Re: [RPexec] Fwd: prednisone part 1

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Prednisone is a corticosteroid. In contrast to anabolic steroids (used by “bodybuildersâ€), corticosteroids are used in inflammatory conditions for their anti–inflammatory effects. They have a rapid onset of action, and profoundly affect many parts of the immune system as well as most other body systems. Corticosteroids are a cornerstone of treating most types of vasculitis, and are often used in combination with other immunosuppressive medications.

Side Effects

Many of the side–effects of steroids are predictable. All are related to: 1) the amount of steroid a patient takes in his/her daily dose, and 2) the length of time the patient remains on the medication. We emphasize that not all side–effects occur in all patients.

Despite the numerous potential side–effects of corticosteroids listed below, their introduction into patient care 50 years ago revolutionized the treatment of many diseases, including vasculitis. When used properly, these drugs save lives and avert threats to the function of important organs.

One of the numerous potential side–effects of prednisone and other forms of corticosteroid treatment is hirsutism — excessive growth of body hair. Patients vary in the degree to which this side–effect of steroids occurs. Although some experience minimal hirsutism, the patient depicted here developed this side effect after taking 10 milligrams of prednisone for a few months.

Weight Gain

Glucose Intolerance

Hypertension

Increased Susceptibility to Infections

Bone Thinning

Easy Bruising

Mood Swings/Insomnia

Avascular Necrosis of bone

Abdominal Striae

Cataracts

Acne

THEY do not mention here that large muscles (like in the thighs) weaken and it can be very difficult to climb stairs.

Weight Gain

Weight gain is usually the most dreaded side–effects of steroid use, incurred to some degree by nearly all patients who take them. The amount of weight gain varies from individual to individual. In addition to causing weight gain, prednisone leads to a redistribution of body fat to places that are undesirable, particularly the face, back of the neck, and abdomen. Pictured below is a example of redistribution of body fat to the back of the neck. Accumulation of fat in this area is sometimes referred to as a “buffalo humpâ€.

Another example of this “redistribution†is pictured below. Supraclavical “fat pads†are collections of fat at the base of the neck, just above the collarbones, which are common in patients on steroids. They sometimes cause concern among patients if mistaken for lymph nodes or other causes for worry, but will gradually subside as the prednisone dose is tapered to below 10 milligrams/day.

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Glucose Intolerance

High blood sugar, or steroid–induced diabetes. This usually resolves when the steroids are decreased or discontinued.

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Hypertension

High blood pressure. This usually improves as the corticosteroid dose is reduced.

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life–threatening infections such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The higher the steroid dose and the longer the duration of therapy, the greater the risk of infection. The risk is also increased when patients receive combinations of immunosuppressive medications, such as cyclophosphamide (cytoxan) and prednisone. The risk of some infections can be greatly reduced by taking specific types of antibiotics prophylactically.

Increased Susceptibility to Infections

Patients are at increased risk for many types of infections, from minor fungal infections in the mouth (“thrushâ€, caused by Candida) to

Pictured below is woman under treatment with prednisone and methotrexate for vasculitis and a concurrent neurologic condition (myasthenia gravis) developed painful vesicles in her mouth. The vesicles were confirmed by culture to be caused by re–activation of a Herpes simplex infection, and responded to treatment with acyclovir.

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