Corticosteroids - Introduction

Corticosteroids, often known as steroids, are an anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for a wide range of conditions.

They're a man-made version of hormones normally produced by the adrenal glands (two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys).

Corticosteroids are available in different forms, including:

tablets (oral steroids)
injections ‐ which can be into blood vessels, joints or muscles
inhalers ‐ such as mouth or nasal sprays
lotions, gels or creams (topical steroids)

These pages are about steroid tablets, inhalers and injections. Steroid lotions, creams and gels are covered separately.

What are corticosteroids used for?

Corticosteroids are mainly used to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.

They are used to treat conditions such as:

asthma
allergic rhinitis and hay fever
urticarial (hives)
atopic eczema
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
painful and inflamed joints, muscles and tendons
lupus
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) ‐ including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
multiple sclerosis (MS)

Corticosteroids can also be used to replace certain hormones that are not being produced by the body naturally ‐ for example, in people with Addison's disease.

Possible side effects

Corticosteroids will only be prescribed if the potential benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. They will also be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.

There aren't usually any severe side effects if you take steroid injections, a steroid inhaler, or a short course of steroid tablets. However, prolonged treatment at high doses ‐ particularly with steroid tablets ‐ can cause problems in some people.

Potential side effects of long-term treatment include:

increased appetite ‐ potentially leading to weight gain
acne
thinned skin that bruises easily
increased risk of infections
mood changes, mood swings and depression
diabetes
high blood pressure
osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones)
withdrawal symptoms caused by suppression of the adrenal glands

If you have troublesome side effects after taking corticosteroids, don't stop taking your medication until your doctor says it's safe to do so, because of the possibility of these unpleasant withdrawal effects.

Your dose may need to be reduced slowly over a few weeks or months, and you may have to have tests to ensure that your adrenal glands are still working properly before stopping corticosteroids altogether, if you have been taking them for a long time.

Read more about the side effects of corticosteroids.

Cautions and interactions

For most people, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, steroid inhalers and injections are safe. However, they will still only be used if a doctor thinks the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

As steroid tablets are more likely to cause side effects, there are some circumstances when they shouldn't be used or should only be used with caution. These circumstances include:

having an ongoing widespread infection
having mental health or behavioural problems ‐ such as depression or alcohol dependence
having certain underlying physical conditions ‐ such as liver problems, heart failure, high blood pressure or diabetes
taking another medication that may interact with corticosteroids

Corticosteroids can often be taken while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, although your doctor will only prescribe them if the risks of not being treated outweigh the risks associated with the medication.