Abstract

Steroids are a man-made version of chemicals, known as hormones that are made naturally in the human body. Steroids are designed to act like these hormones to reduce inflammation.

They’re also known as corticosteroids and are different to anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders and athletes.

Uses of steroids-

Steroids can be taken in a number of ways for many different types of arthritis; Steroids are usually only given for a short time to quickly treat flare-ups of your condition. Depending on which condition you have and what dose you’re prescribed, you may notice an improvement in your symptoms within a few days.

Side effects and risks with steroids-weight gain and increased appetite, stomach pains, indigestion or heartburn, sleep problems, changes in mood, bruising easily, thinning of the skin, stretch marks. 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. Steroids taken for a long time can also cause your muscles to become weaker, and they might occasionally affect periods in women.

Other complications

Steroid creams and eye drops don’t usually cause serious side effects, but if you take them for a long time or at a high dose, the medication could be absorbed into your blood and increase the risk of side effects that normally only occur with steroid tablets.

Steroids can sometimes affect diabetes, high blood pressure or epilepsy, so you’ll have your blood pressure and blood sugar levels checked from time to time. The person treating you might change the dose of your medications if needed. Steroids can sometimes cause diabetes or raised blood sugar in people who haven’t previously had this condition.

Steroids can affect the eyes, for example by making glaucoma worse or causing cataracts.