One of the recognized highly effective anti-inflammatory drugs are corticosteroids. But before their appointment, the doctor must necessarily evaluate the expected result from treatment with possible risks and side effects.
Basic terminology
Trying to deal with doctor's prescriptions, many patients are interested in finding out the meaning of the concept of corticosteroid. What is it from a medical point of view, any endocrinologist can explain. After all, it is a hormone produced in the adrenal cortex, which is a regulator of metabolism in the body. In addition, it is he who is responsible for adequate reactions to stress, various inflammations or infections.
If you look at the corticosteroid from the position of a pharmacologist what it is, it will be somewhat more difficult to find out. After all, it is a synthesized hormone with a complex formula that helps the body temporarily suppress the focus of inflammation. But with many diseases, these agents cannot be dispensed with, and doctors, assessing all the risks, prescribe the use of corticosteroids to patients.
Indications for use
Corticosteroids are used for various inflammatory diseases, problems with the respiratory system and a number of autoimmune processes. Doctors recommend them for psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, neurodermatitis, eczema, asthma. In addition, they are used even for organ transplants to prevent possible tissue rejection. Most people do not know anything about a drug like a corticosteroid. What exactly it is is not entirely clear to them. But, having heard from neighbors or acquaintances that with their help eczema, allergies or even asthma can be cured, they quickly gather in a pharmacy. In fact, it is impossible to self-medicate using this group of drugs. Their use should be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician. This is due to the possibility of various adverse reactions or other health problems. It is also important not only to choose the right drug, but also to choose the right dose.
Depending on the problems encountered, corticosteroids can be prescribed in the form of tablets, injections, inhalations or ointments for external use.
Prescribing
To avoid possible problems and the occurrence of adverse reactions, doctors prescribe corticosteroids with great care. First of all, it is important to confirm the diagnosis and make sure that these drugs are effective in identifying the problem. It is recommended to prescribe such funds initially in a minimally effective dose, adjusting it if necessary during treatment.
One of the important nuances that all patients need to know about is the duration of these medications. As a rule, they are prescribed for no more than 5-7 days. If a longer treatment with corticosteroids is required, then they are used every other day. In addition, with prolonged use, the patient must be examined to exclude glaucoma, cataracts, gastritis or osteoporosis.
It is forbidden to abolish the use of these funds if they have been used for a long time.
Scope of application
Currently, there is much talk about the dangers of corticosteroids and that these drugs have too many side effects, they are addictive, and after they are canceled, the patient can only worsen the disease. At the same time, many forget that many people managed to be cured only thanks to these means. So, the action of corticosteroids is aimed at eliminating inflammation. Following this, pain passes, swelling subsides. After eliminating the focus of inflammation, further treatment can be done.
With the proper use of hormonal drugs, including corticosteroids, there will be nothing wrong. They will only help to mobilize the forces of the body, stimulate the activity of the immune system. But their long-term use is already fraught with the emergence of a number of side effects, one of which may be hormonal failure. They can cause a change in patient weight. But before abandoning their use, it is worth remembering that the action of corticosteroids is aimed at eliminating inflammation, and without this, it is simply impossible to cure many diseases. In addition, many diseases cannot be cured without systemic, prolonged use of these funds.
Danger of use
Before prescribing medications, the doctor must warn the patient what exactly he prescribes, tell what effect the recommended drugs have, and what side effects they cause. It should be remembered that in most cases the danger lies only for those who are shown the long-term use of these drugs.
In such situations, there is a risk of addiction to drugs. Hormonal glands are misled and stop producing corticosteroids on their own. Drugs temporarily replace the work of the adrenal glands. But in the end, this can lead to an imbalance in the level of hormones in the body, because the corresponding glands begin to function in a different mode. This leads to various side effects, among which there is intense weight gain, the appearance of a tendency to swelling, increased pressure, the appearance of acne, decreased immunity, and many others.
The most famous means
Despite the impending danger, drugs of this group are very popular. An adequate doctor will monitor the patient’s condition and will not allow him to find out everything about the corticosteroid on his own. What kind of drug is this, the doctor will explain himself. He will talk about how exactly and with what frequency it must be used.
The drugs most well-known in the population of this group include Dexamethasone, Diprospan, Phlosterone, Prednisone, Methylprednisolone, Kortef, Triamcinolone, Kenalog and many other similar drugs.
Depending on the location of the inflammation and the course of the disease, the doctor must choose both the necessary dosage and the form of release of the corticosteroid. For example, with dermatological problems, ointment is most often prescribed, with inflammation in the eyes - drops, with rheumatic diseases, damage to joints and surrounding tissues - injections directly into the foci of inflammation. If the patient has connective tissue disorders, acute allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, which cannot be eliminated using other methods, hemorrhagic diathesis, or other problems requiring hormonal correction, the drugs can be prescribed in the form of tablets.
Topical corticosteroids
If the inflammatory process does not occur inside the body, but is visible on the skin, then most often prescribed medications in the form of an ointment. If the doctor considers it necessary to carry out treatment with hormonal drugs, then topical corticosteroids are used. They are designed to combat various dermatoses, these tools help in cases where the body is already unable to cope with the problem. Of course, it is the drugs for external use that are the safest, but you should not underestimate the risk of their uncontrolled use.
If a doctor prescribed you a hormonal ointment , it is necessary to remember or write down all the recommendations regarding the frequency and duration of use, it is also important to find out how much ointment should be applied to the affected area. All these nuances are very important, because following all the rules, you can avoid the appearance of side effects and prevent the development of skin insensitivity to other means.
Topical corticosteroids are divided into four classes, depending on the activity of exposure. Hydrocortisone, which is available in the form of an ointment or cream, is referred to the weak. Moderate drugs are Prednisolonum, Dermatop, Emoveyt, Deperzolon, Lorinden, Sinalar, Flucinar and several others. Strong drugs include Diproderm, Advantan, Laticort, Seacorten, Esperson. The most effective are ointments "Dermoveyt" and "Chalciderm."
Systemic Corticosteroids
Skin diseases - this is not the only indication for the appointment of hormonal drugs. With various rheumatic diseases, problems with the respiratory system, with leukemia, mononucleosis, allergic diseases, systemic corticosteroids are often prescribed. They are divided into natural (such drugs include "Cortisone" and "Hydrocortisone") and synthetic ("Dexamethasone", "Prednisol", "Methylprednisolone"). They are also distinguished by their validity period, which can last from 8-12 to 54 hours. This time depends on the dosage form of the drug, on the route of administration and dose.
When appointing them, it is important to try to achieve an effect when using minimal doses of the drug. This takes into account not the age or weight of the patient, but the medical history and condition of the person who has applied for help.
Inhalation with hormones
One of the most effective methods of treating bronchial asthma, severe forms of pneumonia, interstitial lung diseases and chronic obstructive diseases during an exacerbation is the use of corticosteroids. These include drugs such as Mometasone, Budesonite, Beclomethasone, Triamcinolone, Fluticasone. Inhaled corticosteroids quickly inhibit the inflammatory processes that occur in the lungs and bronchi, reduce their secretion. In addition, the use of these hormonal agents in precisely this form reduces the need for tablets with a similar effect.
For their use, the necessary special devices are powder inhalers or nebulizers. It is also important to know that when using these forms of drugs,
side effects can also occur
. For example, with prolonged use, the appearance of oropharyngeal candidiasis is often observed, less often - a similar fungal disease of the esophagus, dysphonia (the appearance of problems with the voice, it becomes hoarse and weak), cough.
Nasal forms of glucose steroids
Hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for problems with the nasal cavity. They are used not only to combat rhinitis, including its allergic form, but also to prevent the appearance of polyps after their removal, with hemorrhagic diathesis (a tendency to bleeding, including nasal bleeding).
The widespread use of corticosteroids in otorhinolaryngology is due to the fact that they are able to stop the symptoms of diseases or significantly increase the period between exacerbations. At the same time, the use of their topical forms helps to reduce possible side effects and at the same time increase the effectiveness of treatment with them.
As a rule, nasal corticosteroids are well tolerated, only in some patients at the beginning of treatment dry nose, itching, and the appearance of nosebleeds are noted. Before you start taking them, you need to prepare for the fact that they start acting relatively late. The effect appears, as a rule, only on the third day, it reaches a maximum not earlier than on the fifth, and even on the seventh day. Such types of corticosteroids as budesonide, beclomethasone dipropionate, fluticasone, and momenazone furoate are used intranasally.