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Corticosteroid (Oral Route, Parenteral Route)
Drug Information provided by: MicromedexUS Brand Names
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Canadian Brand Names
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Description
Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines) are used to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body. They lessen swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. They are often used as part of the treatment for a number of different diseases, such as severe allergies or skin problems, asthma, or arthritis. Corticosteroids may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Your body naturally produces certain cortisone-like hormones that are necessary to maintain good health. If your body does not produce enough, your doctor may have prescribed this medicine to help make up the difference.
Corticosteroids are very strong medicines. In addition to their helpful effects in treating your medical problem, they have side effects that can be very serious. If your adrenal glands are not producing enough cortisone-like hormones, taking this medicine is not likely to cause problems unless you take too much of it. If you are taking this medicine to treat another medical problem, be sure that you discuss the risks and benefits of this medicine with your doctor.
These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, some corticosteroids are used in certain patients with the following medical condition:
- Bell's palsy (prednisolone)
- Croup in children (dexamethasone)
If you will be using this medicine for a long time, your doctor may want you to:
- Follow a low-salt diet and/or a potassium-rich diet.
- Watch your calories to prevent weight gain.
- Add extra protein to your diet.
Make certain your health care professional knows if you are already on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
- Capsule, Delayed Release
- Capsule, Extended Release
- Syrup
- Solution
- Suspension
- Liquid
- Tablet, Disintegrating
- Elixir
