Steroids can be taken in a number of ways for many different types of arthritis and related conditions, as shown in the table below. Steroids are usually only given for a short time to quickly treat flare-ups of your condition. This page is about steroids that can be taken as tablets, liquids, creams and eye drops and ointments.
Information about steroid injections is covered on a different page. You might not be able to start steroids if you have an infection, or if you have any wounds on your body, as steroids might delay these getting better or cover up some of your symptoms. Steroids might affect some medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart or blood pressure problems, or mental health issues.
If you have systemic sclerosis , prednisolone could cause problems with your kidneys at certain doses, so you might not be able to take this type of steroid. Some other skin problems, such as rosacea, acne and ulcers, can be made worse by steroid creams so you might not be able to take them if you have any of these conditions. If you normally wear contact lenses, you might need to avoid wearing these while having treatment with steroid eye drops.
Steroids are taken in different ways, and the dosage may vary depending on the condition you have. The table below gives an idea of how often you might need to take steroids. You will be given the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time, to reduce the risk of side effects. Your dose will probably be reduced gradually as your symptoms improve, or your doctor might suggest a weaker medication. As with all medicines, some people will have side effects. You might also be given a drug called a proton pump inhibitor or another medicine to protect your stomach.
Treatment with steroids may cause changes in mood — you may feel very high or very low. This may be more common in people with a previous history of mood disturbance. Taking steroid tablets for a long time can make you more likely to get infections. See your doctor or the person treating you straight away if you develop chickenpox, shingles or measles, or if you come into contact with someone who has any of these illnesses. Sometimes these diseases can be severe in people who are taking steroids, and you might need to have other treatment before you start to get better.
Steroids taken for a long time can also cause your muscles to become weaker, and they might occasionally affect periods in women. If you're taking high doses of steroids, or if you're on them for more than three weeks, you'll need to carry a steroid card. This will have information on your dose and how long you've been taking them for. Your doctor, rheumatology nurse or pharmacist should give you a steroid card if you need one.
Make sure any change to your dose of steroid is updated on the card. Steroid treatment can stop the body producing natural hormones, which can be dangerous if you get ill, have an accident or need an operation. Keeping the card with you will help any other doctor who treats you to manage your care correctly. If you have any questions or concerns about this, talk to the healthcare professional who prescribed your steroids.
The person treating you might change the dose of your medications if needed. It's normally best to take steroid tablets with or soon after a meal — usually breakfast — because this can stop them irritating your stomach. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed. Accidentally taking too many steroid tablets is unlikely to be harmful if it's a one-off. Speak to your doctor or a pharmacist if you're worried. Taking too many steroid tablets over a long period can make you more likely to get side effects. If you've been taking steroid tablets for more than a few days, you usually need to reduce your dose gradually. Stopping suddenly can cause your adrenal gland, which makes important hormones for the body, to stop working.
This is known as adrenal insufficiency. Your doctor will be able to provide more advice about how to safely stop taking steroids. Taking steroid tablets for less than 3 weeks is unlikely to cause any significant side effects. But you may get some side effects if you need to take them for longer or at a high dose. Most side effects will pass once treatment stops. Tell your doctor if they bother you. You can report any suspected side effect to the UK Yellow Card safety scheme.
Your doctor may reduce your dose or suggest taking your tablets less often for example, every other day if you're having side effects.
They may also sometimes recommend other medicines to take alongside steroids to protect you from some of the side effects, such as medicines to help prevent indigestion or heartburn, or medicines that help strengthen the bones.
The present study investigated whether a relationship exists between nandrolone decanoate and voluntary ethanol intake in laboratory rats. One group of animals was tested for voluntary alcohol intake 1 week after the end of the 2-week treatment period and another group received alcohol 3 weeks after the treatment.
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