Short-term steroid treatment Great Ormond Street Hospital
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. In general, taking an occasional course of prednisolone for less than three weeks is unlikely to cause any serious problems. Prednisolone side effects become more likely with higher doses and longer treatment, particularly if you take prednisolone for more than three weeks.
- If you are having steroids in these ways, your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can give you more information.
- Anticonvulsants are medicines used to prevent seizures (fits).
- You should carry these with you for all the time you are on steroids and for some time after completing treatment with them – this is usually 12 months, but seek advice from your medical team.
- Prednisolone is a short course steroid, which can be crucial in treating respiratory illnesses.
Fill in our short survey to let us know what we’re doing well and how we can better meet your needs. Dexamethasone and prednisolone work quickly, usually within a few days, but full benefits can take months in some cases. You can give your child the missed dose as soon as you remember on the same day. If you remember after they have gone to bed, do not give them the missed dose.
Increased appetite and weight gain
Very strong topical steroids aren’t usually prescribed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you’re having an operation, you might need to stop your steroids. If you’re using a steroid cream it’s fine to have vaccinations, but you’ll need to tell the person giving you the injection to avoid the area being treated with the cream.
Give them the contact details for your cancer doctor so they can ask for advice. The side effects may be reduced by lowering the dose of steroids. If you feel unwell or need advice, you can call them at any time of the day or night. You may get some of the side effects we mention, but you are unlikely to get all of them.
How steroid tablets work
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. If you had diabetes before you started steroid treatment, your lymphoma medical team and your diabetes medical team work together to manage your treatment and blood sugar levels. Steroids and insulin are hormones made by your body that work together to balance your blood-glucose levels.
Prednisolone for asthma
Some people feel happier than usual while others feel low in mood, short-tempered and irritable. Some people feel low or flat for several days to weeks after they stop taking steroids, as it takes a while for your body to begin making its own steroids naturally again. Let the doctor or nurse know so they can advise you what to do about your steroid therapy. If you need an operation, you may need to increase the dose of corticosteroids for a short time.
NHS tackles potential over-prescription of short course steroid
Some of the more common side effects of long-term steroid administration are listed in Table 2. It is important to note that different people will have very different responses to steroids. The key to successful steroid management is to be aware of the potential side effects and work to prevent, or reduce, them where possible.
Additional important advice
If you experience adrenal crisis, it is important that you do not stop taking steroid medication suddenly – withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Your consultant can help you to safely and gradually reduce your steroid medication. The types of corticosteroids most often used to treat lymphoma are dexamethasone, methylprednisolone and prednisolone. A group of steroids called mineralocorticoids (including fludrocortisone and hydrocortisone) are sometimes used to treat adrenal crisis.
If you’re already taking steroid tablets, ask your doctor or a pharmacist for advice before taking any other medicines, remedies or supplements. Tell your doctor if you take any other medicines, including herbal remedies and supplements, before starting steroid tablets. legal muscle steroids You may be given a special steroid treatment card that explains how you can reduce the risk of side effects. This is because when you’re on high doses of steroids your body may stop producing enough of its own natural steroids to help illness or injury.
Osteoporosis
If you would like further information or would like to talk about any aspect of your lymphoma, please contact us. You can find out more about preventing osteoporosis on the NHS website. Avoid standing for long amounts of time to help ease fluid retention. You might also be interested in our information about coping with lymphoedema.
This might be from an infection, surgery or injury for example. Knowing this allows the healthcare team to give you prompt medical treatment. If your child hasn’t had chicken pox, and is in direct contact with a child who has chicken pox, or develops it within 48 hours, contact the hospital immediately.