Glossary of Drugs and Side Effects

If you are also having treatment with other cancer drugs, you may have some side effects that we have not listed here. Always tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about any side effects you have. This information is about steroids that you take by mouth or as an injection. Steroids also come in other forms, such as inhalers, eye drops or creams.

• They also control our responses to physical stresses, such as infection, injury and inflammation.
• This will help to keep the risk of side effects, including weaker bones, as low as possible.
• This information has been developed by the RCOG Patient Information Committee.
• Cyclophosphamide is commonly used to treat severe forms of
  vasculitis and is also widely known as an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug.
• Following an MHRA investigation, a man from Surrey has been jailed for selling potentially dangerous unlicensed medicines.

It’s sometimes necessary for steroid tablets to be taken for longer periods. In these cases, you may be more likely to develop troublesome side effects. A high dose of inhaled steroids can sometimes cause more serious side effects but this is rare.

Richard feels steroids have affected his concentration and made him more irritable.

Corticosteroids are synthetic versions of the naturally occurring hormone cortisol, which is produced in the body by the adrenal glands. They have a number of effects on different body systems and, even when injected into a structure such as a joint, will escape into the horse’s system to exert their influence throughout the animal. Although related chemically, they are different from anabolic steroids used to promote weight gain or muscle development.

• If you have asthma and need two or more short courses in a year, or your symptoms keep coming back once you’ve finished the course, you should ask your GP for a referral to a specialist clinic.
• Steroid inhalers are usually prescribed to people with asthma.
• You usually take steroid tablets or liquids at set times each day for a number of days or weeks.
• Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when absolutely necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns that you might have.
• If you need any medical or dental treatment, show your blue or red steroid card to the doctor, dentist or pharmacist so they know that you’re taking steroid tablets.

If you are worried about gaining weight, talk to your doctor or nurse. Older medicines may have been used effectively for many years in children without problems but the manufacturer has not been required to collect data and amend the licence. This does not mean that it is unsafe for children and young people to be prescribed such a medicine ‘off-licence/off-label’.

Effects on other treatments

Make sure any change to your dose of steroid is updated on the card. If you’re taking high doses of steroids, or if you’re on them for more than three weeks, you’ll need to carry a steroid card. This will have information on your dose and how long you’ve been taking them for.

The NICE MS Guideline recommends that you begin taking steroids within 14 days of the start of your relapse. If you think you need dental treatment, talk to your cancer doctor or nurse. If you notice any changes in your mood or behaviour, tell your doctor or nurse.

Not everyone experiences side effects when taking steroids but some people do. In the short-term, the side effects of steroids are usually mild and will go away soon after you finish the treatment course. 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.

Side effects of steroid tablets

” You know, I was reacting in a way that just was totally abnormal for me. So, I had to say to my colleagues, “Look, pull me up if, don’t just sit and take it. The other area I think is definitely the steroid is, and it’s kind of linked but slightly different is, irritability.

Handling steroid tablets

A couple of aspects to it, one is affecting my ability to concentrate, and I think the steroid comes into that, I don’t think it’s all, just I’m getting older, I haven’t worked for eight plus years or whatever, no. Because that could be a factor you know, just you’re not ilsportsphotos.com used to working. If you have steroids as part of treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, you might be given them intravenously, at the same time as your chemotherapy. With non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you might have steroids for a few days or a week during each cycle of chemotherapy.

Side effects of steroids and other systemic vasculitis medication

This is any activity where your bones have to support your body’s weight, such as walking. You should also try to maintain good posture and avoid trips and falls, which could lead to broken bones. Steroid eye dropsSteroid eye drops usually give a low dose of steroids and are very unlikely to cause bone loss.

However, it is not only people who identify as women who may want to access this leaflet. Your care should be personalised, inclusive and sensitive to your needs whatever your gender identity. The 220 Triathlon team is made up of vastly experienced athletes, sports journalists, kit reviewers and coaches. In short, what we don’t know about multisport frankly isn’t worth knowing!