, or coughing.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. When this medicine is used for short periods of time, side effects usually are rare. However, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Additional side effects may occur if you take this medicine for a long time. Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects occur:


Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

After you stop using this medicine, your body may need time to adjust. The length of time this takes depends on the amount of medicine you were using and how long you used it. If you have taken large doses of this medicine for a long time, your body may need one year to adjust. During this time, check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:


Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.


Additional Information

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, some corticosteroids are used in certain patients with the following medical condition:

Revised: 03/09/2004

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