Unfortunately, inflammatory diseases of various organs and systems can hardly be considered a rarity. Modern medicine offers a lot of drugs that can fight inflammation. And in some cases, doctors prescribe a Cortisone injection to patients. This drug not only inhibits the development of inflammation, but also has pronounced analgesic properties.
So what is this medicine? How does it affect the body? How are injections performed correctly? Is therapy associated with any complications? The answers to these questions are sought by many patients.
Composition and form of release
The drug "Cortisone" is available in the form of a suspension for intramuscular administration. In the pharmacy you can buy glass vials containing 5 ml of solution. The main active substance of the drug is cortisone in the form of acetate, a synthetic glucocorticosteroid that has anti-inflammatory properties. The concentration of the active component is 2.5% (0.025 g is contained in one ml of suspension).
By the way, in pharmacies they also sell tablets, ointments for the skin and mucous membranes, which contain cortisone.
What properties does the medicine have?
Cortisone affects the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates. For example, it reduces the total amount of protein in plasma, enhances the breakdown of protein elements in muscles, but at the same time activates protein synthesis in the tissues of the liver and kidneys. Cortisone also controls the process of cleavage of amino acids in the liver, indirectly affects the metabolism of nucleic acids.
Also, cortisone, like other glucocorticosteroids, affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, accelerates the flow of glucose from the liver to the blood, accelerates the synthesis of certain aminotransferases, and stimulates the formation of carbohydrates from amino acids resulting from protein breakdown. Thus, the glycogen level in the muscles and liver rises, the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine improves, and glucose tolerance decreases.
This substance inhibits the synthesis of hyaluronidase, inhibits the synthesis of connective tissue elements, reduces the permeability of capillaries, inhibits the development of allergic reactions, delays sodium and accelerates the elimination of potassium from the body and the formation of higher fatty acids.
In what cases is the drug used? Indications for injection
Many patients are interested in the question of when it is advisable to use the drug "Cortisone"? What does he help from? In fact, there are many indications for using the drug:
- rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatism;
- collagenoses (diseases accompanied by vascular and connective tissue damage);
- bronchial asthma;
- Infectious mononucleosis;
- some forms of leukemia;
- neurodermatitis, eczema, some other skin inflammatory and allergic diseases;
- insufficient adrenal function ;
- hemolytic anemia;
- glomerulonephritis;
- viral hepatitis;
- collapse and shock of various origins.
The drug "Cortisone": instructions for use
This drug of hormonal origin is quite powerful, so its unauthorized use is categorically contraindicated. Only the attending physician, after a thorough examination, can prescribe injections of the Cortisone medication. Instructions for use contain only general information. Dosage, regimen and duration of therapy are determined strictly individually.
The suspension can be administered intramuscularly or taken orally. If we are talking about oral administration, then the recommended dose for patients is 0.1-0.2 g of active substance per day, which must be divided into 3-4 doses. As the main symptoms disappear, the dose is reduced to the minimum - 0.025 g. The drug lasts about 6-8 hours.
Intramuscularly administered 0.02-0.05 g per day. If necessary, this amount is divided into two: injection of "Cortisone" is done at intervals of 8-12 hours. The effect lasts about 12 hours.
An injection of Cortisone is done by a health worker in a hospital setting. The patient should be under constant medical supervision, as there is a risk of adverse reactions. Treatment with Cortisone is also carried out in pediatrics - the daily dose is determined depending on the age and severity of the child's condition.
The maximum daily dose of the active substance for adults is 0.15-0.3 g.
Are there any contraindications?
Undoubtedly, an important question is whether this tool has any limitations in use. The medicine "Cortisone" can not be used in every case. Contraindications to its appointment are:
- Severe forms of hypertension, which are accompanied by a persistent rise in blood pressure.
- Recently transferred operations.
- Diabetes.
- Circulatory failure of the third stage.
- Elderly age.
- Gastrointestinal ulceration.
- The active form of tuberculosis.
- Syphilis.
- Viral and fungal diseases.
- Serious impairment of kidney and liver function.
- Pathology of the thyroid gland.
- Open angle glaucoma.
- Osteoporosis (against the background of taking glucocorticosteroids, a worsening of conditions is possible).
- Hypersensitivity to any of the components of the drug.
- Recently suffered myocardial infarction.
- Itsenko-Cushing's disease.
An injection of Cortisone is also contraindicated in women during pregnancy. If it is a lactation period, breastfeeding should be interrupted for the duration of therapy. Children's age is not a contraindication, but Cortisone is used very carefully in pediatrics.
List of possible side effects
Like almost any hormonal drug, the Cortisone medicine can lead to the development of some adverse reactions, including serious ones:
- Various kinds of allergic reactions, including swelling, rashes, skin redness, urticaria, Quincke's edema, less commonly anaphylactic shock.
- An injection of Cortisone may be accompanied by the appearance of swelling and redness at the injection site.
- Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, which is accompanied by an increase in body weight, increased brittle bones and decreased sexual function.
- Hirsutism - excessive hair growth in women.
- Acne.
- Osteoporosis and spontaneous bone fractures as a result of weakening of bone tissue.
- All sorts of mental disorders.
- Hemorrhagic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which is accompanied by severe bleeding).
- Gastrointestinal ulcer.
- Perforation of an unrecognized ulcer.
- Bleeding in the digestive tract.
- High blood pressure.
- Muscle atrophy as a result of protein breakdown.
- Steroid diabetes.
- Arrhythmia, heart failure.
It is worth noting that the above complications in the research process were observed only in the case of prolonged use of large doses of the drug (more than 0.1 g of cortisone per day). A few injections are unlikely to cause such serious disorders in the body. Nevertheless, if during treatment you notice any deterioration, you should immediately inform your doctor about them.
Analogues of the drug
For one reason or another, far from every patient is suitable drug "Cortisone". There are analogs of it in the modern pharmacological market, and in the form of injections, tablets, creams, ointments , etc. In particular, modern medicine uses such drugs as Betamethasone, Prednisolone, Mezipredon, Dexamethasone, and Hydrocortisone. " All these drugs have approximately the same properties as Cortisone. But, since they act on the body with different intensities, only the attending physician can choose a substitute.
The drug "Cortisone": price
For many patients, an important criterion is precisely the cost of a particular medicine. So how much does Cortisone cost? The price will depend on many factors, including the pharmacy you have chosen, the city of residence, the manufacturer, etc. One bottle of 5 ml costs about 180-210 rubles. It is worth considering that for the full course of treatment you will probably need more medicine - this information will need to be checked with your doctor. And you also need to consider that in some cases cortisone alone is not enough, additional drugs are needed.
Reviews of patients and doctors
Of course, everyone knows that you can get a lot of useful information by reading the opinions of experts and reviews of patients who have already undergone therapy. Many people do notice a significant improvement after a series of injections. Moreover, a significant reduction in pain and other discomfort is observed after the first injection. Of course, there is information about the development of side effects in patients, but these cases are not so common. And the advantage of this solution is its relatively affordable cost.
Doctors themselves also speak well about the medicine. On the other hand, Cortisone, in comparison with other glucocorticoids, often causes complications. That is why modern doctors are increasingly prescribing analogues of a new generation of the drug, which have a milder effect on the body.