Side effects of prednisolone tablets and liquid

Steroids might affect some medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart or blood pressure problems, or mental health issues. If you have any of these conditions, the person treating you will need to make sure the steroids aren’t making the condition worse. Effects on your mood can happen quite suddenly and improve once you stop taking steroids. Nonetheless, it can be unsettling to experience changes in mood.

There may still be some benefit even if your baby is born within 24 hours of the first dose. The benefits of steroids are likely to be significantly reduced if your baby is born more than 7 days after the treatment. Therefore, it is important to try to give steroids at the right time. There is less evidence that steroids are helpful after 35 weeks.

Raised blood pressure (hypertension)

They can be very useful at the start of treatment either as a joint injection or an occasional intra-muscular or intravenous dose. A major side effect of long term prednisolone use is osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates may be prescribed to strengthen bones and help prevent
osteoporosis. Side effects from oral bisphosphonates are usually mild
but include nausea, dyspepsia, diarrhoea or constipation and headaches.

• An immunosuppressant which works by reducing the function of
  lymphocytes (a type of white cell).
• They’re made from the male hormone testosterone and help men build muscle – but only if they work out too.
• They are man-made versions of the hormone cortisol which is created by the human body in the adrenal glands (two small glands at the top of the kidneys).
• Side effects are common during or following each
  infusion including nausea, diarrhoea, chills, fever, headache,
  dizziness, joint, muscle and back pains.

They can be given as tablets or injected or by infusion (a ‘drip’). Stopping steroids
too quickly can result in steroid deficiency if the adrenal glands are
unable to respond quickly and this can cause significant problems. Normal human immunoglobulin is sometimes used to treat some forms of
vasculitis, often when other treatments cannot be tolerated or have been
ineffective. It is a particularly important treatment in Kawasaki’s
Disease.

Oral steroids

It is more likely to happen with steroids taken by mouth (orally) than with other types of steroids. Other types of steroids are sex steroids (oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone) and anabolic steroids. Side effects of oral steroids are dose related or more pronounced in patients with co-morbidities (e.g. diabetes, osteopenia -see below) or COPD.

Your steroid preventer inhaler is unlikely to cause side effects, especially if you’re using your inhaler correctly. Or you may need a longer course of steroids if your asthma is severe or difficult to control. They stop https://blogsubmitterpro.org symptoms from getting worse and lower your risk of having another asthma attack. This is because the steroids in your preventer inhaler work in the background to prevent inflammation from building up in your airways.

High blood pressure

In medicine, they can be used to treat anaemia and muscle weakness after surgery. Find out more about long-term steroids and their side effects, and when you should be referred to a respiratory specialist. Your GP will work out how much you need to take, and for how long, depending on your symptoms and how you’re recovering.

Liver changes

This is more likely following longer-term usage of steroids (longer than 3 months). You might have blood tests during cancer treatment to check for this. Tell your doctor or nurse if you have headaches, nosebleeds, blurred or double vision or shortness of breath.

Diabetes Mellitus

This helps prevent irritation to the stomach lining, which can cause stomach ulcers. It’s important to note that losing weight is not recommended if you have an active tumour or are currently receiving treatment. However, if you’re concerned about your weight gain, you can speak to your doctor for advice or follow our simple tips for changing your diet.